Army's Cockrill learned valuable lessons he hopes to take into NFL, military

WEST POINT – The one word that Nolan Cockrill often uses to describe his Army football experience is "grateful."

“I would say it’s hard to try and capture the entirety of my whole career in a word or something like that,’’ he said, “but it’s been awesome and I really enjoyed it. There's been ups and some downs and I’ve made lifelong relationships and friendships that I'm going to cherish forever. I look back and I feel very blessed to have been a part of everything.’’

Cockrill played a significant role the past three seasons as a defensive lineman from Centreville, Virginia. He’ll get a chance once more to represent West Point as he participates in the East-West Shrine Game senior showcase, with several days of practices before NFL scouts and the Thursday night game in Las Vegas.

“I'm very grateful just to have another opportunity to go compete and represent the Academy and just go play the game I love,’’ he said. “I am really grateful that they extended an invitation to me, and I am just looking forward to it. With everything that this Academy represents, to go out there and put it on display I am just grateful to represent.’’

Cockrill’s emerging play the past couple of seasons made him a prime target on the radars of NFL scouts. This season, nearly a quarter of Cockrill’s 40 tackles went for lost yardage this season. He had 2.5 sacks, a pass breakup, five quarterback hurries and recovered two fumbles.

Strengths and service

Following Army’s 24-22 victory over Missouri in the Dec. 22 Armed Forces Bowl, Cockrill got significant time to spend with family over the holidays. Since his return to West Point for the start of his final semester, he said he’s been active in the football training facilities – though not working out with his recent teammates – in preparation for this showcase event. “Everyone’s been super supportive,’’ Cockrill said.

Cockrill said many intangibles have led to his success as a player.

“I like to pride myself in technical things and then there's kind of things that you can't really measure,’’ he said. “I like to pride myself in having a high motor and being a constant presence on the field. I think those are things that are really important especially from the position that I played so I think those are things I try to focus on and do well.’’

Football lends itself to so many ups and downs, from one play to the next.

“I've lost my job and been knocked to the ground my fair share of times,’’ he said. “So you definitely have to come off to the sideline and brush things off, and when you mess up you have to know that someone's going to be able to make up for you. You’ve just got to get up and be able to dust it off, make that correction, keep your head and be able to do it the next time. I definitely say that resonates.’’

The East-West Shrine Game is one of a handful of senior showcase events for scouts. Teammate and punter Zach Harding has spent the past week in Southern California in preparation for Saturday night’s appearance in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.

More: Army punter Zach Harding takes next step toward NFL opportunities

A year ago, Army linebacker Jon Rhattigan concluded his breakout senior season by participating in the Hula Bowl, making a couple significant plays at the end of that contest to secure a victory. Rhattigan eventually got a military service deferment per new Pentagon rules, signed with the Seattle Seahawks and enjoyed a solid season on special teams and at linebacker. Cockrill and Rhattigan remain friends and spoke to one another about the importance of the showcase week. “Jon’s always been super supportive,’’ Cockrill said.

Cockrill said he’s in a no-lose position.

“However everything works out, I don't think there's any bad choice,’’ Cockrill said of his upcoming career. “I'm super excited to be able to go have the opportunity to pursue football and if that doesn't work out I'm super excited to be able to go serve. I'm just going to give it my all and have fun with it. I'm excited no matter what.’’

Cockrill has branched infantry with the U.S. Army and will learn of his upcoming posting next month.

NFL aspirations

Cockrill’s rise within the Army football ranks the past two seasons has brought his attention to entertaining NFL dreams.

“It’s been back and forth but it has really sunk in the last year or two,’’ he said. “It’s been something that’s been more at the forefront of my mind.’’

Cockrill said playing Army football has been great preparation for a potential pro career. “We have great coaches and a great culture, and those are things that carry over well anywhere in life,’’ he said.

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“It has taught me so many life lessons that I could only learn out there,’’ he added. “From when I was a kid to now I’ve learned a lot of things that … I will take into the rest of my life, things you can’t really learn anywhere else.’’

Cockrill was one of four team captains, all on the defensive side of the ball. He was honored to be elected by his teammates but wasn’t sure what to make of his new role.

“It was something that going into the year I didn’t really fully understand the depth of it or if I was up to that kind of thing,’’ he said. “I'm just very, very grateful that I got that experience because of the way I was able to grow and understand the importance of it and the influence and everything of that nature.

“Being in a leadership role you learn a lot about leadership - it's kind of redundant to say that but honestly we learn a lot about leadership here at the academy - but there's a time to actually do it and I think when you're in that position and you have to be that leader you learn a lot about yourself and what kind of leader you are and how you handle certain situations.’’

Playing in a senior class that ranks second all-time in wins at the Academy, Cockrill said his fondest memories are those that have taken place out of the public view – at practices and on road trips – and making lifelong friends. He also cherishes watching his first Army-Navy game as a freshman and his final game, the thrilling come-from-behind win over Missouri.

“My experience has been awesome, first and foremost,’’ Cockrill said. “Every single experience of my four years here, whether I was a freshman on the football team or a senior, It's really been about the people. being a freshman, seeing the upperclassmen and how they handled themselves and how they led this team, and then being able to be a senior and have that perspective and remember when you were that freshman, it's just been kind of awesome to be able to experience things as they come full circle.’’

kmcmillan@th-record.com

Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Army lineman Nolan Cockrill will play in East-West Shrine Game