Football

January 13, 1999

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky football team has added two players as tightend Bobby Blizzard and running back Artose Pinner enrolled for the 1999spring semester.

Blizzard and Pinner originally signed with Kentucky in February of 1998.In the fall of 1998, Blizzard attended Hargrave Military Academy andPinner attended Lexington Community College. They will count on the 1999recruiting class. Both players are freshmen in terms of eligibility.

“We’re excited to have Bobby and Artose join us,” Coach Hal Mumme said.”Each of them has excellent ability and being able to participate inspring practice will be a tremendous plus for them.”

Here are the biographies of Blizzard and Pinner:

Bobby Blizzard, Tight End, 6-7, 240, Hampton, Va. (Hampton HS/HargraveMilitary Academy) – Attended and played for Hargrave Military Academy(Chatham, Va.) during the fall of 1998 … Hargrave had a 7-4 teamrecord but individual statistics were not compiled … Coached atHargrave by Lonnie Messick … Signed with Kentucky in Feb. 1998 beforeattending Hargrave … Three-year starter at tight end at Hampton (Va.)HS from 1995-97 … Caught 30 passes as a senior for 621 yards and seventouchdowns … Career stats include 78 receptions for 1,719 yards, anaverage of 22 yards per catch, 17 TDs, and nine two-point conversions… First-team all-state by the Associated Press and the Virginia HighSchool Coaches Association … Honorable mention All-America by USAToday … Three-year all-district and two-year all-region choice …Received notice in several recruiting publications as being one of thetop tight ends in America … Also a three-year starter on defense,seeing action at tackle, end, and outside linebacker … Helped leadHampton HS to three consecutive state championships in Class AAA, thehighest classification in Virginia … Hampton had a 50-2 record in hisfour seasons on the varsity, including a winning streak of 40 games …Coached by Michael Smith … Also a standout basketball forward, wasnamed all-district and honorable-mention All-America in that sport …Participated in a Big Brothers program, working with elementary schoolchildren … Comes from an athletic family … His father, David, Sr.,played basketball at Winston-Salem State … His brother David, Jr.,played basketball at Lenoir-Rhyne … Coming out of high school, hepicked UK over North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Artose Pinner, Running Back, 5-11, 197, Hopkinsville, Ky. (HopkinsvilleHS) – Attended Lexington Community College during the fall of 1998 …Signed with Kentucky in Feb. 1998 before attending LCC … A three-yearstarter at Hopkinsville (Ky.) HS from 1995-97 … Started as a defensiveback his sophomore season, then started at running back and outsidelinebacker his final two years … Rushed 361 times for 3,274 yards and33 touchdowns during his senior season … Caught 29 passes for 340yards and three TDs … Averaged 19.2 yards on punt returns, includingan 89-yarder for a touchdown … Named Class AAA State Player of theYear as a senior … Earned first-team all-state honors from AssociatedPress and the Louisville Courier-Journal … Chosen to the LexingtonHerald-Leader “Class of the Commonwealth” … A finalist for Kentucky’s”Mr. Football” award … Honorable mention All-America by USA Today …As a junior, chosen second-team all-state by AP and third team by theCourier-Journal … Three-year member of the all-conference and all-areateams … Amazing career totals include 704 rushing attempts for 5,829yards, an average of 8.3 yards per carry, and 68 rushing touchdowns …Amassed 8,114 all-purpose yards, 84 total touchdowns, and 516 pointsduring his career … Led Hopkinsville HS to a three-year record of38-5, including a berth in the state championship game his last twoseasons … Coached by Craig Clayton … Will be a three-year lettermanin track, competing in the 400-meter run … Regional champion in the400 meters the last two years and finished third in the state meet as ajunior … Member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Key Club,and the Champions Club … Artose’s aunt, Sue Eenels, ran track atWestern Kentucky and an uncle, Willie Eenels, was a wrestler in juniorcollege … First name is pronounced “ar-TUSE” … Coming out of highschool, Artose narrowed his choices to UK, Cincinnati, and Auburn.

Related Stories

View all