Holiday Bowl notebook: Cox making most of chance

SAN DIEGO - While at Arizona State, Rodney Cox has shown flashes of being able to make an impact for the defense.

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However, the 6-foot-1, 219-pound junior safety has often been confined to the sidelines due to injuries or being behind Josh Barrett on the depth chart. With Barrett sidelined with a sore knee, Cox finally got an extended chance.

And, sure enough, he has made an impact. Cox had nine tackles after replacing Barrett against Southern California on Thanksgiving, then — in the first start of his career — had an interception against Arizona.

“These past two weeks have been really enjoyable,” Cox said. “I’m making plays and helping out the defense. The coaches have put me in a good position to make plays.”

Cox has dealt with knee, back and shoulder injuries as a collegian, and he was awarded a medical redshirt after missing 10 games in 2005.

“I’ve been waiting, but I’ve had a never-give-up attitude,” Cox said. “My parents raised me that way, to give 110 percent every day. Through all of those injuries, I never gave up. I felt I could play at the Pac-10 level. I just had to have the opportunity.”

Barrett remains questionable for Thursday’s Holiday Bowl against Texas, so Cox could end the year with another start — a momentum-builder for 2008, when he figures to have a shot at starting.

He can look to a fellow safety, Troy Nolan, for inspiration on coming back from an injury. Nolan was sidelined for all of 2006 and returned this season to earn All-America consideration.

“Troy inspires me a lot. He’s a hard worker,” Cox said. “If he’s playing at Level 10 and I’m at Level 8, I know I have to step it up and get to Level 11. We’re making each other better.”

HONORED GUESTS

The Sun Devils will be treated well by the Holiday Bowl during their stay, with three days of activities. The team will attend the Navy and Marine Corps Luncheon aboard the USS Ronald Reagan today, then visit the San Diego Zoo on Monday and Sea World on Tuesday.

Also, the $500-value bowl gift package for players includes a Nintendo Wii. The Holiday is reportedly one of just three postseason games to shower players with a Wii, one of the hottest video game systems.

“The events are fun,” coach Dennis Erickson said. “That’s a big part of the (bowl experience). But the much more important thing is the game. We’ve got some events in the afternoon after practice, but this is a business trip.”

CHARLES IN CHARGE

ASU’s run defense will get one of its biggest tests of the season from Texas’ Jamaal Charles, who has rushed for 1,458 yards and 16 touchdowns and is an All-American track sprinter.

“He gives you an opportunity to score every time you touch the ball,” Longhorns coach Mack Brown said. “His speed is that much of a factor. He has gotten bigger and stronger and wants the ball in his hands. I would think he would be up for all the awards a running back can get next season.”

Brown said that Charles will return for his senior season.

The Austin (Texas) American Statesman reported that Charles will submit a evaluation request from the NFL’s underclassmen draft advisory council. However, he told the paper that, unless he gets a “good grade,” he will stay in school.

RECRUITING

ASU received a commitment from defensive tackle Spencer Gasu of Santa Ana (Calif.) Community College, according to Internet recruiting services. The 6-foot-2, 300-pounder had previously committed to Oregon.

Gasu is the Sun Devils’ 17th known commitment in the 2008 recruiting class and the third junior-college player.