Marques Cox (Larry Vaught Photo)
Marques Cox started college in 2018 and spent five years at Northern Illinois before transferring to Kentucky for the 2023 season where he started every game.
He now has started 46 of the 48 collegiate games he’s played in six seasons going into Friday’s TaxSlayer Gator Bowl in Jacksonville. However, the bowl game will not end his career because he’s coming back for a seventh season rather than try to move on to the NFL.
Cox believes he can use another year of development at UK even though he’s been in college for six years already.
“Here for this one year I saw a lot of development I can accomplish. There is so much more on the table for me,” Cox said.
Teammate Eli Cox, who started the season at guard before moving back to center, is also coming back for a sixth season in 2024.
“With Eli coming back it kind of made my decision easier,” Marques Cox said. He is a smart center and smart player. To be around here for another year with him is amazing.”
Marques Cox thought UK’s offensive line improved last season but can still be a lot better than it has been with improved technique and more attention to detail.
“Next year we want to try to be a more dominant O-line,” the UK lineman said.
He knows Clemson has a “big, athletic, fast” team that will test UK Friday. It will be his third bowl game appearance and he’s hoping to get his first bowl win. He also knows a win over a top-25 team like Clemson could help jump start the 2024 season for UK.
“I try to treat it the same as all the games this year. It’s just another game. I try not to worry about next year until next year happens but putting all the pieces together for this game could really help project for a big year next year for us,” Cox said.
