Colts Join the Madness! Sign Basketball Standout Demarco Cox

According to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun, the Indianapolis Colts have some “March Madness” of their own. In just their latest player project, the team has signed former collegiate basketball standout, now attempted NFL offensive tackle in Demarco Cox:

The former listed 6’8, 294 pound center for Georgia Tech will try to make the tough transition to NFL offensive tackle. It’s worth noting that Cox played collegiate basketball at Ole Miss from 2010-14 before transferring to Georgia Tech for his final year of basketball eligibility, where he averaged 8.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 0.9 bpg in 26.6 mpg.

Beyond that, little is known about Cox’s actual football ability. However, per his player profile while at Ole Miss, it did note Cox was a highly touted football recruit coming out of Yazoo City High School:

"The two-sport star was also heavily recruited in football and was rated the No. 54 offensive tackle in the nation by ESPN.com and No. 58 offensive tackle by Scout.com."

Of course, the Colts have their own success story in former collegiate basketball player turned into NFL caliber offensive lineman in Joe Reitz. The former Hamilton Southeastern High School football standout opted to play basketball instead of football, at least initially. At Western Michigan playing basketball, Reitz was seemingly a star, making 1st-Team All-MAC. 

Mar 10, 2015; Greensboro, NC, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets center Demarco Cox (4) shoots against the Boston College Eagles in the second half during the first round of the ACC Tournament at Greensboro Coliseum. The Boston College Eagles won 66-55. Mandatory Credit: Evan Pike-USA TODAY Sports

However, Reitz eventually decided to give football a try and after being signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2008, he’s now found a long-term home with his hometown team in the Indianapolis Colts. Not only has Reitz made the team, but he’s provided the Colts with both valuable and versatile offensive line depth over the past few seasons.

The Colts have also tried to convert former Miami Hurricanes basketball forward Erik Swoope into a tight end, who spent time on the team’s practice squad last season as a 2014 undrafted free agent and is currently on the active roster. The team clearly isn’t afraid of trying to convert successful basketball players to the football gridiron. 

While the odds are certainly against Cox, being a former standout collegiate basketball player with little high level football experience, he figures to have at least the athleticism and footwork theoretically required to play as a quality offensive tackle in the NFL. It’ll be an interesting story to monitor, as the offseason progresses.