Dicky Lyons Sr. Named Kentucky’s SEC Football Legend
Former University of Kentucky football all-purpose player Dicky Lyons Sr. has been named a 2024 Southeastern Conference Legend, it was announced Tuesday.
Known as one of the greatest punt and kickoff return aces in Southeastern Conference history, Lyons was also one of the most versatile athletes in SEC annals as he lettered three years at running back, receiver, kick returner, punter, kicker and defensive back at Kentucky from 1966-68.
Lyons was named first-team All-SEC as a junior and senior and earned second-team all-league honors as a sophomore. Lyons was the first player in SEC history with 1,000 yards rushing, 1,000 yards in punt returns and 1,000 yards in kickoff returns. He set an SEC record for most return yardage in a game when he racked up 235 yards of punt and kickoff returns against LSU in 1967. Lyons’ career punt return average of 15.4 yards per return was one of the best in SEC annals and continues as the Kentucky school record.
Lyons was selected in the fourth round of the 1969 NFL/AFL Draft and went on to play for the New Orleans Saints. He also played in the Canadian Football League and the World Football League. Lyons was named to Kentucky’s All-Time Team during the 100th season of UK football and his jersey has been retired by the school. Lyons’ son, Dicky Lyons Jr., was a star wide receiver for the Wildcats from 2004-08.
Lyons is part of the 2024 Football Legends class that includes 16 former stars who excelled on the gridiron and helped write the rich history of the sport at their respective institutions, and is the first to include representatives from new members Oklahoma and Texas. This year’s class includes All-Americans, All-SEC selections, Academic All-Americans and NFL standouts and first round draft picks. The group represents teams that won SEC Championships, claimed Super Bowl titles and are represented in state, school and college football halls of fame.
The class will be honored at the 2024 SEC Football “Weekend of Champions” December 6-7 in Atlanta, Ga, highlighted by the annual SEC Legends Celebration presented by T-Mobile on Friday, December 6 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. The group will also be recognized prior to the SEC Football Championship Game, which will be held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, December 7.
