AntonioHall

Named “Mr. Wildcat,” the top overall male student-athlete at Kentucky, at the UK all-sports banquet (2003)

All-America (honorable mention) by CNNSI.com (2002)

All-SEC (first team) by SEC Coaches, Birmingham News (2002)

All-SEC (second team) by The Associated Press (2002)

National Good Works Team by the American Football Coaches Association (2002)

SEC Good Works Team (2002)

Chosen for the UK Athletics Society of Character (2002)

True Freshman All-America by Rivals.com (2000)

Freshman All-America (third team) by The Sporting News (2000)

Freshman All-SEC by SEC Coaches and the Knoxville News-Sentinel (2000)

A Renaissance man who pounds the piano and opposing linemen with equal ferocity and felicity … Has started 34 consecutive games at right tackle, opening every game since his arrival as a true freshman in the 2000 season … On the preseason watch lists for the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award, both of which are awarded to top linemen in the nation … Continues to improve his strength that complements his outstanding athletic ability … Also saw some time at guard during spring practice and he has the athletic and mental ability to play either position … Has spent three seasons protecting the blind side of left-handed quarterback Jared Lorenzen … Has excellent musical aptitude, plays the piano, and is a gifted singer who can belt out opera and show tunes … Has been profiled in Sports Illustrated for his combination of athletic and musical ability … Has a remarkable sense of civic responsibility and has been very dedicated to community service … Created, organized, and directed the “Complete Collegiate Experience,” a one-day seminar held in July 2002 that introduced approximately 10 middle-school students to academics, athletics, and teamwork on the collegiate level … Recently inducted into the Lexington Young Professionals Association in recognition of his achievements and contributions to the city … Plans to teach music to inner-city children following his playing career … Has been chosen as a member of the prestigious UK Athletics “Society of Character” … Cousin of current Wildcats Chad Anderson and Ellery Moore.

2002 (Junior): Started all 12 games … Recognized for his performance with first-team All-SEC honors by the SEC Coaches and Birmingham News … Blocked for the SEC’s leading rusher, Artose Pinner … Kentucky finished second in the SEC in scoring offense … Totaled 74 knockdown blocks, including a season-high 14 against LSU … Had consecutive double-figure knockdown block games against Indiana (11) and Mississippi State (10) … Named to the National Good Works Team and the SEC Good Works Team.

2001: Started all 11 games for the second consecutive season, despite playing much of the season with a gimpy ankle … Led the team in “knockdown blocks” with 94 … Had double-figure knockdown block games against LSU (13), Tennessee (12), Ole Miss (12), Mississippi State (12), Florida (11), and Ball State (10).

2000 (Freshman): True freshman started every game at right tackle … Chosen for the True Freshman All-America team picked by Rivals.com and third-team Freshman All-America by The Sporting News … Named to the Freshman All-SEC teams picked by the SEC Coaches and the Knoxville News-Sentinel … His blocking helped the Wildcats lead the SEC in total offense (445.5 yards per game) and passing offense (335.4 ypg).

High School: One of the nation’s premier lineman prospects … First-team All-America by the Prep Football Report and second-team All-America by USA Today … Named to the Parade Magazine All-America team … The nation’s #1 defensive tackle by Rivals.com … The #3 offensive line prospect and the #19 player overall nationally by SuperPrep … The nation’s #11 offensive lineman and #12 player in the Midwest by PrepStar … Four-year letterman and three-year starter at McKinley HS in the football hotbed of Canton, Ohio … Started three years at offensive guard and two seasons at defensive tackle … As a senior, made 67 tackles, including four tackles for loss, three quarterbacks sacks, two fumble recoveries, and one fumble caused … First-team all-state in addition to his national laurels … Named Player of the Year for his district and county, a rare feat for a lineman … Made 86 tackles, including eight for loss, as a junior and was chosen second-team all-state, All-Northeast Ohio, and all-county … McKinley won the Div. I (highest classification) state championship during his sophomore and junior seasons … Team went 14-0 his sophomore year and also was chosen the national champion … Handled long snaps on field goals and extra points and also did some of the long snapping for punts … Was invited to play in the Big 33 Ohio vs. Pennsylvania All-Star Game and the Ohio North/South All-Star Game … Coached by Kerry Hodakievic … A four-year letterman in track, competing in the shot put and discus throw … Went to the regional meet in the discus as a junior … Two-year letterman in basketball, helping his team go to the state final four as a sophomore … Member of the Youth Leadership Club, Chess Team, and Speech Team … Has excellent musical aptitude, sings in the church and school choirs, and plays the piano … Honor roll student … Narrowed his choices to Kentucky, Ohio State, and Michigan before picking the Wildcats.

Personal: Full name is Antonio Alexander Hall … Born 3-28-82 in Canton, Ohio … Son of William and Venus Ahmed and Nick and Anna Marie Spondyl … His cousin, Wayne Fontes, is the former head coach of the Detroit Lions … Two cousins, Chad Anderson and Ellery Moore, signed with the Wildcats in Feb. 2001 … Major is music education … Is the youngest member of the Lexington Singers, a community choral group that gives public musical performances.

The Cats’ Cause: Participated in the Cat Tales reading program at area schools (2001) … Has done several service events at area schools (2001-03) … Served as a mentor to a high school student in the Mashburn Excel Scholarship Program (2001-02) … Participated in a service event at UK Children’s Hospital, the UK Schoolhouse Rock academic pep rally for fourth- and fifth-grade students, and the Hope Center (2002) … Created, organized, and directed the “Complete Collegiate Experience,” a one-day seminar held in July, 2002, that introduced approximately 10 middle-school students to academics, athletics, and teamwork on the collegiate level … Has helped with fundraisers for the Hope Center and the Family Care Center (2003).