Kentucky’s Kenny Darby and Lance Heard Earn SEC Weekly Honors
Kentucky wide receiver Kenny Darby and offensive tackle Lance Heard have earned Southeastern Conference weekly honors, the league announced Monday. Darby is the Freshman of the Week and Heard the Offensive Lineman of the Week for performances in a 35-34 overtime victory at South Carolina.
Darby, a 6-foot-1, 180-pounder from Bossier City, Louisiana, was sensational as the Wildcats marked the biggest comeback road win in school history. The previous record was in 2009 at Georgia, when the Wildcats rallied from a 27-13 deficit in the third quarter for a 34-27 win. The explosive playmaker set a Kentucky single-game freshman record with 12 receptions, good for 96 yards and a touchdown.
Trailing 17-0 in the second quarter, Darby spearheaded the Wildcat offense with 10 catches for 82 yards in the second half alone. He began the third quarter with a 17-yard touchdown reception. He also made a crucial play in the fourth quarter. With UK backed up on its own 16-yard line, on second down with 17 yards to go, he caught a short pass and eluded tacklers for a 22-yard gain and a first down. The play continued the drive that ended with the field goal that sent the game to overtime
Darby is the first Wildcat with at least 12 receptions, 96 yards and one touchdown in an SEC road game since Randall Cobb at Mississippi State in 2010. For the season, he has 25 receptions for 322 yards and three touchdowns. He leads or is tied for the team lead in all three categories.
UK’s freshman pass catcher was also recognized as On3’s True Freshman Wide Receiver of the Week (national award) for his performance at South Carolina.
Heard, a 6-6, 325-pound lineman from Bonita, Louisiana, has earned widespread praise for his blocking against the Gamecocks. A clip of his pancake blocks of two South Carolina defenders on one play has gone viral on social media.
Heard was the top grader on the UK line at 81 percent and had five knockdown blocks, including the two on one play. He committed zero penalties and allowed no quarterback sacks. Heard helped the Wildcats generate 266 yards total offense and 17 points in the second half as Kentucky pulled off the largest comeback road win in school history. Kentucky’s lone rushing touchdown and a 4th-and-1 conversion for a first down came directly through his left tackle position.
The Wildcats (4-1, 2-1 SEC) return home Oct. 10 to play host to No. 10/10 LSU at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
