LEXINGTON, Ky. ? Junior cornerback Trevard Lindley has been named to the preseason watch lists for two more national honors, the Chuck Bednarik Award and the Jim Thorpe Award.
The Bednarik Award, for the nation’s top defensive player, is given by the Maxwell Football Club of Roslyn, Pa. The Thorpe Award, for the nation’s best defensive back, is granted by the Jim Thorpe Association of Oklahoma City, Okla. Lindley also is on the Bronko Nagurski watch list (nation’s best defensive player) announced earlier this year by the Football Writers Association of America.
Lindley (Hiram, Ga.) has five interceptions, 23 pass breakups and 118 tackles during his two seasons as a Wildcat. Four of his five interceptions have been key plays in Kentucky victories, with the fifth pick helping send a game into overtime. He has led the team in breakups both years and is only four PBU away from Antoine Huffman’s career record of 27. He also does an excellent job in run support and was second on the team in tackles last season, a rare feat for a cornerback.
Here are the Wildcats on preseason national watch lists:
- Ronnie Lott Trophy (best defensive player/character): Jeremy Jarmon
- Outland Trophy (best interior lineman): Garry Williams
- Bronko Nagurski Award (best defensive player): Trevard Lindley
- Chuck Bednarik Award (best defensive player): Trevard Lindley
- Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back): Trevard Lindley
Lindley, Brooks Draw Underrated Tag from : Cornerback Trevard Lindley and Coach Rich Brooks are among the Southeastern Conference’s most underrated performers, according to Chris Low of ESPN.com
“OK, we’re taking nominations for the most underrated coach in the SEC the last few seasons. Rich Brooks gets my vote…” Low wrote in a recent evaluation of the SEC Eastern Division.
Low also listed Lindley at the No. 4 slot on his list of the 10 most underrated players in the league. “He won’t be underrated for much longer,” Low wrote. “Lindley was one of the best young defensive players in the league last season as a sophomore. His cover instincts are outstanding.”
Hill Earns Master Coach Honor: UK’s Marc Hill has been named a Master Strength and Conditioning Coach by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCa), representing the highest honor given by the organization.
Hill is the Director of Strength and Conditioning for UK’s 22-sport athletics program and works primarily with the Wildcat football team. Hill is entering his 10 th season at UK and has helped the Wildcats advance to three Music City Bowls. In each of the last seven seasons, a Kentucky player has been named to the All-America Strength Team.
Prior to UK, Hill worked five years at the University of Arizona, helping that version of Wildcats go to three bowl games and win the 1997 NCAA men’s basketball championship.
“This is an incredible honor for Marc,” said Dr. Chuck Stiggins, Executive Director of the CSCCa. “Being named a Master Strength and Conditioning Coach signifies a commitment to the student-athlete, a commitment to the University of Kentucky’s athletic program and a commitment to the strength and conditioning profession. He is truly a model of an outstanding strength and conditioning professional.”
Summers, former NFL Athletic Trainer, Returns to UK Staff: Matt Summers has rejoined the UK staff as senior athletic trainer and will assist head athletic trainer Jim Madaleno with the Wildcat football team.
Summers returns to UK from the San Diego Chargers, where he was an assistant athletic trainer for the 2006-07 seasons. He began his career as a student assistant at UK, working with the football, men’s basketball and tennis teams, and graduated in 2002. He earned a master’s degree at the University of Louisville and was a member of the athletic training staff prior to being hired at San Diego.
Summers is certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association and the American Heart Association. He is a member of two professional associations. Summers, a native of Bardstown, Ky., is married to the former Kimberly Ahr, a native of Erlanger, Ky.
UK
Third Overall on 2007-08 SEC Academic Honor Rolls: University of Kentucky student-athletes tied for third overall for the most student-athletes on the 2007-08 SEC Academic Honor Rolls.
A total of 224 Wildcats earned a place on the fall, winter and spring sports honor rolls, along with the freshman honor roll. Among other qualifications, student-athletes must have a 3.0 grade-point average for the previous academic year or their entire career in order to garner the academic award. Almost half of UK’s 491 student-athletes (45.6 percent) achieved the honor.
