Kinnard named Kentucky’s second-ever winner of SEC’s top award for blockers
Kentucky senior offensive tackle Darian Kinnard became the first Wildcats lineman to win the Southeastern Conference’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy in 45 years on Wednesday.
The award, presented annually to the conference’s top blocker since 1935, is determined by a vote of league coaches.
Kinnard, 6-foot-5, 338-pound lineman from Knoxville, Tenn., is just the second Kentucky player to win the award. Offensive tackle Warren Bryant earned the distinction in 1976.
Kinnard led UK this season at the right tackle position with 30 knockdown blocks.
He also allowed only one quarterback sack in more than 350 pass plays. He was two-time SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week following wins over Vanderbilt and Louisville.
Kinnard was a semifinalist for both the 2021 Rotary Lombardi Award, given to an offensive or defensive lineman who combines outstanding performance on the field with the character and discipline of NFL Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi, and the Outland Trophy, given to the nation’s most outstanding interior lineman.
In addition, he earned First Team All-SEC honors by the league’s coaches and by The Associated Press.
The Wildcats’ offense is averaging 431.1 total yards per game, including 206.1 on the ground, and is averaging 6.57 yards per play, which would set a school record for a season.
Kentucky (9-3, 5-3 SEC) is headed to Orlando, Fla., for a school-record sixth straight bowl appearance. The No. 22 Wildcats have accepted a bid to play in the VRBO Citrus Bowl against No. 15 Iowa on Jan. 1 at Camping World Stadium.
