Sophomore tailback Rafael Little (Anderson, S. C.), who ranks in the nation?s top five in all-purpose yardage and punt returns, has been selected as the Wildcats? Most Valuable Player for the 2005 season, Rich Brooks announced Monday.
Little, who became only the sixth Wildcat to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season, was elected for the honor in balloting of the Kentucky team members, one of two awards selected by the squad. In addition, the Wildcats? coaching staff also tabbed Little as the team?s Most Outstanding Offensive Player, the first time the same player has garnered both in the three years since individual awards were re-instituted at Kentucky.
Little had 1,982 all-purpose yards (combined rushing, receiving, punt return, and kickoff return yardage), breaking Derek Abney?s single-season school record. In addition to leading the Southeastern Conference in all-purpose yardage, he also leads the league in punt returns with an average of 16.9 yards per runback.
The winner of the other award based on the team?s vote, the squad?s Most Inspirational Player, was senior wide receiver Tommy Cook (Victoria, Texas), who persevered through six years and numerous injuries to finish his career with 74 pass receptions.
Junior cornerback Bo Smith (Owensboro, Ky.) was selected as the Most Outstanding Defensive Player by the Kentucky coaching staff and senior tailback Draak Davis (Vallejo, Calif.) and senior kicker Taylor Begley (Danville, Ky.) shared the Special Teams Player of the Year.
Smith led the team in interceptions with two, caused two fumbles, had four pass breakups, and totaled 63 tackles during the season. He also contributed a critical touchdown to Kentucky?s SEC road victory over Vanderbilt with a deft 72-yard runback of a blocked field goal.
Davis appeared on four kicking units regularly throughout the season and was among the national leaders and second in the SEC with a 25.6-yard mark in kickoff returns, helping the Wildcats rank third in the U.S. as a team. He also recorded nine tackles on special teams while also causing and recovering a fumble.
A four-year starter at placekicker, Begley concluded an outstanding Kentucky career with 226 points, third on the school?s all-time career ladder, and is second in UK history in field goals and extra points made. This year he connected on 12-of-15 field goals and finished a school-record string of 92 consecutive extra points made.
Among the team?s winners of other top awards, senior center Matt McCutchan (Lebanon, Ohio) was the Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman recipient and senior tailback Arliss Beach (Ashland, Ky.) was selected for the Jerry Claiborne Award, given to the senior who best exemplifies the ideals of the school?s former head coach, a commitment to academics and the display of a team-oriented attitude.
Other award winners were freshman linebacker Braxton Kelley (LaGrange, Ga.) as the Outstanding First-Year Player, sophomore safety Roger Williams (Rockmart, Ga.) as Most Improved Player and senior defensive tackle Richard Gray (Sevierville, Tenn.) and freshman tailback Alfonso Smith (Louisville, Ky.) as Most Valuable Scout Team Players.
Kelley had 44 tackles in the first seven games, tops among all freshmen in the SEC, before sustaining a season-ending injury. Williams was third on the team in tackles with 69 stops, along with an interception, two caused fumbles, and two pass breakups.
2005 Kentucky Team Awards
Most Valuable Player: Rafael Little, soph. tailback
Most Outstanding Offensive Player: Rafael Little, soph. tailback
Most Outstanding Defensive Player: Bo Smith, jr. cornerback
Most Inspirational Player: Tommy Cook, sr. wide receiver
Most Improved Player: Roger Williams, soph. strong safety
Outstanding First-Year Player: Braxton Kelley, fr. linebacker
Special Teams Player of the Year: Draak Davis, sr. kick returner/kick coverage, and Taylor Begley, sr. kicker
Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman: Matt McCutchan, sr. center
Jerry Claiborne Award (academics/team attitude): Arliss Beach, sr. tailback
Most Valuable Scout Team Players: Richard Gray, sr. defensive tackle, and Alfonso Smith, fr. tailback
Lyons Suspended Indefinitely: Sophomore wide receiver Dicky Lyons has been suspended indefinitely for violation of team rules, Coach Rich Brooks announced Monday.
