COX’S BIG DECISION NETS BIGGER PAYOFF

This is what freshman C.J. Cox could've had:

The chance to routinely play on ESPN and in stadiums filled with 80,000 passionate football fans in games that affect the national championship race.

This is what Cox chose:

The chance to suit up immediately and at a position he loves, not one he would be forced to play.

So Cox selected UNLV over Oklahoma State, which offered him a scholarship, as did Wisconsin and Nebraska. Those three schools wanted him at safety; Cox wanted to play tailback.

"That's what I've always wanted to play since I was little," said Cox, who would've redshirted at Oklahoma State. "This was my opportunity, so I took it. My dad told me to (do) whatever you feel is right, to go with your gut feeling. This was my gut feeling, and I'm loving it."

Cox and UNLV took a chance. There was a reason Cox -- ranked the nation's No. 76 safety by Scout.com -- wasn't heavily recruited at tailback at North Garland (Texas) High School. He rushed for just 450 yards there last season.

It worked out well for the Rebels, who have not only played Cox, but made him a major part of their offense.

He earned a timeshare for carries with starter Frank Summers two weeks ago against Air Force. Cox rushed 13 times for 60 yards and Summers 11 times for 69 yards in a 29-28 loss.

Though Cox rushed just six times for 20 yards In Saturday's 42-35 loss at Brigham Young, he cut into Summers' touches, limiting the senior to 12 carries for 31 yards.

Expect Cox to continue to play a prominent role for UNLV (3-5, 0-4 Mountain West Conference), including in Saturday's 5 p.m. game against No. 12 Texas Christian (8-1, 5-0) at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Both backs have vastly different styles. Summers is a 230-pounder more comfortable running into a linebacker than around him. Cox, a 5-foot-11-inch, 195-pounder, can beat a defensive end to the edge.

Cox's emergence has probably doomed Summers' hopes of becoming the Rebels' first 1,000-yard rusher since Dominique Dorsey in 2004. Summers, who has 615 yards rushing with four games left, might not even reach his total of 928 yards from last season if he continues to barely crack double digits in carries.

Before these past two games, Summers got at least 20 carries four times.

"It doesn't bother me, and I don't think the chances are any slimmer," Summers said of reaching 1,000 yards. "That means I just have to take more advantage of the opportunity given to me when I do get the ball."

He insisted he was happy with the setup because he is fresher, pointing to his 45-yard touchdown run against Air Force as an example of how he benefits from rest.

"That led to me getting on special teams," Summers said. "It's cool. It gives me a chance to make plays elsewhere and help the team out in more than one phase of the game."

Cox moved into the No. 2 spot largely because of an ankle injury to Channing Trotter. Though Trotter missed only the Iowa State game Sept. 20, he has not had any carries since Sept. 6 at Utah.

Cox convinced coaches of his potential Oct. 4 at Colorado State. He had just two carries but gained 14 and 15 yards to help ignite a late rally.

"We knew it earlier than that because we saw him in practice, but that was the first time we saw him do it in a game," coach Mike Sanford said.

Cox will be favored to start next season, and Sanford wants another big back to replace Summers but said he won't dip into the junior colleges as he did for Summers.

Maybe that replacement will be the next Cox, a standout who rejects offers from Bowl Championship Series schools to play a position he loves and to play right away.

Cox's success could leave such an impression. It certainly makes his decision to choose UNLV look more sound with each handoff he receives.

"C.J. has really improved as a player," running backs coach Kenith Pope said. "Coming in as a freshman, he's handled things really well. He's picked up the offense really well. And he seems to excel in everything that he's doing right now. We feel like he deserves the right to get on the field and give us some other things we feel like we need."

• NOTE -- Linebacker Ronnie Paulo is probable and linebacker Beau Orth questionable for Saturday's game. Both have sprained ankles.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.