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NLL Colorado Mammoth

These Aspiring Professional Athletes Deserve Your Follow Before the NLL Combine

September 13, 2019 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Colorado Mammoth News Release


Tomorrow, aspiring professional box lacrosse players from all over North America will descend on the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville, Ontario, for the second and final open NLL Combine of the year. The first combine of 2019 was held in Denver, Colorado in July.

"The combine is a good chance for all of our staff to be in one spot watching draft eligible players compete for a spot in the NLL," said Mammoth assistant general manager Brad Self, who will be in Toronto tomorrow alongside Mammoth general manager and head coach Pat Coyle. "We'll be looking for kids who stand out because of their compete level, skill and lacrosse IQ."

While perusing the list of NLL hopefuls who will compete for a nod from Coyle and Self tomorrow, the two athletes who stood out to me jumped out because of their ties to Colorado. I don't know a lot about their skill level or if they're prepared to compete at a professional level, but I do know they deserve your notice and your follow on social media.

Michael Cox (@elitecox), formerly a midfielder at the University of Denver, participated in the NLL Combine in Denver in July, just one day after participating in the USA Bobsled/Skeleton Combine in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Cox, who looks to fill a right-handed defenseman/transition player position, told NLL reporter Max Zimmaro, "The dream is two things. Number one in short term would be to get drafted by an NLL team and make an active roster and play in the NLL. The eventual goal is to maybe make a (sledding) rookie camp, train, and see where things go. The Olympics, maybe in 2026, would be far-fetched but something I would love to do."

Cox could just ("just") attend law school - the Southlake, Texas native's first semester at SMU Dedman School of Law started in August - but Cox wants to be a lawyer and be a professional athlete. He's willing to put in a crazy amount of work to get there, and I think that level of determination will get him far. I wouldn't be surprised to see his name on the wall of a law firm one day, just like I wouldn't be surprised to see his name on the back of an NLL jersey. Bobsled uniforms don't have names on the back, but if they did...you get my drift.

Patrick Timothee (@Patlittt) isn't someone who is waiting around for his chance to make it big. While others wait, the former Coker University midfielder works, and works and works. Timothee, a Plantation, Florida native, was a four-sport athlete while attending South Plantation High School, so an untiring work ethic was probably something he developed years ago.

The Denver Outlaws invited Timothee to their training camp in May 2019. He didn't make the roster, but he didn't give up either. In signing up for the NLL Combine, Timothee made it clear that, despite setbacks, he still intends to turn professional. Maybe this combine will be his big break; maybe it won't. Either way, Timothee will be out there working to get better and inspiring the kids he coaches to do the same. In my opinion, that kind of tenacity always pays off in the end.

The NLL Combine is just one of many exciting events leading up to the Mammoth's 2019-20 campaign.

The 2019 NLL Entry Draft is scheduled for Tuesday, September 17. Tune into Bleacher Report Live beginning at 4:30 p.m. MT for free, live draft coverage. The Mammoth have the sixth overall pick in the first round.

Mammoth single game tickets go on sale to the public on Thursday, September 19, at AltitudeTickets.com. For Full Season and Flex Pack memberships, fans can contact 303.405.1101. Click here to view the Mammoth's 2019-20 regular season schedule.

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