With the dominos falling for transfer portal announcements, Kentucky Wildcat fans got a piece of good news earlier today. Eli Cox announced through his social media today that he will be returning to Kentucky next year for his sixth and final season of NCAA eligibility.
There was news of three Wildcats entering their names into the transfer portal but it was good to see a crucial piece of next year's squad decide to return. Eli Cox is Kentucky's most experienced lineman as he was a part of the 2019 recruiting class.
Cox, who is from Nicholasville, has played in 42 games in his career with Kentucky and managed to start in 34 of those. Unfortunately, he did suffer a hand injury which affected his junior season in 2021 but has returned healthy since as he has been a starter for the past three seasons. Eli has had an unfortunate go of things because he has been asked to adjust to at a few different positions on the offensive line. He has played most of his career at right guard but has also had to play at the center position in 2022 due to team injuries.
The Transfer Portal season is a whirlwind and there are a lot of players that come and a lot of players that go, deciding to test the waters elsewhere. The reason that Eli Cox staying is a huge bonus for Kentucky is quite simple. That is one less piece that they will have to worry about during the off-season. Also, Cox just brings about an overall veteran leadership to the locker room, one that former offensive line coach John Schlarman instilled into him during his time at Kentucky.
I'm sure there will be plenty more players announcing their decisions on whether they are choosing to stay at Kentucky or if they want to enter the transfer portal in the coming days. This is the way the college football world works nowadays and whether we like it or not it is more than likely here to stay.
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