Horsey Nominated for Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
Junior offensive guard Kenneth Horsey has been nominated for the 2021 Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team®, it was announced today. He is one of 109 student-athletes– from divisions across the nation – who have been nominated because of their stories of exemplary community service, alongside their academic dedication and impact on and off the field.
Established in 1992, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team is one of the most coveted community service awards in college football. From the 109 nominees, the final roster of 23 award recipients will bring together 11 players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision; 11 players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA); and one honorary head coach. To be considered for a spot on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, each player must be actively involved with a charitable organization or service group while maintaining a strong academic standing.
Horsey, who hails from Sanford, Florida, has a remarkable comeback story that has inspired his community service work for heart health.
In the spring of 2018, before he was to arrive at Kentucky for his freshman season, he was complaining of a pain in his side. His parents rushed him to the emergency room where doctors ultimately found a growth on one of his heart valves. He went through open-heart surgery on April 8, 2018 and was even told by a few doctors that his football career was over. However, Horsey would not be deterred. He came to Kentucky and redshirted the 2018 season with a goal of earning a starting spot on Kentucky’s offensive line, affectionately known as the “Big Blue Wall.” In 2019, he saw action in four games and continued to train and prepare his body for the rigors of the Southeastern Conference. Since his surgery in 2018, he has lost 50 pounds and because of his hard work and dedication, has earned the starting left guard spot on the “Big Blue Wall.” Even a broken left hand, which required surgery during pre-season camp, did not get in the way. He started in eight games played in 2020, helping the Wildcats rank fifth in the Southeastern Conference in rushing offense (187.4).
Because of his heart condition and how supported he felt through his surgery and recovery he began volunteering with the Lexington chapter of the American Heart Association in 2020. Here are a few of his community service events:
- Spoke at 2020 Central Kentucky Heart Walk kick-off event
- Spoke at 2020 UK Healthcare Heart Walk kick-off event
- Dedicated his 2020 football season to Finn Collier, a seven-year-old who lost his life to heart disease
- Participated in American Heart Month and National Wear Red Day (2020 and 2021)
- Participated in the 2021 Central Kentucky Heart Walk Digital Experience (2021)
- Coordinated and planned a hands-only CPR training for the UK Football team and staff in the spring of 2021 (video to come)
- Helped plan a Hands-Only CPR media availability on June 14 that promoted Hands-Only CPR awareness to the media for CPR Awareness Month
“Kenneth has been an incredible advocate for the mission of the American Heart Association,” Julie Lay, the regional communications director of the American Heart Association said. “As a survivor himself, he has first-hand knowledge of the trials and tribulations heart disease can cause. He uses this knowledge to educate the community on what they can do to reduce their risk through his many platforms. Kenneth is an incredible asset to both our organization and our community, and the work he does truly helps us saves lives.”
The final 22-member team and honorary coach are selected by a voting panel of former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team members and journalists. They look for players who demonstrate exceptional leadership on and off the football field.
After the final team members are announced in September, fans can cast their vote for this year’s Allstate AFCA Good Works Team captain through the official page on ESPN.com. Fans can use #GoodWorksTeam on their social media channels to join the conversation throughout the season.
