Aug. 1, 2014
LEXINGTON, Ky. — A total of 17 former Kentucky football stars are currently in NFL training camps. Learn all about their Kentucky and professional careers in a UK-NFL Training Camp Notebook.
Chandler Burden (2008-11) – Cincinnati Bengals
2013: Played with Miami in the offseason and saw action in the first three preseason games, before spending nine weeks on the Kansas City practice squad.
UK Career: Played in 43 games with 26 starts during his four-year career … Came to Kentucky as a defensive lineman, before sliding over to the offensive line with great success … As a junior, helped lead UK to the BBVA Compass Bowl, with UK allowing the second fewest sacks in the SEC.
Randall Cobb, WR (2008-10) – Green Bay Packers
2013: One of the top wide receivers in the NFL, battled injury in his third professional season, playing in six games … Hauled in 31 catches for 433 yards, with four TDs … Also rushed four times for 78 yards … Owns a franchise record and league-best 2,342 combined net yards in 2012 … Led the Packers in catches (80) and receiving yards in 2012.
UK Career: A multi-purpose offensive threat during his three-year career, Cobb served as a wide receiver, quarterback and ball carrier for the Wildcats … Rushed for 1,313 yards and 22 touchdowns, totaled 1,661 yards with 13 touchdowns receiving, while throwing for five TDs and 689 yards … Also owned two punt-return touchdowns, owning a 24.6 yard-average as a kick returner … As a junior, totaled seven TDs with 1,017 yards receiving, also rushing for five TDs, throwing for three TDs and returning one punt for a score … Had the fourth-most all-purpose yards gained in a career … Set a school record in all-purpose yards in 2010 … Ranks second in average yards per play in his career … And ranks first and second in average yards per play in single-season history … First in average yards per rush in UK career history … Has the fifth-most catches in UK history, the third-most in UK single-season history and second-most in a game in 2010.
John Conner, FB (2006-09) – New York Giants
2013: Played in 13 games with seven starts for the Giants in 2013 … Had six catches for 31 yards out of the backfield … Has played in 50 career NFL games over his five-year career, including all 16 games in 2010 and 2011 with the New York Jets.
UK Career: Played in 52 games as a fullback in the Kentucky offense … Rushed it 54 times in his career for four TDs, a 4.6 yard per carry average, also catching 25 passes for four TDs … As a redshirt freshman caught two passes, one for a TD, before going for 15 rushes and 47 yards as a sophomore, also catching 11 passes for 89 yards … Senior season saw 31 rushes for 158 yards and two TDs, catching five passes for one TD.
Winston Guy, S (2008-11) – Jacksonville Jaguars
2013: Played in 13 games with two starts during his second professional season with the Jaguars … Totaled 29 tackles and one sack, forcing a fumble and deflecting one pass.
UK Career: Played in 51 games in his four-year career, charting 297 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and five interceptions … Also served as a kick returner during his career, including a 96-yard return as a freshman in 2008 … After 11 tackles as a freshman and 60 tackles as a sophomore, charted 106 tackles with four for a loss and three interceptions as a junior in 2010 … Returned for his senior season to chart 120 tackles, 14 for loss, with 1.5 sacks and two interceptions in 2011.
Steve Johnson, WR (2006-07) – San Francisco 49ers
2013: Started 12 games with the Buffalo Bills in 2013, catching 52 passes for 597 yards with three TDs … Played six seasons with the Bills, totaling 301 receptions for 3,832 yards and 28 TDs in his career.
UK Career: A two-year star for the Wildcats, finished his career with 72 catches for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns … As a senior in 2007, charted 60 catches for 1,041 yards, with 13 TDs … During his junior season, recorded one touchdown with 12 catches in 13 games … With 1,041 yards, Johnson ranked second in UK single-season history in 2007 … Caught game winners vs. UL and LSU in 2007 … With 13 TDs in 2007, ranked third in UK season history.
Ricky Lumpkin, DT (2007-10) – Oakland Raiders
2013: Was a member of the Arizona Cardinals practice squad until Sept. 5, before signing on the Raiders practice squad in late November … Was moved up to the active roster for the Raiders on Dec. 14, playing in one game.
UK Career: Played in 44 games for the Wildcats from 2007-10, totaling 82 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and three sacks … As a senior in 2010, helped anchor the defensive line with 21 tackles and a career-best 5.5 tackles for loss.
Tim Masthay, P (2005-08) – Green Bay Packers
2013: Served as the punter for the Packers for a fourth consecutive season, owning a 44.6 yard average in 64 punts, with 22 downed inside the 20 yard line … Masthay now has a 44.3 yard average over 260 punts in his four-year career.
UK Career: Four-year starter for the Wildcats owned a 45.2 yard average as a senior in 2008 … Totaled 207 punts in his career, with a 40.2 yard average in 50 games … Had a career long of 72 yards as a senior in 2008 … Ranks fourth in UK history in total punts, fifth in average yards per punt in his career and second in average yards per punt in a season.
Chris Matthews, WR (2009-10) – Seattle Seahawks
2013: Played two seasons in the Canadian Football League with the Winnipeg Blue Bombs and was named the most outstanding rookie in the CFL in 2012 with 81 catches, 1,192 yards and seven TDs.
UK Career: Caught 93 passes over his two-year career, for 1,279 yards and 12 touchdowns … As a junior, caught 32 balls for 354 yards and three TDs … Had a breakout senior season in 2010, with 61 catches for 925 yards and nine TDs … Had 177 receiving yards per game, a school record.
Corey Peters, DT (2006-09) – Atlanta Falcons
2013: Has become one of the top defensive tackles in the NFL, starting all but three games in his four-year NFL career with the Falcons … Started 15 games in 2013, with 46 tackles, five sacks and two passes deflected … Has 120 tackles in his career, with nine sacks, seven passes defended, one interception and one forced fumble.
UK Career: Shined as a defensive tackle for the Wildcats for four seasons, totaling 153 tackles and 11.5 sacks in his career, with 28 tackles for a loss … After 18 tackles and a sack as a freshman in 2006, had 43 tackles, four for loss, 2.5 sacks and an interception as a sophomore … In 2008, had 36 tackles, 10 for loss, with four sacks … Set career marks as a senior in tackles (56), tackles for a loss (12), sacks (four) and passes deflected (five).
Donte Rumph, NT (2010-13) – Atlanta Falcons
2013: Was a free agent signee of the Falcons.
UK Career: Completed his four-year career on the UK defensive line in 2013 with career highs in tackles (47) and tackles for a loss (six) … Totaled 126 tackles in his career with 15 tackles for a loss, seven sacks and two fumbles forced … In 2012, finished with 36 tackles, six for a loss, and a career-best four sacks … As a sophomore in 2011, had 31 tackles and three tackles for a loss, with one sack.
Alfonso Smith, RB (2006-09) – San Francisco 49ers
2013: Played in 16 games for the Arizona Cardinals in 2013, with 18 rushes for 54 yards and one TD … Also caught 10 passes for 68 yards … Has played in 43 games in his four-year NFL career, rushing it 48 times for 156 yards and two TDs.
UK Career: Rushed it 215 times in his four-year career, for 957 yards and eight touchdowns, also amazing 337 yards in kick returns … Was a weapon on special teams, with 28 tackles in his career, including 12 as a junior in 2008 … After rushing for 250 yards as a freshman and 149 yards as a sophomore, carried it 74 times for 313 yards and two TDs as a junior … Rushed 60 times for 245 yards and two TDs as a senior … Best season through the air was a 16-catch, 204-yard season as a junior, including a 71-yard touchdown grab.
Jacob Tamme, TE (2004-07) – Denver Broncos
2013: Played in 16 games as a reserve tight end for the Broncos, helping lead Denver to the Super Bowl … Had 20 catches for 184 yards and one TD … Has 164 catches for 1,594 yards with eight TDs in his 93-game NFL career, playing four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.
UK Career: One of the top pass-catching tight ends in Kentucky history, totaling 133 catches for 1,417 yards in his four-year career, with 11 touchdowns … Had two TDs, on 16 catches as a freshman in 2004, before 29 catches for 251 yards and one TD as a sophomore … In 2006, had 32 catches for 386 yards and two TDs … Posted career marks in catches (56), yards (619) and TDs (six) as a senior in 2007 … Won the 2007 NFCA Scholar-Athlete and Bobby Bowden Awards … Blocked two punts in 2005, tied for the most in UK single-season history.
Danny Trevathan, LB (2008-11) – Denver Broncos
2013: Started 16 games for the Broncos, teaming with UK greats Wesley Woodyard and Jacob Tamme to lead Denver to the Super Bowl … Totaled a team-high 129 tackles, with two sacks, 10 passes defended and a club-best three interceptions, also forcing three fumbles … Had seven games in 2013 with at least 10 tackles.
UK Career: A tackling machine during his four-year career, amassing 374 tackles, with 32.5 tackles for a loss, six sacks, 11 forced fumbles and four interceptions … As a junior in 2010, totaled 144 tackles with 16 going for a loss, including three sacks … Senior season saw 143 tackles in 12 games, with 11.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks and four interceptions, forcing a career-best five fumbles … Is the 18th player in UK history with over 300 tackles also ranking fourth in most career solo tackles … Led the Wildcats in interceptions in 2011.
Larry Warford, G (2009-12) – Detroit Lions
2013: Started all 16 games for the Lions at guard, his first professional season … Did not allow a sack all season … Was named ProFootballFocus.com’s Rookie of the Year and Offensive Rookie of the Year … The 2013 recipient of the Detroit Lions/Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association Rookie of the Year Award.
UK Career: Played in 47 games on the UK offensive line in his four-year career … Led the team with 34 knockdown blocks in 2011 … Graded at 87.5 percent as a junior … Helped team finish second in the SEC in fewest sacks allowed in 2010 … Helped UK rush for 4.9 yards per carry in 2012.
Garry Williams, OL (2005-08) – Carolina Panthers
2013: Earned the season opening starting job at right guard, before suffering a torn ACL and MCL and missing the season … Has played in 40 games with 21 starts on the offensive line for the Panthers.
UK Career: Helped anchor the UK offensive line for four seasons, playing in 45 games, leading UK to three consecutive bowl berths … Was named UK’s most outstanding offensive lineman as a senior … Allowed only one sack in 428 pass plays as a senior … Earned second-team All-SEC honors twice in his career.
Avery Williamson, LB (2010-13) – Tennessee Titans
2013: Was a fifth-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft by the Titans … Ranked sixth among linebackers with a 4.66-second 40-yard dash and third among his position group with a 4.07-second short shuttle.
UK Career: Massed 296 tackles over his four-year Kentucky career, including 10 tackles for a loss and four sacks … Twice eclipsed the 100-tackle mark in a season, going for 135 tackles in 2012 and 102 tackles in 2013 … Ranked second in the SEC in tackles in 2012 and fourth in 2013 … Had a 20 tackle game vs. Vanderbilt in 2012 … Had a streak of four games as a junior with 13+ tackles, the most since 1990.
Wesley Woodyard, LB (2004-07) – Tennessee Titans
2013: One of the top linebackers in the NFL, served as a captain for the Denver Broncos for a fifth consecutive year, helping Denver to the Super Bowl … Played in 14 games with 10 starts in 2013, with 84 tackles, 1.5 sacks, four passes defended, one interception and two forced fumbles … In 2012, became the only player in the NFL and the 12th player in the last 30 years to record at least 100 tackles, five sacks and three interceptions in a single season.
UK Career: One of the top performers in Kentucky history, Woodyard finished his four-year career with 395 tackles, with 26 tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks, two interceptions and seven forced fumbles … 17th player in UK history with over 300 tackles in his career … Fourth all-time in solo tackles … After a 34 tackle season as a freshman in 2004, Woodyard finished with 100 tackles as a sophomore, with seven tackles for a loss and two sacks … In 2006, Woodyard helped lead UK to the Music City Bowl with 122 tackles, 9.5 for a loss, and two sacks, with four forced fumbles and an interception … As a senior in 2007, Woodyard paced the Wildcats to back-to-back bowl berths with a career-best 139 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and three forced fumbles … As a freshman, was the first freshman in school history to serve as team captain.
