Olympic wrestling bronze medalist J’den Cox reportedly chose not to pursue football for the University of Missouri in the fall.
Cox, 22, was announced Thursday as a volunteer assistant wrestling coach at Missouri, where he won three NCAA titles and exhausted his NCAA eligibility this past season.
Cox, who is still an active international wrestler, chose to join Missouri’s wrestling staff rather than attempt to supplement his wrestling training with one season of college football. The all-state linebacker in high school is eligible to play one year of college football because he didn’t use a redshirt season in wrestling.
Cox met several times with Missouri football coach Barry Odom after winning his last NCAA title in March before telling Odom this week of his decision, according to the Kansas City Star.
Cox said in August that he planned to play football at Missouri. He was less emphatic after winning his last NCAA title in March, saying that night he would discuss it with Odom.
Cox is expected to compete in the world championships team trials next month, vying for the one U.S. spot in the 86kg freestyle field at worlds in Paris in August.
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