Jan. 16, 2003

Five New Wildcats Enroll at UK: Linebacker Brad Booker, defensive end Travis Day, wide receiver Maurice Marchman, offensive lineman Paul Webb, and linebacker Durrell White, who committed to Kentucky last year, have enrolled in the University.

All five players have begun the off-season workout program and will be able to participate in spring practice. White, who had reconstructive knee surgery last summer, is progressing well. He is expected to have at least partial participation, and perhaps full participation, during spring drills. Here are their updated biographies.

Brad Booker
, Linebacker, 6-2, 228, Fr-HS, Smith’s Grove, Ky. (Bowling Green) – First-team all-state as a senior by the Louisville Courier Journal when he piled up 186 tackles, including 11 for loss and five quarterback sacks … Named to the Lexington Herald-Leader “Class of the Commonwealth” listing of the top 22 seniors in Kentucky … Four-year letterman and three-year starter at Bowling Green HS … Career stats at linebacker feature 559 tackles, five interceptions, seven fumble recoveries, three blocked kicks, 27 tackles for loss, and 10 quarterback sacks … Also started at offensive tackle during his senior season … Second-team all-state as a junior by The Associated Press … Two-year choice on the All-Sky Conference first team … BGHS went to the state playoffs his freshman and senior seasons … Brad is the third all-state linebacker out of BGHS in the last five years … Coached by Kevin Wallace … An All-South pick by PrepStar magazine and the No. 4 prospect in Kentucky according to SuperPrep … Will be a four-year letterman in baseball as a catcher-outfielder … All-district performer as a junior who helped his team advance to the final eight of the state playoffs … Two-year letterman in basketball … Committed to Kentucky during the summer before his senior season and did not seriously consider other schools.

Travis Day
, 6-3, 258, Fr-HS, Columbus, Ga. (Carver) – An all-region and all-city pick as a senior at Carver HS in Columbus, Ga. … Three-year starter at Carver … At various times in his career, he played tackle, end, and linebacker on defense and tackle and tight end on offense … Honorable-mention all-city as a sophomore and junior … Team’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player as a junior and Most Outstanding Defensive Player as a senior … Career statistics feature 404 tackles, 15 quarterback sacks, three interceptions (including one returned for a touchdown), and seven fumble recoveries … Combines size and strength with excellent speed, as he has been timed at 4.7 seconds in the 40-yard dash … Coached by Wallace Davis, who has helped produce approximately 50 Division I-A players, including three future National Football League players, during his term as head coach … Travis was a three-year letterman in track and field, competing in the shot put and discus throw … Finished fourth in the region in the discus … Member of Future Business Leaders of America, Spanish Club, VICA Club, and Co-President of the “C” Club for the school’s athletes.

Maurice Marchman
, Wide Receiver, 6-0, 186, Fr-HS, Louisville, Ky. (Ballard) – Swift receiver surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in each of his last two seasons at Ballard HS in Louisville … Caught 76 passes for 1,332 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior, when he was named first-team all-state by The Associated Press and second-team all-state by the Louisville Courier-Journal … Snagged 71 balls for 1,025 yards and nine TDs as a junior, when the Courier-Journal tabbed him as third-team all-state … Two-year choice on the all-district team … Also played running back on offense in addition to his wide receiver play … Two-year starter as a defensive back … Three-year letterman whose team made it to the state playoffs all three seasons … Coached by Mark Catlett … Will be a four-year letterman on the track team, competing in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, along with the sprint relay events … Advanced to the state meet in the 100 and 200 as a junior … Member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes … Chose Kentucky over Indiana and Boston College.

Paul Webb
, Offensive Lineman, 6-4, 298, Fr-HS, Paintsville, Ky. (Johnson Central) – Four-year starter at Johnson Central HS in Paintsville, Ky. … Started at offensive guard as a freshman, then moved to defensive tackle for the remainder of his prep career … Had 52 tackles as a senior and blocked two field goals in a game … Named to the All-South team by PrepStar magazine … Made 79 tackles his junior year, including four sacks, and returned a fumble for a touchdown … Notched 54 tackles and made an interception in his sophomore season … Three-year member of the all-district team and was a two-year all-area pick … Has excellent speed for a player his size … Coached by Bruce Humphrey … Three-year competitor in wrestling in the 8th through 10th grades … Won the district in his final year of wrestling competition … Chairman of his school’s chapter of the Future Farmers of America … Dreamed of attending Kentucky since a young child, he was the first commitment to the 2002 recruiting class, despite recruiting attention from numerous other schools.

Durrell White
, Linebacker, 6-3, 250, Fr-HS, Middlesboro, Ky. (Middlesboro) – Standout linebacker combines good size with notable athletic ability … A finalist for the “Mr. Football” award as a senior at Middlesboro (Ky.) HS … Made 147 tackles as a senior, along with two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown … Rushed for 1,674 yards and 18 touchdowns … Middlesboro went to the second round of the state playoffs … First-team all-state by The Associated Press and second-team all-state by the Louisville Courier-Journal … Listed in the “Class of the Commonwealth” top 22 seniors by the Lexington Herald-Leader … The No. 6 linebacker in the south according to PrepStar … District Player of the Year … Coached by Kenny Roark … Played his sophomore and junior seasons at Bell County HS, helping the team go to the state playoffs both years … Had 137 tackles and four interceptions his junior year … Will be a four-year letterman in track … His athletic ability is demonstrated by his events, 100-meter dash, the 4×100- and 4×200-meter relays, along with the triple jump … Has been to the state track meet in the triple jump and the relays … Has participated in the “Upward Bound” college preparatory program and the “First Priority” Christian group … Did not give significant consideration to schools other than Kentucky, although he did receive extensive recruiting attention … Sustained a knee injury while practicing for the Kentucky-Tennessee High School All-Star Game in the summer of 2002 … Had reconstructive surgery and delayed enrollment at UK until Jan. 2003.

Wildcats in the All-Star Games: Wildcats participating in the post-season all-star games include wide receiver Aaron Boone, defensive end Otis Grigsby, tight end Chase Harp, punter Glenn Pakulak, and running back Artose Pinner. Here is a list of the games and the players who will participate in each game:

Senior Bowl (Pinner), Sat. Jan. 18, 2 p.m. EST, Mobile, Ala., televised by ESPN

Paradise Bowl (Boone, Grigsby, Harp), Sat. Jan. 25, 1 p.m. EST, St. George, Utah, televised by Fox Sports Network

Rotary Gridiron Classic (no UK players), Sat. Jan. 25, 2 p.m. EST, Orlando, Fla., televised by espn2

Hula Bowl Maui (Pakulak), Sat. Feb. 1, 9 p.m. EST, Wailuku, Hawaii, televised by ESPN. Pakulak also will be honored with the Mosi Tatupu Award as the National Special Teams Player of the Year during the week of the Hula Bowl.

Kentucky Football Calendar

Wed. Feb. 5 – High school signing period begins
Mon. March 31 – Spring practice begins
Sat. Apr. 26 – Blue/White Spring Football Game
July 29-31 – SEC Football Media Days; Kentucky appearance is Tue. July 29
Mon. Aug. 4 – Newcomers report
Thu. Aug. 7 – Veterans report
Fri. Aug. 8 – Kentucky Football Media Day
Sat. Aug. 30 – Louisville at Kentucky

-UK-