Dec. 2, 2002
Abney Named First-Team All-America by the Football Writers Association: After returning an NCAA-record six kicks for touchdowns this season, junior wide receiver/kick returner Derek Abney is beginning to take awards “to the house” as well.
Abney has been named first-team All-America as a return specialist by the Football Writers Association of America. Abney broke or tied four NCAA records, six Southeastern Conference records, and 10 school records for kick returns this season. He averaged 15.1 yards per punt return, including four touchdowns (at Florida, at Arkansas, two at Mississippi State). He averaged 26.8 yards on kickoff returns with touchdowns at Florida and vs. Vanderbilt. He became only the seventh player in NCAA history to return a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown in the same game when he did it against Florida in “The Swamp.” He is the only player who ranks in the nation’s top 11 in punt returns, kickoff returns, and all-purpose yardage.
Abney also is a quality wide receiver. He caught 40 passes for 569 yards and four touchdowns this season and ranks third in school history in pass receptions and pass receiving yardage.
Abney is the first Wildcat to earn first-team All-America honors as a return specialist. He is the first UK first-team All-American since tight end James Whalen in 1999.
Derek Abney’s List of Records During the 2002 Season
NCAA
Most Punt Return TDs in a Game: 2 at Mississippi State (tied record held by many)
Most Punt Return TDs in a Season: 4 (tied record held by seven other players)
Most Total Kick Return TDs in a Game (must have at least one PR and one KOR TD): 2 at Florida, one PR TD and one KOR TD (tied record held by six other players)
Most Total Kick Return TDs in a Season (must have at least one PR and one KOR TD): 6, four PR TD and two KOR TD (broke record held by two other players)
SEC
Most Punt Return TDs in a Game: 2 at Mississippi State (tied record held by five other players)
Most Punt Return TDs in a Season: 4 (broke record of three by five other players)
Most Punt Return TDs in a Career: 5 (tied record held by Lee “Long Gone” Nalley of Vanderbilt)
Most Total Kick Return TDs in a Season: 6, four PR TD and two KOR TD (broke record of five by Pinky Rohm of LSU)
Most Total Kick Return TDs in a Career: 7, five PR TD and two KOR TD (broke record of six by Lee “Long Gone” Nalley of Vanderbilt)
Longest Kickoff Return: 100 yards at Florida (tied record held by many)
Kentucky
Most Punt Returns Yards in a Season: 544 (broke record of 420 by Andy Molls, 1981)
Highest Punt Return Average in a Game: 34 yards per return, 4 for 136 at Mississippi State (broke record of 33.3, 3 for 100 by Kio Sanford vs. Louisville in 1996)
Most Punt Return TDs in a Game: 2 at Mississippi State (broke record of one by many players)
Most Punt Return TDs in a Season: 4 (broke record of two by three other players)
Most Punt Return TDs in a Career: 5 (broke record of three by two other players)
Most Kickoff Return TDs in a Game: 1 at Florida and vs. Vanderbilt (ties record held by nine other players)
Most Kickoff Return TDs in a Season: 2 (broke record of one by nine other players)
Most Total Kick Return TDs in a Season: 6 (broke record of three held by two other players)
Most Total Kick Return TDs in a Career: 7 (broke record of four held by two other players)
Longest Kickoff Return: 100 yards at Florida (tied record held by two other players)
Pakulak a Finalist for the Guy Award: Senior Glenn Pakulak is one of three finalists for the Ray Guy Award, which is awarded annually to the nation’s best punter.
Pakulak is the top punter in school history. He broke the single-season school record with a 45.6-yard average. He leads the Southeastern Conference and is third in the nation in punting average. He also broke the UK career record with a 44.4-yard average.
Pakulak also demonstrated remarkable accuracy during the season. Almost half of his punts, 31 of 66, landed inside the 20-yard line without going into the end zone. A total of 14 punts landed inside the 10-yard line without going into the end zone and he had just nine touchbacks during the season.
As a team, Kentucky set a school season record with a 40.1-yard net punting average. UK’s 40.1 net average leads the SEC and ranks third nationally.
The other finalists are Dustin Colquitt of Tennessee and Mark Mariscal of Colorado. As a finalist, Pakulak will travel to Orlando, Fla., for the Home Depot College Football Awards Show which will be televised live on ESPN on Thursday, Dec. 12. The winner of the Guy Award will be announced during the show.
Back at It: The Kentucky football team got back to work on Monday as the Wildcats returned to the weight room. The team will be working out three times each week during the remaining three weeks of the fall semester. Meanwhile, the coaching staff has returned to the recruiting trail.
Still the One: Former Wildcat All-America defensive end Art Still will represent Kentucky at the annual “Living Legends of SEC Football” dinner, to be held Friday, Dec. 6, in Atlanta, Ga., as part of SEC Football Championship Game activities. Still is one of 12 “Living Legends” who will be honored at the dinner and introduced at the SEC Championship Game. There is one legend from each league school.
Still was a consensus first-team All-American as a senior in 1977, when he had 98 tackles, including 22 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. He lettered at UK from 1974-77 and was first-team All-SEC his last two years. He also was chosen the league’s Most Outstanding Player by the Birmingham (Ala.) Touchdown Club and the Columbus (Ga.) Touchdown Club in 1977. He finished his collegiate career with 327 tackles.
A first-round draft choice by the Kansas City Chiefs, Still went on to a 12-year National Football League career with the Chiefs and Buffalo Bills. Currently, Still operates a business in Olathe, Kan. He returned to visit Lexington during the weekend of the Vanderbilt game and was introduced to the crowd.
Kentucky Football Calendar
Wed. Dec. 18 – Junior college signing period begins
Wed. Feb. 5 – High school signing period begins
Mon. March 31 – Spring practice begins
Sat. Apr. 26 – Blue/White Spring Football Game
July 29-31 – SEC Football Media Days; Kentucky appearance is Tue. July 29
Sat. Aug. 30 – Louisville at Kentucky (271 days away)
