Eli Cox (Vicky Graff Photo)
First it was ESPN naming sophomore offensive guard Eli Cox of West Jessamine to its midseason All-America team last week. Now the Associated Press has done the same thing for the player very few expected to even be starting this season.
“It’s nice to get the midseason award but we’ve still got a lot of work to do,” Cox said Tuesday. “It’s not really our main concern right now.”
That’s because even coming off a 30-13 loss at No. 1 Georgia the Cats still have big hopes for this season. Kentucky is 6-1 and ranked 15th in the AP poll. The Cats have this week off before playing at Mississippi State Oct. 30.
“We’re just worried about beating our next opponent. We’ll let that stuff fall where it may when the season is over,” Cox said about the awards.
The 6-4, 290-pound Cox played in eight games at left guard as backup in 2020 but moved to right guard in the spring. He played so well that UK moved 2020 starting right guard Luke Fortner to center and put Cox into his starting spot
That was a big move for a three-star recruit who many thought might be lucky to even play at Kentucky.
“I guess my expectation was to play to the best of my ability,” Cox said. “Not to set a limit or tell myself I’m not as good as this guy is so I’m going to work on just being a role player. I’m not going to be that All-American guy,” Cox said Tuesday.
“I just wanted to be the best I can be, and whatever that level ends up being I want to keep it there and hopefully improve upon it next year.”
