Cats lose another receiver in Ford

Latest in list of concussions forces junior to end career

By Chip Cosby - ccosby@herald-leader.com

University of Kentucky junior wide receiver DeMoreo Ford has been advised to give up football after suffering the latest of multiple concussions.

Ford, a 5-foot-10, 186-pound junior from LaGrange, Ga., suffered a concussion in the Western Kentucky game but played the following week against Alabama and caught a 48-yard touchdown pass from Mike Hartline. Ford suffered a shoulder injury on the play and missed the Cats' next game against South Carolina. He returned to the lineup against Arkansas, catching one pass for three yards. Ford had a 3-yard reception at Florida, but he suffered another concussion in the first half in UK's 14-13 win at Mississippi State.

Ford's career statistics
Year G Rec. Yds. Avg. TD Long
2005 4 2 10 5.0 0 6
2006 13 11 179 16.3 2 70
2007 13 7 47 6.7 0 11
2008 7 3 56 18.7 1 48
Totals 37 23 292 12.7 3 70
Saturday
Vanderbilt at Kentucky
When: 8 p.m.
TV: ESPN2

"The doctors did a CT scan and felt with the numerous (concussions) he's had that it just didn't make much sense to take any further chances," UK Coach Rich Brooks said.

Ford ends his Wildcat career with 23 receptions for 292 yards and three touchdowns. Known for being the best blocker of UK's wide receivers, Ford's most memorable play came on a 70-yard touchdown reception in the 2006 Music City Bowl that helped turn the tide on Kentucky's win over Clemson.

UK now has lost its only two experienced receivers returning from last season to career-ending injuries. Dicky Lyons Jr. suffered two torn knee ligaments in the South Carolina game.

Brooks also said that it was unknown whether star cornerback Trevard Lindley would be available for Kentucky's home finale with Vanderbilt on Saturday. Lindley left UK's 42-38 loss to Georgia early in the third quarter with patella tendinitis and did not return.

Lindley, a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award given to the nation's best defensive back, is second in the Southeastern Conference in pass deflections with 13 and tied for fifth in interceptions with four. He has started every game for the Wildcats since his redshirt freshman year, a span of 36 consecutive games.

"We'll just have to wait and see how he comes around," Brooks said. "He said he got his knee hit and then fell on it while making a tackle. He just couldn't run. I'd say he's questionable. We just don't know how it'll respond in the next couple of days."

UK struggled in pass coverage once Lindley left against Georgia, as quarterback Matthew Stafford finished with 376 passing yards and three scores.