Cade Cox, VMI TE: the 2026 season story
Cade Cox is a junior tight end for VMI (Southern). He ranks 198th of 305 tight ends in Division I by the Player Index, which judges every tight end on the measures that matter at the position, adjusted for the opponents he faced.
Scouting report
Why it matters. Knowing the one or two things a player does best, and where he is ordinary, says more than any single total. Cade Cox's strongest measure is target share at 14%, 35th of 169 (the average is 10%). His weakest is target success rate at 38%, 150th of 169 (the average is 51%).
Season production
Why it matters. Totals reward staying healthy and getting the ball; per-game numbers show how much he really carries each week. His receiving yards per game, 10, ranks 147th among 169 ranked tight ends.
Against every tight end
Why it matters. Splitting the measures into how much, how well and how many big plays shows what kind of tight end he is. Among ranked tight ends he sits, on average, in the 47th percentile for volume, 18th for efficiency and 29th for impact.
The season, game by game
Why it matters. A season average can hide a player who is great one week and absent the next; game by game shows how dependable he is. Over 9 games, Cade Cox's best came in week 10 at Tennessee Tech and his quietest in week 1 at Virginia Tech.
When it matters
Why it matters. Plenty of players produce in easy situations; the ones who keep it up on third down and against good teams are the ones coaches trust.
Where he does his damage
Why it matters. Where and how a player makes his plays shows how his team uses him and what a defense has to take away.
National and conference
Why it matters. A national rank shows how a player stacks up beyond his own league, where the competition can be very different. Cade Cox is 70th of 136 FCS tight ends and 4th of 8 in the Southern. Next up nationally is Maximus Nosler of Bryant, 0.01 ahead on the index.
Career
Why it matters. Past seasons show whether this year is a breakout, a steady climb or a step back. This is his best season by the Player Index so far, out of 2 we have.
Tight ends like him
Why it matters. Comparing a player with his closest statistical matches puts his season in context beyond the rankings. His closest match this season is Nathanial Clark of Howard.
