ROH 012-Couch-Higgs
Tim Couch
A storied name of the Kentucky program, Tim Couch, was the team’s quarterback from 1996-98. After giving up his senior season of eligibility, Couch was drafted as the No. 1 pick by Cleveland in the 1999 NFL Draft. In 1998, the junior quarterback was named a first-team All-American and consensus SEC Player of the Year. Couch completed 400 of 553 passes for 4,275 yards and 36 touchdowns and led the nation in pass completions while ranked second in completion percentage, passing yardage and touchdown passes, and fourth in total offense. After guiding the Wildcat’s to the Outback Bowl, UK’s first New Year’s Day bowl appearance in 47 years, Couch finished fourth in Heisman Trophy balloting. He was also a finalist for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award as a junior and sophomore. His breakout sophomore campaign featured 363 of 547 passes for 3,884 yards and 37 touchdowns while leading the nation in pass attempts, completions, yardage, and completion percentage. Also during his sophomore year, Couch earned second-team All-SEC honors and finished ninth in Heisman voting. He played in seven games as a true freshman, with two starts. Career wise, Couch completed 795 passes on 1,184 attempts for 8,435 yards and 74 touchdowns. The legend ended his career with seven NCAA records, 14 SEC records, and 26 school records.
Mark Higgs
Mark Higgs, standout running back from 1984-87, is one of UK’s All-Time leading rushers with 2,892 career rushing yards. He set school records for highest rushing average in a season (6.6 yards per attempt in 1987) and rushed for, what was then a school-record, 1,278 yards (broken in 1995). Higgs was selected as the SEC Offensive Player of the Week when he rushed for 192 yards in a 35-6 victory over Mississippi. In addition, he was named second-team All-SEC, UK’s Most Valuable Senior, and to the SEC Academic Honor Roll. Following his senior season, Higgs played in the Blue-Gray Game and Hula Bowl before being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys. The running back enjoyed an eight-year career in the NFL with Dallas, Philadelphia, Miami, and Arizona.
