December 9, 1999
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Tight end James Whalen has been named first-team All-America by the CNN/SI website. Whalen, a senior from Portland, Ore., caught 90 passes for 1,019 yards and 10 touchdowns during the 1999 season, leading thenation’s tight ends in all three categories. He set NCAA records formost receptions in a season by a tight end and most receptions per game(8.2) by a tight end. His 90 catches also broke UK’s single-seasonrecord for receptions, eclipsing Craig Yeast’s mark of 85 set a yearago.
With 1,019 receiving yards, Whalen became the second Wildcat tosurpass the 1,000-yard receiving mark in a season. His 10 TD catchesalso are the second-best single-season mark in UK history.
Whalen had four games with double-digit receptions during the1999 season. With 10 catches against Indiana and 12 against Florida, hebecame the first player in school history to have double-digitreceptions in consecutive games. He duplicated that feat later in theseason with 10 catches at Georgia, followed by 11 at Mississippi State.
Whalen had five 100-yard receiving games, topped by 151 yards atGeorgia. He also caught four touchdown passes against the Bulldogs,tying a school record.
Whalen’s top individual play came in the season opener vs.Louisville. His 57-yard touchdown catch-and-run, capped by a dive intothe end zone, was named the Compaq “Best Hustle Play of the Week inCollege Football.”
Whalen has been named first-team All-America by the FootballWriters Association of America, the Walter Camp Football Foundation, andCNN/SI, second-team All-America by Football News, and third-teamAll-America by The Sporting News.
Smith, Whalen, Johnson, Wajda Chosen for Associated Press All-SEC Team:
Four Kentucky Wildcats, punter Andy Smith, tight end James Whalen, defensive end Dennis Johnson, and free safety Anthony Wajda wereplaced on the Associated Press All-SEC team as voted by sportswriters inthe SEC area.
Whalen and Smith are first-team selections, while Johnson is asecond-team pick and Wajda was named honorable mention.
Whalen, a senior from Portland, Ore., was one of only fiveplayers who were unanimous selections on the AP team. (See above storyfor Whalen’s statistics and accomplishments this season.)
Like Whalen, Smith rose to stardom in his first season as astarting player. A senior from Franklin, Ky., Smith averaged 42.7 yardsper punt, third best in the league, but it was his excellent hang timeand punt placement that caught the eye of the league coaches. UKallowed only 53 punt return yards during the entire season. UK’s teammark of 39.92 net yards per punt led the SEC and ranked fifth in thenation in that category, and also set a school record. Smith placed 18punts within the opponent 20-yard line.
Johnson, a sophomore from Harrodsburg, Ky., began maturing as abig-play performer as he had a quarterback sack, tackle for loss, orblocked a kick in every game but two this season. He totaled 39 tacklesthis year, including six tackles for loss (-26 yards), and led the teamin quarterback sacks with five (-33). Against Vanderbilt, Johnsoncombined with Otis Grigsby to force an intentional grounding call in theend zone, ruled a safety, providing the margin of victory in Kentucky’s19-17 win. He blocked a field goal in the win over Arkansas and snuffeda punt at Mississippi State.
Wajda, a sophomore from Louisville, entered the starting lineupin the second game of the season and made an immediate impact at freesafety. He garnered seven turnover plays during the season, fiveinterceptions and two fumble recoveries. He ranked third in the SEC and20th nationally in interceptions per game. He contributed a turnoverplay in four of Kentucky’s six victories this season. He was namedCNN/SI “Unsung Hero of the Week” and SEC Defensive Player of the Weekfollowing the win over LSU when he made two interceptions, had a passbreakup on the goal line, and had eight tackles. He broke open a closegame at South Carolina when he pounced on a fumble and returned it for atouchdown.
Team Schedule:
Dec. 8 Practice for veterans approx. 2 p.m. to 3:15, practice for younger players approx. 3:30 to 4:30 Dec. 9 Same as Wednesday Dec. 10-12 No practice Dec. 13-17 Final examinations, no practice Dec. 17-22 Practice in Lexington Dec. 23-24 Off Dec. 25 Return to Lexington Dec. 26 Travel to Nashville, begin bowl practice and activities Dec. 27-28 Bowl practice and activities Dec. 29 Kentucky vs. Syracuse, 4 p.m. EST (3 p.m. CST), Adelphia Coliseum
