Dec. 11, 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Eleven Kentucky Wildcats have been named to the All-Southeastern Conference team selected by Phil Steele’s College Football magazine.

Seven players are on the second team – Randall Cobb twice as both a wide receiver and punt returner, center Jorge Gonzalez, offensive tackle Zipp Duncan, defensive tackle Corey Peters, linebacker Micah Johnson, linebacker Sam Maxwell and cornerback Trevard Lindley.

Tailback Derrick Locke and offensive guard Stuart Hines are third-team All-SEC picks, while defensive end DeQuin Evans and punter Ryan Tydlacka were chosen for Steele’s fourth team.

Here are details on their seasons:

• Cobb, a sophomore from Alcoa, Tenn., 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 and third in the league in scoring, punt returns and all-purpose yardage. 
• Gonzalez, a senior from Tampa, Fla., anchored the line from his center position.  He was named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week for his performance in the Wildcat win over the University of Louisiana at Monroe.  For the season, UK is averaging 193.2 rushing yards per game, the team’s best mark since 1995.  UK ranks in the top 25 nationally in rushing yardage, fewest quarterback sacks allowed and fewest tackles for loss allowed.
• Duncan, a senior from Magnolia, Ky., did an outstanding job at left tackle as the blindside protector for the UK quarterbacks.  UK is averaging 193.2 rushing yards per game, the team’s best mark since 1995.  UK ranks in the top 25 nationally in rushing yardage, fewest quarterback sacks allowed and fewest tackles for loss allowed.
• Peters, a senior from Louisville, notched 52 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, four quarterback sacks and five pass breakups.  He led SEC defensive tackles in sacks and tackles for loss.  He was chosen SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week twice this season and National Defensive Lineman of the Week for the South Carolina game.
• Johnson, a senior from Ft. Campbell, hit the century mark with 100 tackles, with six games in double figures, despite playing with a sprained knee for much of the season.  He also had 6.5 tackles for loss.  He was the SEC Defensive Player of the Week in the Wildcat win at Auburn.
• Maxwell, a senior from Hartwell, Ga., totaled 80 tackles, including 5.5 for loss, with his biggest value coming on his game-changing plays.  He intercepted six passes, including fourth-quarter pickoffs vs. Louisville and Georgia that helped clinch victories, and had seven pass breakups.  He ranked second in the SEC in interceptions and fifth in total passes defended, rare feats for a linebacker.
• Lindley, a senior from Hiram, Ga., had one interception and led the team with nine pass breakups, even though he missed four games because of injury.  He would have ranked third in the league in total passes defended per game if he had played enough games to qualify.  He ranks fourth in SEC history in pass breakups.
• Locke, a junior from Hugo, Okla., leads the team and is sixth in the SEC in rushing with 843 yards and six touchdowns.  He added 25 pass receptions for 254 yards and two scores.  He also leads the league in kickoff returns with a sizzling 29.6-yard average, including a 100-yard touchdown runback vs. Louisville.
• Hines, a sophomore from Bowling Green, Ky., did a great job in his first season as a starter.  UK is averaging 193.2 rushing yards per game, the team’s best mark since 1995.  UK ranks in the top 25 nationally in rushing yardage, fewest quarterback sacks allowed and fewest tackles for loss allowed.
• Evans, a junior from Long Beach, Calif., made a great adjustment in his transfer from junior college to UK.  Evans collected 36 tackles and led the team with 12.5 tackles for loss and six quarterback sacks.
• Tydlacka, a sophomore from Louisville, averaged 40.7 yards per punt.  Even more valuable was his hang time and punt placement, which allowed only 10 of his 60 punts to be returned. As a team, UK ranked fourth in the SEC in net punting.