'Exactly what we needed': Marques Cox is filling Kentucky's big need at left tackle

marques cox kenneth horsey big blue wall kentucky football spring practice — (Jacob Noger | UK Athletics)

After a Week 1 win over Miami (Ohio), Kentucky football had a big problems. The Wildcats clearly didn’t have a capable SEC left tackle on the roster and were forced to slide left guard Kenneth Horsey outside. That created numerous issues leading to a very bad year for the Big Blue Wall.

The top goal for head coach Mark Stoops and his football program in December was to find a new starting quarterback, but not far behind that was answering the huge left tackle problem. The coaching staff and recruiting department quickly turned their attention to Northern Illinois transfer Marques Cox.

The MAC transfer started 33 games at left tackle for NIU playing over 2,200 snaps. A former low three-star recruit out of Peoria (Ill.) High immediately caught the eye of Kentucky offensive line coach Zach Yenser.

“The first thing I watched was Marques vs. us last year,” Yenser told reporters last week. “He played about 27 snaps I think against us. Then he hurt his foot but if you watched, he’s played a lot of snaps. I liked his length. I think he’s physcial.”

“Just hearing what some of the coaches had to say about him, just his leadership. Then you get around him and you realize how good of a dude he is.”

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Cox has made a strong impact during his short time in Lexington. The super senior has immediately come in and taken control of the the left tackle spot. Kentucky seems to have filled a major hole in the offense. The addition was just what the doctor ordered.

“It was exactly what we needed,” Yenser said about Cox. “A good football player that can hold it down, that are going to hold people accountable. The film all checked the boxes and then you get around him one-on-one in person. I remember the first time I met him in person, I left and I was like ‘this guy is a dude’. I called Coach Stoops and said this guy will be our starting left tackle. He just has a good presence about him.

That veteran presence will be needed when the season rolls around. A case can be made that Marques Cox is one of the most important players on Kentucky’s team this season. The Wildcats will need dependable, steady play from their new left tackle as the offensive line looks to get back to playing winning football in Lexington.