Jan. 18, 2011
Mobile, Ala. — Kentucky running back Derrick Locke will be making his second bowl trip to the state of Alabama this month to play in the 2011 Under Armour Senior Bowl. Locke, who’s Wildcats lost to Pittsburgh in the BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham last week, has officially accepted an invitation to play in the senior showcase event, officials announced today. The 62nd game is scheduled for Saturday, January 29th at 3pm (CT) in Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The game and all practices will be televised by NFL Network.
“Derrick is an exciting player to watch because he has such great speed and vision when running the ball,” Senior Bowl President and CEO Steve Hale said. “We look forward to seeing what he can do in person and in front of the top NFL decision makers here in Mobile at the Senior Bowl.”
Locke rushed for 887 yards and 10 touchdowns this season despite missing four games due to an injury. He had five 100-yard rushing efforts this year and one 100-yard receiving game. A threat in the return game as well, Locke totaled 395 yards in kickoff returns for an average of 26.3 yards per return.
“Missing those four games to injury, I feel like I have so much to prove,” Locke said. “I started off so strong but then missed those four games and then I came back and was doing what I had been doing earlier in the season so it feels good to be able to get on a level playing field with other good backs.”
The Hugo, Oklahoma native wrapped up his impressive career ranked sixth on Kentucky’s all-time list with 2,618 rushing yards. He also set the school mark for kickoff return average (27.1) and is third in school history with 4,973 all-purpose yards. He had 27 total touchdowns over the course of his career—two of those coming on 100-yard kickoff returns.
“I want to show them (scouts) a lot of speed, how I catch the ball and how I run routes, my explosiveness and my vision. I want to show them that a little guy can produce in the NFL—that’s my main objective,” Locke added.
Locke will play on the South squad and will be coached by Chan Gailey and his Buffalo Bills staff while in Mobile.
Tickets for the 2011 Under Armour Senior Bowl are currently available for purchase at the Senior Bowl ticket office (151 Dauphin Street), the Bel Air Mall customer service desk, all area Food For Less locations, select Regions Bank locations, online at www.seniorbowl.com or by calling (251) 432-4109.
The Senior Bowl is college football’s premier pre-draft event, annually featuring the nation’s best senior collegiate football stars and top NFL draft prospects on teams coached by NFL coaching staffs. Senior Bowl practices and game week festivities are attended by more than 800 general managers, head coaches, assistant coaches, scouts and other front office personnel from all 32 National Football League teams, making Mobile and the Senior Bowl the week-long host to a one-of-a-kind NFL Coaches Convention. For more information on the 2011 Under Armour Senior Bowl please visit the bowl’s website at www.seniorbowl.com.
