Final Southeastern Conference Defensive Statistics Released; Anderson, Burns, Begley Win SEC Stats Titles: The final Southeastern Conference defensive statistics have been released and Kentucky linebacker Chad Anderson and defensive end Vincent ?Sweet Pea? Burns have won statistical championships. Also, kicker Taylor Begley should be added to the list of offensive league leaders released Wednesday.
Anderson, a sophomore from Canton, Ohio, enjoyed a breakout season at inside linebacker and led the SEC with an average of 11.4 tackles per game. He had a total of 125 tackles during the season, including single-game highs of 21 tackles at Georgia and 20 stops vs. Arkansas.
Burns led the league in tackles for loss with 18, good for 62 yards of opponent losses. His single-game bests included four TFL in the win over Murray State and 3.5 at Alabama.
In addition, kicker Taylor Begley should be added to Derek Abney as Wildcats who led the league in offensive statistics. Begley nailed all 40 extra-point attempts this season, one of seven SEC kickers who made all of their extra-point tries during the 2003 season, thus tying for the league lead in extra-point percentage.
Media and fans should note that statistics became finalized following the bowl games. Since 2002, bowl games have been included in official NCAA statistics; prior to 2002, bowl games did not count in official stats.
Young Defense Hung Tough; UK Allowed Fewest Points in Regulation Play Since 1993: Although seven starters had departed each of the previous two seasons, and with as few as one senior in the starting lineup of several games, Coach Rich Brooks? young Kentucky defense played tough in 2003.
Despite the youth, inexperience, and the growing pains of adjusting to a new defensive system, Kentucky allowed 22.8 points per game in regulation play (not counting points allowed in overtime). Under defensive coordinator Mike Archer, that average was the best for any Wildcat defense since 1993, when Archer was in his first tour as the UK coordinator.
In addition, the average of 22.8 points per game in regulation was the best showing for a first-year UK defense in 30 years, since Fran Curci?s 1973 squad.
Cats Enjoyed Life Under 30: Not counting the points scored in overtime by Arkansas, the Kentucky defense held 10 of 12 opponents under 30 points in regulation play, including a streak of nine consecutive games.
The last time Kentucky held nine consecutive opponents under 30 points was 1988-89, when the Wildcats limited 12 consecutive foes under 30, the last six games of 1988 and the first six games of 1989. The last time it happened in one season was the first nine games of the 1981 campaign.
Defense Cuts Down on Big Plays: One of the primary goals in the 2003 season for Coach Rich Brooks was the reduction of big plays allowed on defense, and the Wildcats succeeded.
The following is a chart of plays that went for 20 yards or more and 40 yards or more. The figures for the previous defensive system in 2001-02 are averages per season.
20+ yards TDs 40+ yards TDs 2003 48 plays 9 11 plays 4 2001-02* 61.5 plays 15.5 16 plays 7
* averages per season under previous defensive system
Looking Ahead to the UK Defense in 2004: Ten starters are slated to return for the Kentucky defense in the 2004 season, including DE Vincent ?Sweet Pea? Burns, NT Lamar Mills, OLB Durrell White, ILB Chad Anderson, ILB Dustin Williams, OLB Deion Holts, CB Earven Flowers, SS Mike Williams, FS Muhammad Abdullah, and CB Bo Smith.
Additional returning defenders with significant game experience include DE Trey Mielsch, NT Ellery Moore, ILB Justin Haydock, ILB Jon Sumrall, OLB Raymond Fontaine, CB Antoine Huffman, FS Claude Sagaille, and FS Maurice Marchman.
Kentucky must replace DE Jeremy Caudill, a fixture in the Wildcat defensive line the last four seasons, and CB Leonard Burress, a part-time starter in 2003 who tied the school career record for pass breakups.
A total of 22 lettermen return on defense. Also competing for playing time in spring practice will be several returning non-lettermen, six freshman redshirts, and two junior college transfers, linebacker Cedric Koger and defensive end B. Jay Parsons.
Hall to Play in the East-West Shrine Game: Senior offensive tackle Antonio Hall will be playing in the East-West Shrine Game on Sat. Jan. 10 in Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco, Calif.
Hall will wear uniform No. 73 for the East team. The game is slated for a 2 p.m. EST kickoff and will be televised by ESPN.
Hall was chosen first-team All-SEC in 2003 by The Associated Press and the SEC Coaches. He showed his toughness by playing all season with a nagging hip injury, protecting the blind side of left-handed quarterback Jared Lorenzen. He totaled 68 knockdown blocks during the season. Hall also was a first-team All-SEC pick in 2002 by the SEC Coaches and a second-team selection by the AP that year.
Hall is the 26th Kentucky player or coach to compete in the East-West Game. The first were lineman Ray Correll and end Steve Meilinger in 1954 (following the 1953 season) and the most recent was running back Anthony White in 2000, following the 1999 season.
Tentative List of All-Star Game Participants: Here is the tentative listing for Wildcats who are scheduled to participate in the post-season football all-star games. Please be aware that all-star game rosters change frequently for various reasons.
Blue-Gray Game: DE Jeremy Caudill and C Nick Seitze, Dec. 25, Troy, Ala.
East-West Shrine Game: OT Antonio Hall, Jan. 10, San Francisco, Calif., 2 p.m. EST, ESPN
Hula Bowl Maui: C Nick Seitze, Jan. 17, Maui, Hawaii, 8 p.m. EST, ESPN
Senior Bowl: no UK players, Jan. 24, Mobile, Ala., 5 p.m. EST, ESPN
The Villages Gridiron Classic: QB Jared Lorenzen, Jan. 31, The Villages, Fla., noon EST, ESPN
Coaches Return to Recruiting Trail: The Kentucky football coaches have returned from the annual American Football Coaches Association Convention and have resumed recruiting. Signing day for high school players is Wed. Feb. 4.
Players Return Next Week: The University of Kentucky holiday break continues this week. The players will return for the beginning of the spring semester on Jan. 14.
