Dec. 18, 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Quarterback Morgan Newton, offensive guard Larry Warford and defensive end Taylor Wyndham were named to the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team chosen by The Sporting News.

Originally headed for a redshirt season, Newton started the last seven games after Mike Hartline sustained a knee injury at South Carolina on Oct. 10.  Newton guided the Wildcats to a 5-2 record in his starting assignments, including SEC road wins at Auburn, Vanderbilt and Georgia. 

Newton, a true freshman from Carmel, Ind., completed 62 of 112 passes (55.4 percent) for 608 yards and five touchdowns.  He also rushed for 93 net yards and two TDs.    He was named SEC Freshman of the Week after completing 20 of 29 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns against Eastern Kentucky.  Another top game came in the upset at Georgia, as he hit 9 of 17 passes for 137 yards and three TDs.

Warford played in nine games, seeing signification action as a reserve offensive guard and on special teams.  A true freshman from Richmond, Ky., he earned more playing time as the season progressed.  The offensive line helped power UK to 193.2 rushing yards per game, the team’s best mark in 14 years.  UK ranks in the nation’s top 25 teams in rushing offense, fewest quarterback sacks allowed and fewest tackles for loss allowed.

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.

Cobb, Locke are Honorable-Mention All-America: Punt returner Randall Cobb and kickoff returner Derrick Locke were named honorable-mention All-America by CollegeFootballNews.com

Locke leads the Southeastern Conference with 29.6 yards per kickoff return and ranks eighth nationally.  He had a 100-yard touchdown runback vs. Louisville and set a single-game school record with 191 kickoff return yards against the Cardinals.  He’s also the first player in school history with two 100-yard returns, having also done it in 2008 vs. Western Kentucky.

Cobb averages 13.5 yards per punt return, third in the SEC and 15 th in the nation.  He had a 73-yard return for a touchdown in the win over the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

All Wildcat Fans Invited to Tailgate With UK Alumni Association at LP Field: Join fellow Wildcat fans at the official UK Alumni Association Tailgate Party at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday, Dec. 27, from 4:30 – 6:30 CST.  The tent will be located in the LP Field Parking Lot (South End Zone), Titans Way. UK will meet Clemson in the 12th annual Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CST.

The pregame fun will include a BBQ pork meal with sides, tea and water (other drinks will be available for purchase) and entertainment by UK alum Josh London. The UK band and cheerleaders will make an appearance. Admission is $15 for students, $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers. The tent is enclosed and will be heated if necessary.

To register for the event, visit www.ukalumni.net/bowlgame. For more information, contact Jill Smith at jhsmith@uky.edu or call 1-800-269-ALUM or 859-257-8906.

“Cat Walk” Set for 5:15 p.m. Central Time: Fans wishing to participate in the “Cat Walk,” cheering the Wildcats when they enter LP Field prior to the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl, should gather at 5:15 p.m. Central time.  Here’s the info, as provided by “Cat Walk” guru Scott McGehee:

The buses will stop at the corner of Victory Avenue and South 2nd St.  New to this year’s walk, the team will stroll  down the middle of South 2nd St., which will be closed to traffic.  Team will enter the stadium at the East Service Entrance.

Google map link

Ticket Office Open Next Week: For fans who need to pick up their tickets to the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl, or who need to buy tickets, the UK Ticket Office at the Joe Craft Center will be open in its normal business hours next Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Wednesday, the office will be open 9 a.m. until noon. Fans also may call the ticket office at 800-928-2287.

13 Wildcats on Herald-Leader “Team of the Decade”: An interesting story in the Friday edition of the Lexington Herald-Leader featured a high school football “Team of the Decade” for the commonwealth of Kentucky as selected by longtime preps writer Mike Fields.  The team included 13 players who eventually played at the University of Kentucky, including current Cats Stuart Hines, Justin Jeffries, Corey Peters, Mister Cobble, Micah Johnson and Winston Guy.

Here’s the list, along with each player’s high school and his senior season at the school: