Football
Allen, Asafo-Adjei Receive SEC Player of the Week Honors

Allen, Asafo-Adjei Receive SEC Player of the Week Honors

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen and offensive tackle George Asafo-Adjei have been named Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week and Offensive Lineman of the Week, respectively, it was announced Monday by the league. It is Allen’s third honor of the season and second in as many weeks.
 
The No. 13 Wildcats produced another dominant victory on Saturday night, besting South Carolina, 24-10, in front of the third-largest crowd at Kroger Field. UK now is 5-0 for the first time since 2007 and has an opportunity to move to 6-0 for the first time since 1950 this week at Texas A&M.
 
Allen, from Montclair, New Jersey, proved to be one of the nation’s elite pass rushers once again, taking over the game in the second half as the Cats protected a lead. He totaled eight tackles but it was his three sacks, four tackles for loss and forced fumble that rattled the Gamecocks and prevented any chance at a comeback.
 
The senior earned the award for the second consecutive week and third time in the first five weeks of the season. In the past two games he has totaled 14 tackles, four sacks, six tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and pass breakup. For the season he leads the SEC in sacks with six and tackles for loss with 10.5.
 
A preseason All-SEC selection and candidate for the Bednarik and Butkus awards, Allen leads all active SEC players with 20.5 sacks to go along with 30 tackles for loss. He now ranks third on UK’s career sacks list, trailing only Alvin “Bud” Dupree (23.5) and Oliver Barnett (26).
 
Asafo-Adjei, a 6-foot-5, 315-pound tackle from West Chester, Ohio, helped the Wildcats power their way to 195 yards and three touchdowns rushing. Affectionately known as “Big George,” the senior graded at 90 percent for the game with two knockdown blocks and 19 blocks at the point of attack while not missing an assignment or allowing a sack or pressure.
 
The Cats return to the field this Saturday at 7 p.m. ET when they face Texas A&M at Kyle Field in College Station. The game will air on ESPN.
 
Follow along with the Cats on TwitterFacebook and Instagram, and on the web at UKathletics.com.
 

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