Dec. 17, 2002
Abney, Pakulak Named to All-America Teams by The Associated Press and CollegeFootballNews.com: Kentucky kick returner Derek Abney has been named first-team All-America by The Associated Press and CollegeFootballNews.com while punter Glenn Pakulak has been named third- and second-team All-America, respectively, by those two organizations.
Derek Abney returned six kicks for touchdowns this season and broke or tied four NCAA records, nine 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.
In addition, Abney has been chosen first-team All-America by the Football Writers Association of America, the Walter Camp Football Foundation, CBSSportsLine.com, ESPN.com, and CNNSI.com. Abney is the first Wildcat to earn first-team All-America honors as a return specialist. He has been a consensus All-SEC selection.
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 net average leads the SEC and ranks third nationally. Kentucky also leads the Southeastern Conference in field position differential. UK had a +12-yard differential in the 2002 season. UK’s average starting field position was the 37-yard line while the opponents’ average starting field position was the 25-yard line.
Pakulak won the Mosi Tatupu Award for the nation’s best senior special teams performer and was a finalist for the Ray Guy Award, which goes to the nation’s top punter. (Note to electronic media: Mosi Tatupu is pronounced “MO-see tah-TOO-poo.”) He has been named first-team All-America by CBSSportsLine.com and fourth-team All-America by The Sporting News. He is a consensus first-team All-SEC honoree.
Four Wildcats Land on Birmingham News All-SEC Squad: Four Kentucky Wildcats, running back Artose Pinner, offensive tackle Antonio Hall, punter Glenn Pakulak, and kick returner Derek Abney, have been named to the Birmingham News All-Southeastern Conference team.
Abney, Pinner, and Pakulak have been consensus first-team All-SEC selections. Hall also was picked first-team All-SEC by the league coaches and second-team all-league by The Associated Press.
Antonio Hall was the cornerstone of the offensive line that helped Kentucky score 32.1 points per game, which ranked second in the league. 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 for the nation’s best running back and was the SEC Offensive Player of the Year by CollegeFootballNews.com and The Associated Press.
Final Exams for the Wildcats: The Wildcats are undergoing final examinations this week. When time is available, the players also are working out under the guidance of strength and conditioning coach Marc Hill.
Kentucky Football Calendar
Wed. Dec. 18 – Junior college signing period begins
Wed. Jan. 15 – Spring semester 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 –
