Kentucky
Football Notebook
Kentucky Leads Nation With Three Players on
Academic All-America Team;
Begley, Lane, Huffman Garner the Honor
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The
University of Kentucky leads the nation with three players -- kicker Taylor Begley,
offensive tackle Hayden Lane, and cornerback Antoine Huffman – elected to the
Academic All-America Team sponsored by ESPN The Magazine and voted on
by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
Begley and Lane earned first-team honors
while Huffman was a second-team selection. Three Academic All-America players in one
year is a school record for Kentucky.
Begley has graduated already with a 3.82
grade-point average and a degree in electrical engineering. He is working on his
master’s degree in electrical engineering and has a 4.0 GPA in graduate school.
On the field, he ranks third in school history in total points (226), second in
extra points made (118), and fourth in field goals made (36). He also set the school
record for consecutive extra points made with 92.
Lane notched a 3.95 GPA while completing his
bachelor’s degree, a double major in anthropology and classics (study of Latin and
ancient history). He has begun master’s work in history. He has started
the last 23 consecutive games at offensive right tackle, the longest active streak on the
team.
Huffman completed his bachelor’s degree
in telecommunications with a 3.45 grade-point average. He is working on his master’s
degree in mass communications. He set the Kentucky career record for
pass breakups with 27 PBU during his years as a Wildcat.
To qualify for nomination for Academic All-America,
a player must be a sophomore or higher in academic and athletic standing, be a starter or
key reserve, and have a career grade-point average of 3.2 or higher.
2005 Awards
Summary: Here is a list of honors for Kentucky football players so far for the 2005
season:
FS Muhammad Abdullah
* Associated
Press All-SEC (second team)
* Coaches
All-SEC (second team)
TB Arliss Beach
* Jerry
Claiborne Award (team award for academics/team attitude)
K Taylor
Begley
* Academic
All-America (first team)
* UK Special
Teams Player of the Year (team award, co-winner with Draak Davis)
WR Tommy Cook
* UK Most
Inspirational Player (team award)
KR Draak
Davis
* UK Special
Teams Player of the Year (team award, co-winner with Taylor Begley)
TE Jeremiah Drobney
* SEC Good
Works Team
DT Richard Gray
* UK Most
Valuable Defensive Scout Team Player (team award)
CB Antoine
Huffman
* Finalist for
the National Sportsmanship Award (still in running)
* Finalist for
the Danny Wuerffel Trophy
* Semifinalist
for the Ronnie Lott Trophy
* Semifinalist
for the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award
* Candidate for
the Bobby Bowden Award (still in running)
* Academic
All-America (second team)
LB Braxton Kelley
* Rivals.com
Freshman All-America (second team)
* UK
Outstanding First-Year Player (team award)
OT Hayden
Lane
* Academic
All-America (first team)
TB/KR Rafael Little
* Associated
Press All-SEC as all-purpose player (first team)
* Coaches
All-SEC as running back (second team)
* National
Player of the Week by SI.com for the Vanderbilt game
* SEC Special
Teams Player of the Week for the Vanderbilt game
* SEC Offensive
Player of the Week for the Mississippi State game
* UK Most
Valuable Player (team award)
* UK Most
Outstanding Offensive Player (team award)
C Matt McCutchan
* UK Most
Outstanding Offensive Lineman (team award)
TB Alfonso Smith
* UK Most
Valuable Offensive Scout Team Player (team award)
CB Bo Smith
* UK Most
Outstanding Defensive Player (team award)
SS Roger Williams
* UK Most
Improved Player (team award)
LB Wesley Woodyard
* Associated
Press All-SEC (honorable mention)