The two offensive linemen have been side by side during their football careers at West Point High School and East Mississippi Community College in Scooba.
They are even roommates at EMCC.
“Everyone thinks we follow each other around,” Shelton said.
With Scooba only being a 40-minute drive from West Point, Shelton and Cox have been able to enjoy their junior college careers and stay close to home.
There’s a saying that all good things must come to an end and that will likely happen for Cox and Shelton at the end of the season for the Lions.
Although both are being recruited, they’ll probably have to go their separate ways to four-year schools.
EMCC coach Buddy Stephens said that’s a hard thing to imagine.
“They go together like peanut butter and jelly,” Stephens said. “When they play their last snap here, they could be playing their last snap together and that’s going to be a sad day for them because that’s two very special young men to me, to our football program and to each other.”
EMCC (7-1, 5-0 Region 23 North Division) plays host to Mississippi Delta C.C. at 7 p.m. today and then Cox and Shelton will be together for at least one more game in the playoffs.
Cox said it’s unusual to be thinking about the end of the season.
“It will be kind of weird to hang up the cleats,” Cox said. “It’s been great and I’ve enjoyed the ride.”
It’s been mainly because of his association with Shelton.
Cox said the offensive line has clicked because of the chemistry between he and Shelton.
“It’s the communication factor,” Cox said. “We know how each other plays and we didn’t have to get to know each other that much when we got here.”
Cox hasn’t made any decision on where he’ll play at the next level, but many colleges have shown interest. He expects to make a decision by December or January.
As the season winds down, Shelton, who has been recruited by Mississippi State, East Carolina and Central Arkansas, said his emotions will be determined by how much success the team has.
“How will these last games be?” Shelton said. “It depends on whether we win or lose. That’s how I want to look at it.”
Stephens doesn’t want his players to look ahead to the playoffs. With Mississippi Delta’s reputation of playing solid defense, he wants the Lions to focus on finishing the regular season strong.
“We want to stay undefeated in North play,” Stephens said. “We’re 11-0 since we’ve been at East Mississippi. We’ve got a lot of things riding on it and I feel like our guys will play well.”
Danny P Smith is the Assistant Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
