Mississippi State's Fletcher Cox Declares for N.F.L. Draft Mississippi State defensive tackle Fletcher Cox is skipping his senior season and declaring for the N.F.L. draft. Cox is considered one of the country's best defensive line prospects and is projected by N.F.L. evaluators as a second-round pick, though some analysts believe he could be selected late in the first round. Cox, who is 6-foot-4 and 295 pounds, was the only player from Mississippi State to be a first-team all-Southeastern Conference selection this season. Cox, a third-year junior, finished a dominant season with 14 ½ tackles for loss and 5 sacks. "God works in many ways," Cox said in a telephone interview. He answered my prayer and I knew deep down in my heart it was time for me to go. Cox played both defensive tackle and defensive end at Mississippi State, but said he expected to be evaluated as a tackle by N.F.L. teams. The ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay currently has Cox ranked as the 20th best player in the draft and the second best defensive tackle available behind Penn State's Devon Still. Mississippi State Coach Dan Mullen lauded Cox for his commitment to the program. When Mullen was hired in December 2008, Cox was the program's top committed recruit. "He never wavered for a day," Mullen said. He recommitted to me when I got the job and has been a leader since that day. Cox has been a linchpin of Mississippi State's resurgence under Mullen, acting as the defensive anchor for a program that won back-to-back bowl games for the first time since 2000. Cox led Mississippi State to a 7-6 record this season and was dominant in its Music City Bowl victory over Wake Forest last week, with a sack and seven tackles, including two for loss. "He's a great kid and worked hard in his time here," Mullen said in summing up Cox's career. This will be a huge loss for us. Mississippi State could also lose its other top defensive player, cornerback Johnthan Banks, who led the Bulldogs in interceptions this year with five. Banks does not project as highly as Cox, who said he would stay on campus and prepare for the draft with the Bulldogs" strength coach, Matt Balis. "My emotions are that this shows that hard work pays off," Cox said. "Coach Mullen always told me that I'd play in the N.F.L. I said, "Yes, sir, that's something that I want to do." To be able to play in the N.F.L., that's something that a lot of people don't get to do.