WEST POINT — Justin Cox has a Friday night ritual before he takes the field for the Mississippi State football team every week.
Around 10 p.m. each Friday, the former West Point High School standout sends a text message or calls one of West Point’s current standouts, linebacker Kadarius Forside.
For Forside, one of the joys of playing each week is hearing from his older brother immediately following the game.
“He always sends me a message or calls me to check on me to see how our game went,” Forside said. “It’s great to have him there to talk to. He’s somebody I can look up to. With everything he’s accomplished, I know he’s been where I am, and that lets me know if I keep working hard, I can get to his level.”
Forside’s resemblance to Cox is striking. Forside takes the comparison a step further by wearing the No. 2 jersey Cox wore when he led West Point to state titles in 2009 and 2010.
The resemblance doesn’t stop there.
Even though Forside is 20 pounds heavier than his older brother, he boasts 4.5 speed in the 40-yard dash, not far off the 4.4 mark Cox used to earn scholarships to East Mississippi Community College and MSU.
Now a senior, Forside has assumed the leadership role Cox had four years ago.
“He’s a lot like Justin in that he’s all business on the field,” said West Point coach Chris Chambless, whose team (2-2) will play host to Noxubee County (3-1) at 7 tonight. “He’s a guy that can have fun off the field. He’s a very fun kid to be around, but when practice starts, he’s going to give you all he’s got. We’ve got several kids like that this year, and Kadarius and Tyler Logan (are) guys you can depend on to lead by example.”
While Forside is following in his brother’s footsteps, he also is forging his path. Cox did his damage at quarterback for a program that went 28-2 in his final two years. Forside’s task this season has been to revitalize a defense that allowed 34 points per game last season, the highest season total in nine years under Chambless.
Serving as one of West Point’s two linebackers (along with Logan) in the Green Wave’s 5-2 front, Forside has brought toughness and physicality back to a defense that was lacking it in 2013.
“This defense calls for a couple of dogs at that linebacker spot,” Chambless said. “They have to be tough, smart, willing to get dirty. Kadarius is perfect for that.”
Forside has helped answer West Point’s defensive questions. The Green Wave are yielding a little more than 16 points per game. With the exception of a 34-3 loss at No. 1 Starkville, West Point’s defense has been dominant. The Green Wave have allowed two offensive touchdown drives in victories against Columbus and Grenada and in a 14-10 loss to perennial power South Panola. Against Columbus, Forside had a team-high 12 tackles with three tackles for loss and a sack.
“He’s a leader for our defense,” West Point quarterback Dason Thomas said. “He plays the right way.”
But defensive prowess — 31 tackles in four games — doesn’t define Forside. West Point also leans on the 5-foot-11, 200-pounder in short yardage. Whenever West Point needs tough yardage inside, the coaches often turn to Forside and he usually moves the chains.
Against Columbus, Forside had four carries and delivered each time on third down.
“He’s smart enough to know if it’s third-and-3, he knows what he has to do to get 4 yards,” Chambless said. “If it’s third-and-7, he gets 8. He’s smart enough to know what to do and tough enough to do it.”
Forside appreciates the chance to help on offense.
“I’ll do whatever the coach wants me to do,” Forside said. “If they want me to run it, I’ll run it. If they want me to come in and block, I’ll block. But I know when they call my number, it’s usually because we need a big run, so I do whatever I have to do.”
Forside’s offensive load could pick up as West Point moves into the heart of its schedule. He also could see a bigger load tonight against one of the program toughest rivals in what should be a physical showdown.
“These games are special,” Forside said. “They are always a little more physical, a little faster than other games. It’s a big rivalry, and I guess that’s what makes it so physical.”
Whatever the outcome, Forside — called by his nickname of “Butterball” by his teammates, of which he said, “was given to me by my pee wee coaches because I was a little bigger back then” — knows what to expect once the game ends.
“My brother will want to know about this one,” Forside said. “I hope I have good news for him.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brandon Walker on Twitter @BWonStateBeat
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