Dec. 9, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky was chosen as the “biggest surprise” of the Southeastern Conference for the 2009 football season by ESPN.com.
Written by SEC beat reporter Chris Low:
Biggest surprise: Kentucky
The Wildcats were on the brink of having their first eight-win regular season since 1984, but lost a heartbreaker to Tennessee in overtime. It was Kentucky’s 25 th straight loss to the Vols. Still, with all of the injuries the Wildcats suffered, and losing star defensive end Jeremy Jarmon before the season due to an NCAA suspension, it’s the kind of season few people saw the Big Blue having. Rich Brooks has done a super job with this program, and the Wildcats get a chance in the Music City Bowl to win their fourth straight bowl game.
Low also gave kudos to Coach Rich Brooks and wide receiver/quarterback Randall Cobb in his regular-season wrapup story.
Brooks was Low’s No. 2 choice for SEC Coach of the Year behind Alabama’s Nick Saban. Cobb was selected for Low’s All-SEC first team (no second team picked) as an all-purpose player.
A sophomore from Alcoa, Tenn., Cobb leads the team in pass receiving with 37 catches for 427 yards and four touchdowns. While operating at QB out of the “WildCobb” formation, he has rushed for 537 yards and 10 TDs. He’s also averaging 13.5 yards on punt returns and 26.5 yards on kickoff returns. He ranks second in the SEC in touchdowns, third in scoring, third in punt returns and third in all-purpose yardage.
Wyndham a Second-Team Freshman All-American: Defensive end Taylor Wyndham was chosen second-team Freshman All-America by Phil Steele’s College Football.
Wyndham, a redshirt freshman from Swansea, S.C., played well as a reserve early in the season, then emerged into the starting lineup for the final six regular-season games. He totaled 27 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, two quarterback sacks, two pass breakups, one fumble caused and one fumble recovery.
The coaches often noted Wyndham’s good football instincts, and he showed a knack for the big play with a sack, tackle for loss, caused fumble, fumble recovery, pass breakup or quarterback hurry in 10 of the 12 games this season.
