Former Patterson High School standout wide receiver Paul Cox Jr. has conquered the high school and collegiate levels.

Now, he’s ready for the NFL.

Cox, who played his college football at Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bend, Miss., left Thursday and hit the practice field today with the San Diego Chargers, who signed him as an undrafted rookie free agent.

The wide receiver finished his senior season with 36 catches for 619 yards and three touchdowns. He will be participating in the Chargers’ rookie minicamp today through Sunday.

While the Chargers signed him, Cox knows that he must prove his abilities daily.

“Every day’s an interview, so (at) anytime you can be cut,” he said Wednesday while watching Patterson High School’s spring practice.

Cox is not unfamiliar with the Chargers as he said he had minimum contact with them throughout his senior season. He also participated in the third annual Historically Black Colleges and Universities’ All-Star Bowl in December at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The event pits the 100 top eligible seniors from HBCUs against each other.

While at the bowl, he was put through a combine atmosphere where NFL personnel administered tests.

Cox said he continued to receive the Chargers’ attention when they attended his Pro Day workout earlier this year.

While Cox said the Chargers originally were going to try to draft him in the seventh round, they opted for Michigan State running back Edwin Baker. Still, Cox said he was one of the first wide receivers the Chargers picked up in free agency.

He said that slight snub in the draft motivates him more heading into camp.

“It’s just a blessed opportunity to have — period,” he said. “I know a lot of people don’t get that opportunity, so I’m just going to make the best of it.”

When he began practice today, Cox wasn’t the only player in the fold with Louisiana ties.

The Chargers took LSU strong safety Brandon Taylor in the third round, University of Louisiana at Lafayette tight end Ladarius Green in the fourth and signed LSU quarterback Jarrett Lee in free agency.

At the wide receiver position, the Chargers also signed undrafted free agents Hubert Anyiam (Oklahoma State), Jason Barnes (South Carolina), Taylor Embree (UCLA), Phillip Payne (UNLV) and Michael Willie (Arizona State).

Cox, who attended a small high school and college, said he is excited to see how he stacks up against the rest of the rookies and free agents

“I’m definitely excited,” he said. “This is the ultimately opportunity. (It is) the ultimate job to have. This is the lifestyle that every man wants to live. I’m very blessed, and I’m very ready to go compete and get me a position.”

To prepare himself for such a shot, he said he has increased his running, workouts and film study.

If he advances past the rookie minicamp, Cox then will begin work in the Chargers’ offseason program, which begins immediately after this weekend’s rookie session.