Indland Empire twins ready to blow up

Riverside (Calif.) J.W. North twin brothers Maurice Cox and Marquise Cox are two of the top players in the Inland Empire. And while both are still searching for their first official offers, it's not because a lack of talent on either player's part.

Maurice is a 5-foot-11, 230-pound outside linebacker and Marquise is a 5-foot-10, 175-pound defensive back. Both have the tools to be solid college players, and once both get their spring transcripts each should start to earn scholarship offers.

"We don't have any offers yet, but a lot of them are on the verge of offering," Maurice Cox said. "They want to see our transcripts first. Oregon, Arizona, UCLA, Boise State, Fresno State, UNLV, San Diego State and Colorado are the main teams that have been in contact.

"These same schools are talking to my brother also. Fresno, UNLV and UCLA are all close to offering."

Marquise said things are pretty much the same with him with one exception.

"It's exciting really," he said. "The only difference is Colorado is recruiting my brother. We're trying to get the double package here going. We're trying to stick together."

So far through the process a few coaches have made big impressions on the twins.

"Coach Frazier for Fresno really stands out," Maurice said. "He's a really good guy. UCLA I really like how they're rebuilding and their progress. I like how their coaching staff is. Coach Moses is great over there. He's the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator. He's been up to the school and talked to our coach and has given us a call."

"We haven't done research on any of the schools yet. Me and brother really like UCLA and Fresno from talking to the coaches. We're looking into the San Diego State camp or maybe the UCLA camp."

When it comes time to make a big decision, the brothers have similar key factors in mind.

"For me, there really is going to be two major ones – academics and early playing time," Maurice siad. "We're going to be to doing research on academics and what majors they have to offer. I also want to go to a place that has good exposure."

Marquise agrees.

"I want to go somewhere that's career oriented," he said. "What my career would be and what my major would be will be key questions for me to answer. My major would have to be strong. Also, I want exposure. I want to go into business management or marketing. UCLA has good business management."

Both have big goals for the 2008 season.

"We just ended our spring ball and we're going into more of passing leagues now," Maurice said. "We're looking forward to a big year. We have a new coach coming in, we're getting used to the new 3-4 defense he's putting in. We have a new schedule and a harder schedule actually."

But Marquise expects the same type of results.

"We ended the year 13-1 and we won the CIF eastern division," he said. "Anything less than a championship would be a disappointment."