Cox lands another major offer

Chans Cox was waiting for Notre Dame's coaching staff to watch his junior highlight film and once they did an offer was much closer for the Lakeside (Ariz.) Blue Ridge linebacker.

Then on Tuesday, Cox got the message that Notre Dame wanted to offer and the four-star prospect and top-rated player in Arizona by Rivals.com said he was thrilled to hear the news.

"I had been talking to coach (Bob) Elliott for a while and he said the defensive staff was going to sit down and evaluate my film and they did that sometime last week," Cox said. "He said they really liked it and really wanted to offer me, they just had to send it to coach (Brian) Kelly.

"They sat down with coach Kelly and said he really liked it and liked how I play and he really likes my character so I got a message from coach Elliott on Facebook saying he wanted to talk to me and it was good news. I got really excited so I just called him and he said I have an offer. I'll be expecting a gold Notre Dame offer in the mail."

That wasn't the only good news for Cox, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound prospect who's rated No. 40 in the early 2013 rankings by Rivals.com. Elliott said Cox was one of the top players on Notre Dame's entire recruiting board.

"He said I was their No. 1 inside linebacker on their list right now," Cox said. "It's pretty eye-opening. It's a great opportunity."

Cox is so excited about the Notre Dame offer because he has already taken an unofficial visit there and loved it. The Lakeside Blue Ridge standout enjoyed the campus and wants to make a return trip before narrowing his list.

"It's a dream campus," Cox said. "When you look at a college you think of what Notre Dame looks like. That was great.

"The whole atmosphere, the whole school is just great. The coaches are really great guys and the fans this year were really great and very supportive. I'm hoping to get back there for a game or an official visit so I'm looking forward to it."

Over the next few months, Cox said he would like to take visits to Oregon, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Boise State and Washington. Oregon and Washington State are showing more interest but have not offered yet.

In total, Cox lists offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Boise State, Colorado, Duke, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon State, Tulsa and Washington.

"I'm going to have a list sometime soon or by the summer," Cox said. "I want to get out to some schools and see the likes and dislikes and then I'll make a top five list."