Four Wildcats selected to Coaches’ All-SEC Team.
LEXINGTON, Kty. – Jerry Claiborne, who was a player, assistant coach, and head coach at the University of Kentucky, will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame tonight at the annual National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame dinner in New York City.
Whalen, Sixbery Honored by The Sporting News: Tight end James Whalen and offensive guard Kip Sixbery have been honored by The Sporting News for their outstanding performances during the 1999 season. Whalen has been chosen third-team All-America and Sixbery has been named first-team Freshman All-America.
Whalen, a senior from Portland, Ore., caught 90 passes for 1,019 yards and 10 touchdowns during the 1999 season, leading the nation’s tight ends in all three categories. He set NCAA records for most 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-season record for receptions, eclipsing Craig Yeast’s mark of 85 set a year ago.
With 1,019 receiving yards, Whalen became the second Wildcat to surpass the 1,000-yard receiving mark in a season. His 10 TD catches also are the second-best single-season mark in UK history.
Whalen had four games with double-digit receptions during the 1999 season. With 10 catches against Indiana and 12 against Florida, he became the first player in school history to have double-digit receptions in consecutive games. He duplicated that feat later in the season with 10 catches at Georgia, followed by 11 at Mississippi State.
Whalen had five 100-yard receiving games, topped by 151 yards at Georgia. 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 into the end zone, was named the Compaq “Best Hustle Play of the Week in College Football.”
Whalen has been named first-team All-America by the Football Writers Association of America and the Walter Camp Football Foundation, second-team All-America by Football News, and third-team All-America by The Sporting News.
Sixbery started all 11 games for the Wildcats and played every offensive down of the season. His blocking helped the Wildcats average 28.6 points and 374.5 yards of total offense per game, fifth best in the SEC in both categories. The Wildcats led the SEC and ranked 13th in the nation in passing yardage with 299 passing yards per game. Kentucky also set a school record by scoring 30 or more points in four consecutive SEC games.
At 17 years old, Sixbery was the youngest Division I-A player in the nation who started every game. He did not turn 18 years old until after the completion of the regular season.
Sixbery also has been named to the Freshman All-SEC team as selected by the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Smith, Snedegar, Whalen, Wajda Chosen for Coaches’ All-SEC Team: Punter Andy Smith, linebacker Jeff Snedegar, and tight end James Whalen has been chosen first-team All-SEC and free safety Anthony Wajda was a second-team choice on the Coaches’ All-SEC team selected by the league’s head coaches.
Whalen, a senior from Portland, Ore., was one of only three players who were unanimous selections on the coaches’ team. (See above story for Whalen’s statistics and accomplishments this season.)
Like Whalen, Smith rose to stardom in his first season as a starting player. A senior from Franklin, Ky., Smith averaged 42.7 yards per punt, third best in the league, but it was his excellent hang time and punt placement that caught the eye of the league coaches. UK allowed only 53 punt return yards during the entire season. UK’s team mark of 39.92 net yards per punt led the SEC and ranked fifth in the nation in that category, and also set a school record. Smith placed 18 punts within the opponent 20-yard line.
Snedegar, a senior from Salesville, Ohio, has been a three-year starter for the Wildcats at outside linebacker. He led the team with 84 tackles, including five tackles for loss (-13 yards) and four quarterback sacks (-32). He also had two interceptions, three pass breakups, and caused one fumble. He had a career-high 14 tackles at Mississippi State. He was a candidate for the Butkus Award that goes to the nation’s top linebacker.
Wajda, a sophomore from Louisville, entered the starting lineup in the second game of the season and made an immediate impact at free safety. He garnered seven turnover plays during the season, five interceptions and two fumble recoveries. He ranked third in the SEC and 20th nationally in interceptions per game. He contributed a turnover play in four of Kentucky’s six victories this season. He was named CNN/SI “Unsung Hero of the Week” and SEC Defensive Player of the Week following the win over LSU when he made two interceptions, had a pass breakup on the goal line, and had eight tackles. He broke open a close game at South Carolina when he pounced on a fumble and returned it for a touchdown.
