Four Wildcats Earn All-SEC Accolades
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky football standouts Josh Forrest, Cory Johnson, Jon Toth and Boom Williams have earned postseason All-Southeastern Conference honors from Phil Steele Publications, it was announced on Thursday afternoon.
Johnson, a senior defensive tackle, was named second team, with Forrest, a senior linebacker earning third-team accolades. Offensively, Toth – a three-year starter at center – earned third-team honors and Williams was named the third team running back.
A 6-foot-3, 300-pound defensive tackle, Johnson led all SEC defensive lineman with 67 tackles, playing in 11 of UK’s 12 games with nine starts. Johnson collected a team-high eight tackles for a loss, adding two sacks, an interception, two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. Also, Johnson picked up a fumble early in Kentucky’s matchup with Tennessee, rumbling 77 yards for a touchdown. Over his two-year career, Johnson – who will play in the 2016 East-West Shrine Game – had 77 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks.
Forrest, a native of Paducah, Ky., led UK in tackles for the second consecutive season. He started all 12 games at middle linebacker for Kentucky, collecting 93 tackles, six tackles for a loss, a club-high 3.5 sacks, adding two interceptions, five pass break-ups and two quarterback hurries. In his career, Forrest – who came to UK as a wide receiver – totaled 232 tackles, 15.5 tackles for a loss, five interceptions and two blocked kicks. Following the season, Forrest was invited to the 2016 Reese’s Senior Bowl. Forrest was also selected third-team All-SEC by Phil Steele Publications in 2014 after totaling 110 tackles.
Toth, who earned SEC All-Freshman accolades in 2013, started all 12 games for the Wildcats at center. He helped pave the way for Williams to rush for 7.1 yards per carry in 2015, ranking third in the nation and tops in the SEC. A 6-foot-5 product of Indianapolis, Ind., Toth has played in 35 games in his three-year career and led the team in 2015 with 66 knockdown blocks.
Williams, a product of Monroe, Ga., starred in the UK backfield for a second consecutive season. A 5-foot-9, 196-pound tailback, Williams rushed for 855 yards in 10 games in 2015, totaling six touchdowns and a school-record 7.1 yards per carry average. He had five games of over 100 yards rushing in 2015, including a career-high 140 yards on just 16 carries in a win over Charlotte. Over his two-year career, Williams has rushed 195 times for 1,341 yards and 11 touchdowns, good for a sparkling 6.9 yards per carry mark. He has totaled 2,088 all-purpose yards in his career, including 236 receiving yards.
