Dec. 9, 2008

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Five Kentucky Wildcats were named to the All-Southeastern Conference team selected by the league’s head coaches, the SEC Office announced Tuesday.

Cornerback Trevard Lindley, linebacker Micah Johnson and punter Tim Masthay are first-team All-SEC, with offensive tackle Garry Williams and defensive tackle Myron Pryor named to the second team.  Only divisional champions Alabama and Florida had more players on the All-SEC first team than Kentucky.

• Lindley, a junior from Hiram, Ga., has four interceptions and 11 pass breakups this year.  He ranks second in the SEC and 15th nationally for total passes defended.  A semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award (nation’s top defensive back), Lindley set the school record for pass breakups in a career with 34.
• Masthay, a senior from Murray, Ky., leads the SEC and is fifth nationally with an average of 45.3 yards per punt.  As the team’s kickoff man, he is second in the league with 20 touchbacks.  He also is the team’s holder for placekicks.
• Johnson, a junior from Fort Campbell, Ky., has made 87 tackles despite missing two games because of injury.  He ranks third in the SEC in tackles per game.  He leads the Wildcats with 11.5 tackles for loss and has led the team in tackles in eight of the 10 games in which he has played.
• Williams, a senior from Louisville, has given up only one quarterback sack this season.  He was named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week in UK’s win over Western Kentucky.  As a team, UK ranks fifth in the nation in fewest tackles for loss allowed and eighth nationally for fewest sacks allowed.  
• Pryor, a senior from Louisville, has been a dominant presence in the defensive line.  He has 29 tackles this season, including 10 for loss and 4.5 quarterback sacks.  He was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week for the Louisville game when he returned a fumble for a touchdown and caused another fumble that was returned for a touchdown.