A durable Kentucky lineman who started 47 games across two positions before signing with Houston as an undrafted free agent.
Eli Cox is a Kentucky native who spent his entire college career in Lexington, developing into one of the SEC's steadiest interior offensive linemen before entering the pros undrafted. The Texans signed him with meaningful guaranteed money, betting his durability and versatility can translate to a roster spot.
Path to the league
Cox redshirted his first year at Kentucky in 2019, then worked his way into the starting lineup, ultimately starting 47 games over his career, 35 at center and 12 at right guard. He earned mid-season All-America recognition in 2021 before a season-ending hand injury, then closed his career with second-team All-SEC honors in 2023 and third-team All-SEC honors as Kentucky's full-time starting center in 2024. He signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent on May 9, 2025, with $250,000 in guaranteed money.
Career highlights
Cox's signature trait through college was durability and position flexibility, anchoring Kentucky's offensive line at both center and guard across five seasons. In his final year at center in 2024, he allowed just 14 total pressures across 13 games, ranking among the SEC's more reliable pass-protectors at the position.
2025 season recap
Cox was waived by the Texans in final roster cuts on August 26, 2025, but was immediately re-signed to the practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract with Houston on January 20, 2026, keeping his path toward a regular-season roster spot alive as he continues developing behind the Texans' starting offensive line.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Eli Cox
- ESPN: Eli Cox
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Center
- Group
- offense
- College
- Kentucky
- Hometown
- Nicholasville, KY, USA
- Age
- 25
- Status
- active
Team
