Senior linebacker Wesley Woodyard has been named a semifinalist for the Lott Trophy by the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation.
Named after former defensive back Ronnie Lott, the trophy goes to the outstanding college defensive player of the year who also has the greatest IMPACT on his team, both on and off the field. IMPACT stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community, and Tenacity. Woodyard is one of eight semifinalists for the award, which honors personal character in addition to athletic performance.
So far this season, Woodyard leads the Southeastern Conference with 102 tackles, along with eight tackles for loss, two quarterback sacks, five pass breakups, and two fumbles caused. He was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week for the Arkansas game when he tied a career high with 18 tackles and caused a fumble that Trevard Lindley returned for a touchdown.
Woodyard has reached 100 tackles in three consecutive seasons. He ranks ninth in school history with 358 stops and is the first Wildcat in 14 years to reach 300 tackles in a career.
Off the field, Woodyard is on track to graduate in only three and one-half years with a degree in social work. He has been very involved with the UK Athletics community service program and was named to the UK Athletics Society of Character.
Woodyard also is a semifinalist for the Butkus Award (nation?s best linebacker) and Bednarik Award (national defensive player of the year) and is on the watch list for the Nagurski Award (national defensive player of the year).
Jarmon Tabbed as SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week: Sophomore defensive end Jeremy Jarmon has been selected as the Southeastern Conference Defensive Lineman of the Week for his performance in the win at Vanderbilt, the league office has announced.
Jarmon (Collierville, Tenn.) had four tackles, including 2.5 quarterback sacks, and a QB hurry in the 27-20 win over the Commodores. All three sack plays took on a significant role in the outcome of the contest:
In the second quarter, he combined with Corey Peters on a third-down sack that pushed back VU and preceded a missed field goal; In the third quarter, Jarmon had another sack that helped stop a Vanderbilt drive in Kentucky territory; With VU driving for the potential game-tying (or winning) score with 36 seconds remaining in the game, and the Commodores having seconddown and one yard to go on the Wildcat 15-yard line, Jarmon sacked Mackenzi Adams for a five-yard loss; Adams had to spike the ball on the next play to stop the clock, setting up the fourth-down incompletion that saved the game for Kentucky
This is the first time in Jarmon?s career that he has won an SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week Award. This is the seventh time this season a Wildcat has gotten one of the weekly honors, including offensive guard Jason Leger (twice), offensive tackle Garry Williams, quarterback Andr? Woodson (twice), and linebacker Wesley Woodyard.
Tennessee Game Sold Out: The Tennessee at Kentucky game on Nov. 24 has been confirmed as a sellout following distribution of all of the UK student tickets.
This will be the fifth sellout game of the season, joining the Louisville, Louisiana State, Florida, and Mississippi State games.
Tennessee Game Selected by CBS: The Tennessee at Kentucky football game on Sat. Nov. 24 has been selected for live national telecast by CBS. Game time is set for 1:30 p.m.
The Tennessee game will mark Kentucky?s eighth live nationally or regionally televised game this season, three on CBS, three on an ESPN affiliate, and two on Lincoln Financial Sports.
The CBS crew for the Tennessee game will feature Craig Bolerjack on play-by-play and Steve Beuerlein providing the analysis.
<>Men?s Basketball Game vs. Texas Southern Set for 8 p.m.: The Texas Southern at Kentucky men?s basketball game on Nov. 24 has been set for an 8 p.m. tipoff in Rupp Arena.
Bowl Game Ticket Application Deadline Extended to Nov. 29: The University of Kentucky Athletics Ticket Office has mailed bowl-game ticket applications to season-ticket holders. The application has a stated deadline of Nov. 19; that deadline has been extended to Nov. 29. For ticket questions, fans should call 800-928-CATS or (859) 257-1818.
?Big Blue Crush? Going on This Week: The annual ?Big Blue Crush? blood drive is taking place Nov. 12-16 and pits University of Kentucky fans against University of Tennessee supporters to see who can give the most blood.
Kentucky Coach Rich Brooks got the Big Blue ball rolling on Monday by donating a pint of blood. Brooks encourages all Wildcat fans to do the same in order to win the blood drive.
The Big Blue Crush helps the Kentucky Blood Center have enough donations to make it through the upcoming holiday season. Now in its 20th year, the competition is tied ? UK and Tennessee have won nine times each and there has been one tie.
Fans wishing to donate can call 1-800-775-2522 or visit for donor center details, which are located in Lexington, Pikeville, Prestonsburg, and Somerset. In Lexington, the Kentucky Blood Center is located at 3121 Beaumont Center Circle and will be open this week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. There are also giving locations on the UK campus.
Fans who donate to the Big Blue Crush will receive:
A coupon from McDonald?s for a free Extra Value Meal A 20th anniversary Big Blue Crush T-shirt Entry in a daily drawing for two tickets to the Tennessee at Kentucky football game and two passes for the Big Blue Zone tailgate party prior to the game
