TimMasthay

• UK Special Teams Player of the Year by UK coaches (2007)
• Academic All-America (second team) by the College Sports Information Directors of America and ESPN The Magazine (2007)
• SEC Academic Honor Roll (2006, 2007)
• Named to the Frank Ham Society of Character by UK Athletics (2008)

Has become a contributor in several ways on special teams … Has made a steady progression with his punting, improving his average each season during his three years as the starting punter … Developed into an important contributor as UK’s kickoff man, as he led the Southeastern Conference in touchbacks in 2007 … Also has done a steady job as the holder on placekicks … Has played in 37 games … An outstanding student who was a second-team Academic All-American last season … Deeply committed to service, see “Community Cats” list of projects at the end of this biography … Hopes to join the Peace Corps in Africa following graduation … “I know it sounds cheesy, but I want to serve my country and make a difference in the world,” said Masthay, when asked about his desire to join the Peace Corps.

2007 (Junior): UK Special Teams Player of the Year because of his multiple contributions in that area … Averaged 39.8 yards per punt in his third season as UK’s starting punter, the best average of his career … His best single-game average of 47.3 yards per punt came in the wins over Louisville and LSU … Set a career long with a 63-yard kick in the second quarter against South Carolina … Had 23 kickoffs for touchbacks, leading the SEC in that category … Voted second-team Academic All-America as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America and sponsored by ESPN The Magazine.

2006 (Sophomore): Averaged 39.2 yards per punt, an improvement of three yards over his freshman year … Had career-high averages in successive games, 47 yards vs. Louisiana-Monroe and 48 yards at Tennessee … Had a career-long punt of 60 yards at Florida … Had a fake punt vs. South Carolina and ran 17 yards for a first down … Threw a 10-yard pass to Marcus McClinton for a first down on a fake punt during the Music City Bowl … Both successful fakes eventually led to Kentucky touchdowns … Also handled kickoffs and had 12 touchbacks in 59 kickoffs … Member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll and earned a nomination for Academic All-America.

2005 (Freshman): Played in all 11 games … Handled every punt for the Wildcats … Averaged 36.4 yards per punt … Had a season-best 46-yard average vs. Auburn, including a 59-yard boot that was his longest of the season … Had five punts inside the 20 in the win over Mississippi State … Kicked off 14 times during the season, including one touchback.

High School: Remarkably versatile student-athlete who was an all-state football player, all-state soccer player, all-region baseball player, and outstanding basketball player at Murray (Ky.) HS … Named the Kentucky Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the Kentucky High School Athletics Directors Association … In football, excelled as a kicker, punter, wide receiver, and kick returner … First-team all-state as a senior by The Associated Press and Louisville Courier-Journal … Made 7-of-8 field goals as a senior and converted every attempt within 40 yards … 41 of his 66 kickoffs (62.1 percent) went for touchbacks … Averaged 39.4 yards per punt … Caught 49 passes for 1,121 yards, an eye-popping 22.9 yards per catch, and 15 touchdowns … Ranked third in the state overall in receiving and was tops among players in Class A … Averaged 26.6 yards on kickoff returns, including two runbacks for touchdowns … Also scored a TD on an interception return … Honorable-mention all-state as a junior, his first year that he played football … Team went 9-3 each of his two seasons, advancing to the second round of the state playoffs each year … The No. 14 prospect in Kentucky by SuperPrep … Played in the Kentucky-Tennessee All-Star Game in June 2005 … Coached by Rick Fisher … “The best thing about Tim is that he is so competitive,” Fisher said. “He’s a great kid with great ability. I’ve been here 30 years and he is the best athlete I’ve seen come through Murray High School. He can do so many things so well.” … First-team all-state in soccer as a senior and second-team all-state as a junior … Four-year letterman as a center midfielder … A four-year letterman in basketball and averaged about 18 points per game … A four-year letterman in baseball … All-region in baseball, plays pitcher and centerfield, and helped his team advance to the final eight of the state tournament one year … Ambidextrous person who writes right-handed, kicks right-footed, but throws left-handed … Honor-roll student, member of the National Honor Society, and member of the “Hi-Y” community service group … Voted the outstanding male student of the senior class … Knew he wanted to go to Kentucky and did not seriously consider other schools.

Personal: Last name is pronounced “MAS-tay” as the “h” is silent … Born in Pittsburgh, Pa. … Son of Dr. Mark and Jean Masthay … Tim’s brother, Tom, ran track at UK … Tim’s grandfather, Maurice Masthay, played football at UCLA … Major is economics.

Community Cats: Served as a holiday bellringer for the Salvation Army (2005) … Volunteer, contributor and/or participant at the AirOne Radio Food Drive (2005), Save Darfur Coalition (2007), St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital (2007), FreeStore Food Bank Hunger Run/Walk (2007) and American Cancer Society Relay for Life (2007 and `08) … Put in several service visits at the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge (2007) … Participated in events that provided a Christmas meal and gifts for underprivileged families in Central Kentucky (2007) … Works with the Circles of Influence project that has provided food for local elementary students as well as students in Haiti (2007-08) … Treasurer of the UK Student-Athlete Advisory Committee … Went on an education/service trip to Ghana, doing projects at a school and orphanage (2008) … Has been a guest speaker at various events in the community while at Kentucky.

Masthay Career StatisticsYearPositionPuntsYds.Avg.LongIn202005Punter541,96536.459152006Punter501,95939.260132007Punter501,99239.86316Totals1545,91638.46344