Abney, Burns Named All-SEC by Southeastern Football Saturdays: Kick returner Derek Abney and defensive end Vincent ?Sweet Pea? Burns have been named first-team All-Southeastern Conference by Southeastern Football Saturdays magazine.
The versatile Abney leads the SEC in all-purpose yardage with an average of 151.8 yards per game. He led the Wildcats in receiving with 51 catches for 616 yards and five touchdowns; averaged 9.8 yards on punt returns, including one touchdown; leads the SEC with a 24.1-yard kickoff return average; and had 11 rushes for 148 yards, an average of 13.5 yards per carry.
Abney finished his career with five NCAA records, 11 SEC records, and 14 school records for kick returns and all-purpose yardage. He became the only player in NCAA history to reach 2,000 receiving yards, 2,000 kickoff return yards, and 1,000 punt return yards in a career.
In addition to this award, Abney was chosen second-team All-America by The Associated Press and first-team All-SEC by AP and SEC Coaches.
Burns led the SEC with 18 tackles for loss. He totaled 72 tackles, most by a UK defensive lineman since noseguard Joey Couch in 1991. Burns also had 2.5 quarterback sacks, one fumble caused, one fumble recovery, one safety, and a team-high 10 quarterback hurries.
In addition to this award, Burns was tabbed first-team All-SEC by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and second-team All-SEC by AP.
Hall to Play in the East-West Shrine Game: Senior offensive tackle Antonio Hall will be playing in the East-West Shrine Game on Sat. Jan. 10 in Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco, Calif.
Hall will wear uniform No. 73 for the East team. The game is slated for a 2 p.m. EST kickoff and will be televised by ESPN.
Hall was chosen first-team All-SEC in 2003 by The Associated Press and the SEC Coaches. He showed his toughness by playing all season with a nagging hip injury, protecting the blind side of left-handed quarterback Jared Lorenzen. He totaled 68 knockdown blocks during the season. Hall also was a first-team All-SEC pick in 2002 by the SEC Coaches and a second-team selection by the AP that year.
Hall is the 26th Kentucky player or coach to compete in the East-West Game. The first were lineman Ray Correll and end Steve Meilinger in 1954 (following the 1953 season) and the most recent was running back Anthony White in 2000, following the 1999 season.
Tentative List of All-Star Game Participants: Here is the tentative listing for Wildcats who are scheduled to participate in the post-season football all-star games. Please be aware that all-star game rosters change frequently for various reasons.
Blue-Gray Game: DE Jeremy Caudill and C Nick Seitze, Dec. 25, Troy, Ala.
East-West Shrine Game: OT Antonio Hall, Jan. 10, San Francisco, Calif., 2 p.m. EST, ESPN
Hula Bowl Maui: C Nick Seitze, Jan. 17, Maui, Hawaii, 8 p.m. EST, ESPN
Senior Bowl: no UK players, Jan. 24, Mobile, Ala., 5 p.m. EST, ESPN
The Villages Gridiron Classic: QB Jared Lorenzen, Jan. 31, The Villages, Fla., noon EST, ESPN
