Kentucky defensive backs coach David Lockwood has resigned in order to accept a position at West Virginia, his alma mater, Coach Rich Brooks announced Friday.
Lockwood was with the Wildcats during the 2007 season after having spent the previous five years at Minnesota. Lockwood?s secondary spearheaded a UK pass defense that ranked in the nation?s top 25 in fewest yards allowed. UK also had 17 interceptions during the ?07 campaign, most since the 1993 season. As a unit, the Wildcat defense allowed 397.2 yards per game, down from 453.4 yards per game in the 2006 season.
?I appreciate the things David did for us this season in helping us win another bowl game. I know the call of his alma mater was very strong, along with the opportunity to be closer to home,? Coach Rich Brooks said. ?We have begun the search process and hope to hire a replacement as soon as possible.?
?I thank Coach Brooks for giving me the opportunity to coach at Kentucky, and to Joker Phillips for recommending me (to Brooks),? said Lockwood, who had coached with Phillips at Notre Dame. ?Working with (defensive coordinator) Steve Brown has been a great experience, and this is a year I?ll never forget. I appreciate the players for accepting me with open arms as we worked to get better.?
Four Cats on All-Bowl Team: Steve Johnson, Rafael Little, Andr? Woodson, and Wesley Woodyard were honorable-mention choices on the All-Bowl Team selected by CollegeFootballNews.com, in recognition of their performances in leading Kentucky to a 35-28 victory in the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl.
Johnson caught seven passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns, including what proved to be the game-winning TD in the fourth quarter. Little accounted for 202 yards from the line of scrimmage. He rushed 28 times for 152 yards and also caught eight passes for 50 yards and a touchdown. Woodson was the game?s Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive year, completing 32 of 50 passes for 358 yards and four touchdowns. He directed the Wildcats to 501 yards total offense. Woodyard was his usual productive self. The SEC?s leading tackler had 15 stops against the Seminoles.
