Dec. 22, 2001
Junior College Wide Receiver Signs With Wildcats: Junior college wide receiver Chris Bernard is the University of Kentucky’s second signee of the 2002 recruiting season, Coach Guy Morriss has announced.
The 6-1, 190-pound Bernard was a second-team All-America selection as a sophomore at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif. He caught 61 passes for 957 yards, a 15.7-yard average, and eight touchdowns. He also averaged 25.4 yards on nine kickoff returns. Bernard earned first-team All-Mission Conference honors both seasons at Saddleback.
“Chris has great hands and good speed,” Coach Guy Morriss said. “He impressed us by showing an ability to play above the competition against everybody he played. He is also a versatile player who returned punts and kickoffs and was a great blocker when called upon to do that.”
Bernard, who will enroll at UK in January, counts as the first scholarship on the 2002 recruiting class. UK’s earlier signee this week was counted back on the 2001 recruiting class. Here is Bernard’s biography:
Chris Bernard, Wide Receiver, 6-1, 190, Jr-JC, Mission Viejo, Calif. (Aliso Niguel/Saddleback College) — Earned second-team All-America honors by JC Gridwire magazine in his sophomore season at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif. … Caught 61 passes for 957 yards and eight touchdowns … Also averaged 25.4 yards on kickoff returns … Helped lead Saddleback to a 7-4 record and a berth in the Western States Bowl … Team’s final ranking was 29th in the nation by JC Gridwire … First-team All-Mission Conference both seasons at Saddleback … As a freshman, he caught 15 passes for 284 yards and three TDs … Also rushed 42 times for 211 yards and completed three of six passes for 142 yards and one TD … Averaged 24 yards on kickoff returns and 6.9 yards on punt returns … Led the team in all-purpose yardage both seasons, averaging 112.9 yards per game as a sophomore and 139.5 yards per game as a freshman … Coached by Mark McElroy, who said, “The best thing about Chris is that he is an incredible athlete. He makes circus catches all the time because he has a great ability to adjust to where the ball is thrown. He is a hard worker who is coachable and has good speed” … An all-league performer as a senior at Aliso Niguel HS in Aliso Viejo, Calif. … Helped lead his team to the post-season playoffs … Had to play junior varsity ball as a junior because of the state’s transfer rule … Started as a sophomore at Laguna Hills (Calif.) HS, part of a team that went 13-1 and won the divisional championship … At various times during his high school career, he played wide receiver, quarterback, running back, defensive back, punter, kickoff returner, and punt returner … Also a member of the basketball, baseball, and track teams in high school … Competed in the 100-, 200-, and 400-meter dashes, the sprint relays, and the long jump and triple jump … Best time in the 40-yard dash is 4.4 seconds … Chose Kentucky over Colorado State and Montana.
“The Jerry Claiborne Way” to be Dedicated in the Spring: In the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees meeting on Dec. 11, it was decided that Sports Center Drive will be renamed “The Jerry Claiborne Way” in honor of the former UK football coach and student-athlete.
A dedication ceremony will be held in 2002 in conjunction with spring football practice. An exact date will be determined later. Tentatively, spring football practice is scheduled to begin March 26 and conclude with the Blue/White Spring Game on Apr. 20.
Several UK athletic facilities are located alongside Sports Center Drive, including the Nutter Training Facility, Shively Sports Center, Cliff Hagan Baseball Stadium, and the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center.
Players Away For Holiday Break: The Kentucky football players have completed fall examinations and are away for the holiday break. Classes resume Wed. Jan. 9.
– UK –
