Aug. 28, 2002
Wildcats on the National Award Watch Lists: Five more Wildcats have been named to preseason watch lists for national awards.
Derek Abney is on the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, which goes to the nation’s best receiver. Abney caught 66 passes for 741 yards and six touchdowns last season. He ranked third in the SEC and 24th nationally last season in receptions per game.
Jared Lorenzen is on the watch list for the Davey O’Brien Award, which is given to the nation’s top quarterback. After regaining the starting job last year in mid-season, Lorenzen averaged 391.8 yards of total offense during the last five games of the season.
Glenn Pakulak is on the watch list for the Ray Guy Award, which goes to the nation’s outstanding punter. Pakulak led the SEC last season with an average of 44.5 yards per punt.
Artose Pinner is on the watch list for the Doak Walker Award, signifying the nation’s best running back. Pinner led the team in rushing last year with 441 yards and four touchdowns.
Defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson is on the watch list for the Outland Trophy, given to the nation’s outstanding interior lineman. Slowed significantly by injuries last season, Robertson hopes to return to the form of his freshman year when he had 40 tackles, including 13.5 tackles for loss. Earlier this month, Robertson and tight end Chase Harp were on the watch list for the Rotary Lombardi Award, which is given to the nation’s outstanding lineman.
Also earlier this month, Abney, offensive tackle Antonio Hall, Harp, Lorenzen, Pakulak, and Robertson were tabbed for the preseason All-America watch list compiled by the Football Writers Association of America.
Wildcats to Wear White Uniforms: The Wildcats will wear white helmets, jerseys, and pants for the Louisville game.
There are three uniform changes from last year. The white pants no longer have blue stripes on the sides. An interlocking UK logo has been added to the front left hip of the white pants. On the white helmets, the two narrow stripes have been made narrower.
Six True Freshmen to Dress Out: Coach Guy Morriss announced that six true freshmen would dress out for the Louisville game, including offensive linemen Michael Aitcheson and Jared McGowan, running backs Arliss Beach and Monquantae Gibson, wide receiver Glenn Holt, and cornerback Bo Smith.
“We still hope to redshirt all the freshmen, but we will have these players available if we need them,” Morriss said.
Practice Closed This Week: The Kentucky football practices this week (Aug. 26-30) will be closed to fans and media, Coach Guy Morriss has announced.
Final Entries in the Diaries: Senior linebacker Ronnie Riley and freshman offensive lineman Hayden Lane are publishing training-camp diaries on the football page of the ukathletics.com Web site. With training camp ending on Tuesday, the final entries of the diaries have been posted. The players were chosen in order to give the fans the perspective of a fifth-year senior and a first-year player.
– UK –
