Kenneth Horsey Named to Wuerffel Trophy Watch List

Junior offensive guard Kenneth Horsey has been named to the watch list for the Wuerfell Trophy, college football’s premier award for community service.
 
Named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback from the University of Florida, Danny Wuerffel, the Wuerffel Trophy is presented in February annually in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. The trophy exists to honor college football players who serve others, celebrate their positive impact on society, and inspire greater service in the world.
 
Horsey, who hails from Sanford, Florida, has been doing just that and 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.”
 
Nominations for the Wuerffel Trophy are made by the respective universities’ Sports Information Departments and will close on October 15. An up to date list of nominees can be found at www.wuerffeltrophy.org beginning on August 1. Semifinalists for the award will be announced on November 2 and finalists will be announced on November 22.
 
The formal announcement of the 2021 recipient will be made on December 9 and the presentation of the 2021 Wuerffel Trophy will occur in February 2022 in Fort Walton Beach.
 
Kentucky’s current director of player development, Courtney Love, won the Wuerffel Trophy in 2017.

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