JoshForrest

* All-SEC third team by Phil Steele’s College Football (2014)
* SEC Academic Honor Roll (2012)

His
emergence at middle linebacker was one of the best developments of the
2014 season … Led the team in tackles and ranked third in the SEC in
tackles per game … Began his college career as a freshman receiver
before moving to defense in 2012 … Contributed as a reserve linebacker
and on special teams as a redshirt freshman and sophomore … As a
former wide receiver, has the speed to play linebacker and also has a
good feel for defending the passing game … Has added more weight in
order to enhance his physicality … Only began playing football as a
junior in high school … Has played in 33 games, starting 12 … Totals
139 career tackles, including 9.5 tackles for loss, and has three
interceptions … Has completed his degree in community and leadership
development, will work toward a second major in communications in the
fall.

2014 (Junior): Led
the team in tackles with 110 stops and ranked third in the SEC in
tackles per game … Had double-figure tackles in five games, topped by
20 stops at Tennessee and 15 in the upset win over South Carolina …
Totaled eight tackles for loss, second on the team in that category …
Had a 29-yard interception return for the go-ahead touchdown in the
come-from-behind win over ULM … Also had a pickoff vs. Mississippi
State.
2013 (Sophomore): Played
in all 12 games, seeing time at linebacker and on special teams …
Ended the season with 16 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss … Intercepted a
pass vs. Florida and returned it 39 yards … Blocked two kicks, a
field goal vs. Louisville and a punt vs. Alabama State … The blocked
punt set up a touchdown vs. ASU … Season best three tackles vs. South
Carolina, Alabama and Vanderbilt.
2012 (Redshirt Freshman):
Played in nine games, missing three because of injury … Totaled 13
tackles, with a career high of four at Arkansas and at Missouri … Made
a three-yard tackle for loss against Vanderbilt.
2011 (Freshman):
Redshirted … Began the season as a wide receiver, then moved to the
hybrid linebacker/safety position midway through the season.
High School:
First-team all-state as a senior by the Louisville Courier-Journal …
Also named to the Lexington Herald-Leader “Class of the Commonwealth”
listing of the top-22 players in Kentucky … Won three regional player of
the year awards … Dual-threat ability showed on both offense and
defense … At wide receiver, caught 46 passes for 855 yards and 14
touchdowns as a senior … As a defensive back, he picked off seven passes
during his senior season and returned three for touchdowns … Also had
an 85-yard fumble return for a TD … Gifted athlete who was a star in
both football and basketball … A long-time basketball standout, he began
playing football as a junior and excelled immediately … Earned
honorable-mention all-state honors in his first year in football, an
indication of his quick aptitude for the sport, while helping lead
Tilghman High School to the Class AAA state championship … Intercepted
three passes in the state championship game as the Tilghman defense
posted a shutout … Coached by Randy Wyatt, who played at Kentucky in the
mid-1990s … “The first thing about Josh is that he is such a good
person – well-mannered, coachable, a quiet leader,” Wyatt said.  “He’s
such an athlete and a very physical player, the sky’s the limit for
him.” … Honorable-mention all-state in basketball as a junior and
senior, leading Tilghman to the First Region championship and a berth in
the Sweet 16 state tournament during his junior year … Participated in
track in the 400-meter dash and a pair of relays.
Personal:
Born in Paducah, Ky. … Son of Iris Horice and Tony Horice … Has
completed his degree in community and leadership development, now adding
a second major in communications.
Community Cats: Participated in the Big Blue U Move-In (2011, ‘12), with God’s Pantry (2012) and a Salvation Army bellringer (2012, ‘13).
Josh Says …
If I could witness one event, past, present or future, it would be:
Michael Jordan playing for the Bulls … My favorite part of game day
is: winning / family seeing me play … If I could trade places with
Coach Stoops for one day, I would: give Josh all of my watches …
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? Proper planning prevents
poor performance.