Kentucky football taps into transfer portal to add another piece to offensive line

Before the 2022 regular season even finished, Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops made it clear he would look to boost the Wildcats’ much-maligned offensive line in the transfer portal.

It should come as no surprise then that Kentucky’s first two transfer additions to the 2023 roster have come at that position.

Alabama reserve offensive guard Tanner Bowles was joined by Northern Illinois tackle Marques Cox in the Wildcats’ 2023 transfer class Thursday. Cox will have one season of eligibility remaining at Kentucky.

The 6-foot-6, 309-pound Peoria, Illinois, native is expected to compete for Kentucky’s starting left tackle position next season. Senior Kenneth Horsey played there in 2022, but even if Horsey elects to use his pandemic season of eligibility to return to Kentucky in 2023, he would probably move back to his natural position at offensive guard. Freshman Kiyaunta Goodwin, a former five-star recruit, was listed as the backup left tackle all season but played almost exclusively on the field goal unit.

Cox started the first four games of 2022 at left tackle for Northern Illinois before suffering what turned out to be a season-ending injury in the loss to Kentucky. UK coaches were able to gain an extended look at Cox’s film when preparing for that matchup.

The reviews there were apparently strong as the staff quickly prioritized Cox as a tackle addition when he entered the transfer portal on Nov. 28.

Cox started his last 33 games for Northern Illinois at left tackle. He immediately becomes the most experienced tackle option on the roster. Finding players capable of competing for starting jobs at those spots will likely be essential to Kentucky attracting a top quarterback transfer after the Wildcats ranked 124th of 131 teams nationally in sacks allowed during the regular season.

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