< PreviousUnder Mark Stoops, 90% of players have graduated after completing their eligibility. UK boasts 14 players on its 2021 roster who have already earned an undergraduate degree and will wear the SEC Graduate patch on their uniforms. They are: Abule Abadi-Fitzgerald, Josh Ali, Marquez Bembry , Yusuf Corker, Isaiah Epps, Luke Fortner, Colin Goodfellow, Zach Johnson, Will Levis* (Penn State), Josh Paschal, Justin Rigg, MattRuffolo, Clevan Thomas Jr., Quintin Wilson. Eight more players are on track to graduate in August and/or December of 2021: Tyrell Ajian - August with a degree in family science and a minor in coaching; Zac Berezowitz - December with a degree in economics; Austin Dotson – December with a degree in sociology; Luke Fortner - August with a master’s degree in mechanical engineering; Tyler Markray – August with a degree in communication; Quandre Mosely – December with a degree in community and leadership development; Naasir Watkins – December with a degree in economics; William Nalty – December with a degree in business administration. Six players are working on a master’s degree, including four in Kentucky’s school of business; Luke Fortner - also working on a master’s in business administration; Will Levis - master’s in finance; Tyler Markray - master’s in sport leadership; MattRuffolo - master’s in business administration; Clevan Thomas Jr. - master’s in sport leadership; Quintin Wilson - master’s in business administration PHIL HOSKINS Class of 2020 DRAKE JACKSON AND LANDON YOUNG Class of 2019 LUKE FORTNER Class of 2019 T.J. CARTER Class of 2020Kentucky was the first school in the nation to open an academic center dedicated exclusively to student-athletes. The mission of the Center for Academic and Tutorial Services is to create an environment where all student-athletes have the opportunity to maximize their academic, personal and social growth to improve their post-college quality of life. CATS has one of the largest advising staffs in the country, consisting of nine full-time counselors and over 10 part-time peer advisors. In addition, the center annually maintains a corps of more than 100 tutors who average over 2,000 hours of tutoring and mentoring each week of the academic year. The Center for Academic and Tutorial Services is unique in that it is located in close proximity to the central academic campus inside Memorial Coliseum. This means that student- athletes have ready access to CATS before, after, and between classes. The Joe Craft Football Facility also houses an additional full-service academic center for football players to access computers, tutors, quiet study rooms and academic counselors. n In 198 1, Kentucky became the first university in the nation to open an academic center dedicated to student-athletes. n In 1998, CATS moved to its current location located in Memorial Coliseum adjacent to the Joe Craft Center. n Funded by the Ohio Casualty Group Insurance, the Center for Academic and Tutorial Services has: • 20,000 square feet of space, 2 levels • A computer lab houses 37 state-of-the-art computers with universal access to software • A study area accommodates 60 seats in a quiet atmosphere • 25 private tutor rooms housing computers with internet access • Over 1,000 hours of tutoring computed per week • Over 100 tutors employed each semester • Scheduled tutor sessions assigned at the beginning of each semester as a proactive measure CATS 37 PLAYERS ON THE 2020 SEC FALL ACADEMIC HONOR ROLL 14 PLAYERS HAVE ALREADY EARNED AN UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE AND WILL BOAST THE SEC GRADUATE PATCH ON THEIR UNIFORMS 8 MORE PLAYERS SET TO GRADUATE IN AUGUST/DECEMBER 6 PLAYERS ARE WORKING ON A MASTER’S DEGREE, INCLUDING FOUR IN KENTUCKY’S SCHOOL OF BUSINESS BUD DUPREE Class of 2015 RANDALL COBB Class of 2016JOSH ALLEN • Kentucky had six NFL Draft picks in the 2021 NFL Draft - Jamin Davis (1st - Washington); Kelvin Joseph (2nd - Cowboys); Quinton Bohanna (6th - Cowboys); Brandin Echols (6th - Jets); Landon Young (6th - Saints); Phil Hoskins (7th - Panthers). • The six picks are the tied for the fourth-most in school history and the most since 1979 (eight). Five of the six picks were defensive players. • The six picks are the most for Kentucky since the current seven-round draft era began in 1994. • This marks the second time in the last three years that Kentucky has had five or more draft picks (five in 2019). • For the second time in the last three years, Kentucky had a first- and second-round pick in Jamin Davis, first round and Kelvin Joseph, second round. Prior to that, you have to go back 42 years to find two UK picks in the first two rounds (Warren Bryant and Randy Burke, first round 1977). • In total, 18 players have been drafted under head coach Mark Stoops, including 11 defensive players in Avery Williamson, Bud Dupree, Za’Darius Smith, Josh Forrest, Josh Allen, Lonnie Johnson, Mike Edwards, Jamin Davis, Kelvin Joseph, Quinton Bohanna, Brandin Echols. LYNN BOWDEN JR.ARIZONA CARDINALS Corey Peters, DT (2006-09) BALTIMORE RAVENS Chris Westry, DB (2015-17) CAROLINA PANTHERS Phil Hoskins, DT (2017-18, 2020) CHICAGO BEARS Danny Trevathan, LB (2008-11) DALLAS COWBOYS Quinton Bohanna, NT (2017-20) Kelvin Joseph, CB (2020) DETROIT LIONS Drake Jackson, OC (2017-20) Logan Stenberg, OG (2016-19) GREEN BAY PACKERS Za’Darius Smith, OLB (2013-14) HOUSTON TEXANS Randall Cobb, WR (2008-10) Lonnie Johnson Jr., CB (2017-18) JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS Josh Allen, DE/LB (2015-18) LOS ANGELES RAMS Austin MacGinnis, K (2014-17) MIAMI DOLPHINS Lynn Bowden Jr., RB (2017-19) MINNESOTA VIKINGS A.J. Rose, RB (2017-20) NEW ORLEANS SAINTS Landon Young, OT (2016-17, 2019-20) NEW YORK JETS Brandin Echols, CB (2019-20) PITTSBURGH STEELERS T.J. Carter, DT/DE (2016-20) Benny Snell Jr., RB (2016-18) Calvin Taylor Jr., DL (2016-19) Jamar “Boogie Watson, OLB (2017-20) TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS Mike Edwards, S (2015-2018) TENNESSEE TITANS Bud Dupree, OLB (2011-14) WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM Jamin Davis, ILB (2018-20) At the time of this printing, a total of 24 former Kentucky Wildcats are currently on National Football League rosters with two additional players in the CFL. Here is the list, along with their years at UK TM BENNY SNELL JR.SEC in the NFL Draft n The SEC led the nation’s conferences in NFL Draft picks for the 15th consecutive year in 2021 with 65 selections, which establishes a new SEC and national record. The previous record was 64, also held by the SEC. n This marks the seventh straight year for the SEC to see 50 or more players taken in the NFL Draft. Only twice in the last 26 years has another conference other than the SEC seen 50 or more players drafted. n The SEC has averaged over 50 selections per draft since 2006. The SEC, its member institutions and sports teams are on an international stage with brand recognition in every corner of the country and around the globe. That was the vision when the SEC and ESPN signed a 20-year agreement through 2034 to create and operate a multi-platform network, which launched on Aug. 14, 2014. The network and its accompanying digital platform, SEC Network+, carries SEC live events and pro- gramming 24/7. 11 THE SEC HAS WON OF THE LAST 15 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS THE SEC HAS ADVANCED TO 14 OF THE LAST 15 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES THE SEC IS HOME TO HEISMAN WINNERS 14 w FANS PER GAME IN THE STANDS, PRIOR TO 2020, THE SEC WAS THE NATIONAL LEADER IN ATTENDANCE TOTAL 2021 NFL DRAFT PICKS THE SEC HAS LED THE NATION IN NFL DRAFT PICKS SINCE 2007 The SEC finished in the postseason in 2020 to lead the nation in bowl wins, with all seven wins coming against Top-25 competition - the most in history for the conference. SEC DOMINATESLouisiana Monroe Warhawks September 4 n Noon n Lexington, Ky. n Kroger Field Players to Watch #18 n Graduate n WR Jonathan HODOH Tyler SHELBY #44 n Graduate n DE 2021 Schedule @Kentucky September 4 Jackson State September 18 Troy September 25 @Coastal Carolina October 2 Georgia State October 9 Liberty October 16 South Alabama October 23 @Appalachian State October 30 @Texas State November 6 Arkansas State November 13 @LSU November 20 @Louisiana November 27 Terry Bowden was named ULM head coach on December 23, 2020. He spent the last two seasons as an of- fensive analyst at Clemson. Bowden's previous head coaching stints saw him take an Akron program who was 2-22 over two seasons prior to his arrival in 2015 and lead them to the MAC Champi- onship game. In 1993, he led Auburn to an 11-0 record and swept nearly every Nation- al Coach of the Year award that season. Terry Bowden 94 @UKFootball LOUISIANA MONROE Quick Facts Location: Monroe, La. Head Coach: Terry Bowden (West Virginia, ‘78) Stadium: Malone Stadium (30,427) Last Meeting with UK: 10/11/14 in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky 48, ULM 14 2020 Record: 0-10 Overall; 0-7 Sun Belt Base Offense/Defense: Spread/Multiple 4-3 Offensive Starters Returning/Lost: 7/4 Defensive Starters Returning/Lost: 9/2 Game Sponsor@UKSportsNetwork 95 2021 Schedule Quick Facts Location: Columbia, Mo. Head Coach: Eliah Drinkwitz (Arkansas Tech, ‘04) Stadium: Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium (62,621) Last Meeting with UK: 10/24/20 in Columbia, Mo. Missouri 20, Kentucky 10 2020 Record: 5-5 Overall; 5-5 SEC Base Offense/Defense: Multiple/Multiple Offensive Starters Returning/Lost: 8/2 Defensive Starters Returning/Lost: 8/6 Considered one of college football's top offensive minds, Eliah Drinkwitz led the Tigers to a 5-5 record in his first season in Columbia. Despite playing with less than 60 schol- arship players for more than half of its games, Mizzou overcame an 0-2 start to win five of their final eight games. Of the four new head coaches that began work in the SEC in 2020, Drinkwitz's 5-5 regular-season record was the league's best. Eliah Drinkwitz Players to Watch #8 n R-Sophomore n QB Connor BAZELAK Trajan JEFFCOAT #18 n R-Junior n DL Missouri Tigers September 11 n 7:30 p.m. n Lexington, Ky. n Kroger Field MISSOURI Central Michigan September 4 @Kentucky September 11 Southeast Missouri September 18 @Boston College September 25 Tennessee October 2 North Texas October 9 Texas A&M October 16 @Vanderbilt October 30 @Georgia November 6 South Carolina November 13 Florida November 20 @Arkansas November 26 Game SponsorChattanooga Mocs September 18 n Noon n Lexington, Ky. n Kroger Field Players to Watch #90 n Junior n DL Devonnsha MAXWELL Reginald HENDERSON #12 n Senior n WR 2021 Schedule Austin Peay September 2 @North Alabama September 11 @Kentucky September 18 Western Carolina October 2 @VMI October 9 East Tennessee State October 16 @Samford October 23 Furman October 30 @Wofford November 6 @Mercer November 13 The Citadel November 20 Rusty Wright enters his third season as head coach of the Mocs football program. In 2020, Wright led the Mocs to a 3-2 record in a pandemic shortened season. During his first season at the helm, Wright's team finished the 2019 campaign with a 6-6 overall record and was third in the league with a 5-3 conference tally. Wright is a 1996 Chattanooga gradu- ate. A four-year letter winner, he served two stints as an assistant coach on the UTC staff. Rusty Wright 96 @UKFootball CHATTANOOGA Quick Facts Location: Chattanooga, Tenn. Head Coach: Rusty Wright (Chattanooga, ‘96) Stadium: Finley Stadium (20,668) Last Meeting with UK: First Meeting 2020 Record: 3-2 Overall; 3-1 SoCon Base Offense/Defense: Multiple/Multiple Offensive Starters Returning/Lost: 11/0 Defensive Starters Returning/Lost: 11/0 photo by: GoMocs.com photo by: Derek Daniel, GoMocs.com photo by: Laura O'Dell, GoMocs. com Game Sponsor@UKSportsNetwork 97 SOUTH CAROLINA September 25 n TBA n Columbia, S.C. n Williams-Brice Stadium 2021 Schedule Quick Facts Location: Columbia, S.C. Head Coach: Shane Beamer (Virginia Tech, ‘00) Stadium: Williams-Brice Stadium (77,559) Last Meeting with UK: 12/5/20 in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky 41, South Carolina 18 2020 Record: 2-8 Overall; 2-8 SEC Base Offense/Defense: One-Back/4-3 Offensive Starters Returning/Lost: 7/4 Defensive Starters Returning/Lost: 5/6 Considered to be one of the rising stars among coaches in college football, Shane Beamer begins his first season as head coach in Columbia. Beamer has been an assistant coach at seven Football Bowl Subdivision schools for 21 seasons. He comes to Carolina from Oklaho- ma where he served as the assistant head coach for offense, coaching tight ends and H-backs, for the last three seasons. Shane Beamer Players to Watch #20 n Junior n RB Kevin HARRIS Kingsley ENAGBARE #52 n Senior n Edge South Carolina Gamecocks Eastern Illinois September 4 @East Carolina September 11 @Georgia September 18 Kentucky September 25 Troy October 2 @Tennessee October 9 Vanderbilt October 16 @Texas A&M October 23 Florida November 6 @Missouri November 13 Auburn November 20 Clemson November 27Next >