Dec. 20, 2002
Abney, Pinner Honored by The Southeastern Post: Kentucky’s Derek Abney and Artose Pinner have each won “Posties,” – season-ending awards given by The Southeastern Post magazine – and other Wildcats were among the nominees.
Abney was named the 2002 SEC Special Teams Player of the Year and Pinner was tabbed as the SEC’s Most Improved Player of the Year.
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 Associated Press, the Football Writers Association of America, the Walter Camp Football Foundation, CBSSportsLine.com, ESPN.com, and CNNSI.com, and CollegeFootballNews.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.
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. He has been a consensus first-team All-SEC pick.
Other UK finalists for the soon-to-be-coveted Posties include Pinner for “The Postman” award (i.e., the guy who always delivers) and the Offensive Player of the Year Award; Guy Morriss as Coach of the Year; and Mark Nelson as Assistant Coach of the Year.
Pinner the SEC Player of the Year; Four Wildcats Land on Mobile Register All-SEC Squad: Four Kentucky Wildcats, running back Artose Pinner, defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson, punter Glenn Pakulak, and kick returner Derek Abney, have been named to the Mobile Register All-Southeastern Conference team. In addition, Pinner was picked as the newspaper’s SEC Player of the Year.
Abney, Pinner, and Pakulak have been consensus first-team All-SEC selections. Robertson has been a second-team All-SEC pick by SEC Coaches and The Associated Press. More information on their seasons follows.
Derek Abney and Artose Pinner: see information in the story above.
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, second-team All-America by CollegeFootballNews.com, third-team All-America by The Associated Press, and fourth-team All-America by The Sporting News. He is a consensus first-team All-SEC honoree.
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. Robertson has announced his intention to forego his final season of eligibility and declare for the NFL draft. He was a second-team All-SEC choice by The Associated Press and SEC Coaches.
Final Exams Ending for the Wildcats: Friday, Dec. 20, marks the end of the fall semester examination period. The spring semester begins on Jan. 15.
Kentucky Football Calendar
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 –
