Dec. 9, 2002
Six Wildcats Chosen for Coaches’ All-SEC: Six Kentucky Wildcats, including four first-team selections, were picked for the Coaches All-Southeastern Conference team released Monday by the league office.
Chosen for the first team were offensive tackle Antonio Hall, running back Artose Pinner, kick returner Derek Abney, and punter Glenn Pakulak. This was the second-most first-team All-SEC selections in school history. The 1977 Wildcats had five first-team All-SEC players and the 1951 Cats had four players on first-team All-SEC.
Quarterback Jared Lorenzen and defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson were named to the second team.
Antonio Hall was the cornerstone of the offensive line that helped Kentucky score 32.1 points per game, which ranked second in the league in scoring. He blocked for the SEC’s leading rusher, Artose Pinner. Stationed at right tackle, he is the blindside protector for the left-handed Lorenzen. Hall had 74 knockdown blocks this season, including a season-high 14 against Louisiana State.
Also highly dedicated to community service, he was one of only 11 Division I-A players selected to the AFCA National Good Works Team.
Artose Pinner led the Southeastern Conference in rushing with 1,414 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also caught 37 passes for 264 yards and two TDs. He topped the 100-yard mark a school-record eight times during the season.
Pinner was a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s best running back and was the SEC Offensive Player of the Year by CollegeFootballNews.com.
Derek Abney returned six kicks for touchdowns this season and broke or tied four NCAA records, six Southeastern Conference records, and 10 school records for kick returns. 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 also has been chosen first-team All-America by the Football Writers Association of America and CBSSportsLine.com. Abney is the first Wildcat to earn first-team All-America honors as a return specialist.
Glenn Pakulak is the top punter in Kentucky 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 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.
Pakulak is a finalist for the Ray Guy Award, which goes to the nation’s top punter, and for the Mosi Tatupu Award for the nation’s best senior special teams performer. The Guy Award will be announced during the Home Depot College Football Awards Show that will be televised live on Dec. 12. The Tatupu Award will be named on Dec. 13.
Jared Lorenzen matured greatly as a field general this season, leading the Wildcats to a 7-5 record, only the seventh time since 1954 that UK has won seven or more games. He completed 183 of 327 passes for 2,267 yards. Most impressive was his ratio of 24 touchdown passes against only five interceptions. He attempted 152 consecutive passes without an interception, a school record and the eighth-longest streak in SEC history. Kentucky generated 32.1 points per game, ranking second in the league in scoring.
Dewayne Robertson anchored the Wildcat defensive line this season, drawing frequent double-teaming. He had five quarterback sacks, leading the SEC’s defensive tackles in that category. His season totals featured 48 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss (-49 yards), five sacks (-40), 13 quarterback hurries, one pass breakup and one blocked kick. He has accounted for 113 yards of opponent losses during his career.
Begley, Holts Tabbed for SEC All-Freshman Team: Kicker Taylor Begley and defensive end Deion Holts were selected to the SEC All-Freshman Team as picked by the league coaches and released on Monday. Begley also was tabbed for the SEC All-Freshman Team that was announced Monday by The Sporting News.
Begley made nine of 14 field goals in 2002, with long field goals of 49 yards against Middle Tennessee and Arkansas. In his first collegiate game, Begley made three field goals in UK’s 22-17 upset at No. 17-ranked Louisville, including what proved to be the eventual game-winner. He was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week for that performance. He made 31 extra points during the season and finished the year with 58 total points.
Holts was the team’s top reserve at defensive end. His season totals included 30 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss (-16 yards), one quarterback sack (-8), two pass breakups, eight QB hurries, one fumble caused, and one blocked extra point.
What They’re Doing: The Kentucky football team is working out three times each week during the remaining two weeks of the fall semester. Meanwhile, the coaching staff has returned to the recruiting trail.
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
Mon. Aug. 4 – Newcomers report
Thu. Aug. 7 – Veterans report
Fri. Aug. 8 – Kentucky Football Media Day
Sat. Aug. 30 – Louisville at Kentucky
– UK –
