UK Athletics Photo
Jim Nagy is the executive director of the Reese’s Senior Bowl, an 18-year NFL scout and a six-time and four-time Super Bowl champion and he is getting on board with the Kentucky offensive line being a lot better this season.
Nagy knows the UK O-line got a lot of criticism during Will Levis’ draft journey but recently posted on Twitter that he expects a “bounce back” year for the Big Blue Wall due in large part to the arrival of Northern Illinois transfer Marques Cox. Nagy called the left tackle a “sleeper transfer” who could pay big dividends for UK.
“After grading every rising senior OL, Cox is on a short list of best portal acquisition big men in this year’s class and it wouldn’t surprise us if he ends up in the Top 100 range by next April’s draft,” Nagy posted on social media.
He said he’s an “elite” player who started 33 games “yet inexplicably was never named All-MAC.” Nagy believes Cox’s length will make him a “significant upgrade” in pass protection for UK and quarterback Devin Leary. Pro Football Focus noted that Cox has only given up three sacks in his career.
“In run game, he has some twist and torque in his body and he’s surprisingly effective adjusting at point of attack and playing on-move for long-levered guy,” Nagy said. “Plugging Cox in at left tackle will allow super-senior leader Kenneth Horsey to kick inside to his more natural left guard spot, ensuring solid blindside protection for new quarterback Devin Leary, who looked very good for the second straight year at the Manning Camp.”
Nagy said Cox, Horsey and Eli Cox all have a chance to earn invites to the Senior Bowl like former UK linemen Logan Stenberg, Drake Jackson, Darian Kinnard and Luke Fortner have in recent years.
