Kentucky linebacker Terry Clayton has been nominated for the Courage Award given by the FedEx Orange Bowl and the Football Writers Association of America, as announced Wednesday by the FWAA.

A senior from Olmstead, Ky., Clayton went deaf at the age of five because of a severe case of chicken pox. Despite the limitation, he went on to earn All-Sky Conference honors at Logan County High School and joined the UK football team in 2003 and has seen action as a reserve linebacker and on special teams.

Since he has been at UK, advances in technology have enabled Clayton to use a device that gives him a limited amount of hearing. He cannot wear the hearing aid during practice or games, however.

?Never once has he used his disability as an excuse not to do something,? said Chuck Smith, UK linebackers coach. ?On the field he is a strong, explosive player. He really pays attention and picks things up by watching.?

Clayton has excelled in the classroom and is a two-year member of the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll. He received UK?s Carol Adelstein Outstanding Student Award for overcoming disabilities in 2006.

?Battling school and football is tough, so I keep going,? Clayton said. ?I want to be successful and a role model to people who are like me.?

Burton, Warford Available for Action: Senior wide receiver Keenan Burton and sophomore cornerback Paul Warford, who have seen limited action in practice this week because of injuries, will be available to play at Arkansas, Coach Rich Brooks announced Thursday. Burton has had a sprained ankle and Warford has a groin strain.