Selecting Kentucky football’s All-Quarter Century Team, the top Cats since 2000
By the historic standard of the Kentucky Wildcats football program, the first quarter of the 21st century has been a good time.
Of UK’s 23 all-time bowl appearances, the Cats have made 13 in the current century.
In its pigskin history, Kentucky has had 15 AP First Team All-Americans. Seven of them have played since 2000.
Out of UK’s 120 First Team All-SEC selections, 44 have worn the blue and white in the 21st century.
So in seeking to select the All-Quarter 21st Century Team for Kentucky football, there are good players from which to choose.
The criteria I used in making those selections are as follows:
1.) .) How substantial was a player’s influence on the Kentucky program, a formulation that, admittedly, rewards players who had long careers at UK over those who did not.
2.) How much Kentucky team success did players contribute to?
3.) While at UK, did players achieve things that were unique and/or special?
Chosen with positional integrity, my All-Quarter Century Team for Kentucky football’s opening quarter of the 2000s consists of a 12-player offensive squad (I included an “all-purpose” player), an 11-man defensive unit and four special teams performers.
Offense
Wide receiver: Keenan Burton (2003-2007) — Among 21st century Kentucky football players, no one has more career receiving yards than Burton’s 2,376 and only one player has more receptions than the 189 passes caught by the former Manual High School star.
Tackle: Landon Young (2016-2020) — The former Lafayette star was chosen First Team All-SEC by the league’s coaches in his redshirt senior season in 2020.
Guard: Larry Warford (2009-2012) — Before he launched a seven-year NFL career that included three Pro Bowl selections, the former Madison Central standout was voted Second Team All-SEC by both the AP and the coaches in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Center: Drake Jackson (2016-2020) — Because he played on more successful teams, the former Woodford County High School standout gets a narrow edge over Jon Toth.
Guard: Jervontius “Bunchy” Stallings (2014-2018) — A McCombs, Mississippi, native, Stallings in 2018 became the first Kentucky offensive lineman to earn AP First Team All-America honors since 1957.
Tackle: Darian Kinnard (2018-2021) — As a senior on Kentucky’s 10-3 team in 2021, the Youngstown, Ohio, native was voted an AP First Team All-American and won the SEC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy, which recognizes the top blocker in the Southeastern Conference.
Tight end: Jacob Tamme (2003-2007) — Named the First Team All-SEC tight end in both 2006 and 2007, the former Boyle County star has more career catches (133) and career receiving yards (1,417) than any tight end ever to play for Kentucky.
Wide receiver: Randall Cobb (2008-2010) — Used both as a wideout and a wildcat quarterback, the product of Alcoa, Tennessee, is third among 21st century Wildcats in career receptions (144) and sixth in receiving yards (1,661). Cobb is also fifth in UK history in career rushing yards per carry (5.76). Over three seasons as a Cat, Cobb produced five game-winning, fourth-quarter touchdowns.
Quarterback: Andre Woodson (2003-2007) — The former North Hardin star quarterbacked Kentucky to back-to-back eight-win seasons in 2006 and 2007 which each ended with Music City Bowl victories. Woodson is the second-leading career passer (9,360 yards) in UK history.
Running back: Benny Snell (2016-2018) — The Westerville, Ohio, product set the UK career records for rushing yards (3,873) and rushing touchdowns (48). After running for 144 yards and two touchdowns, Snell was chosen MVP of Kentucky’s 27-24 win over Penn State in the Citrus Bowl that followed the 2018 season.
Running back: Rafael Little (2004-2007) — The most-versatile back to play for Kentucky this century, Little, an Anderson, South Carolina, product is fifth in UK history in rushing (2,966 career yards) and 10th in receptions (133).
All-purpose: Lynn Bowden (2017-2019) — A Youngstown, Ohio, product, Bowden was UK’s leading receiver (30 catches) in 2019 prior to switching to read-option quarterback. He then led the Wildcats in rushing (1,468 yards) while directing Kentucky to six wins in its final eight games. Bowden was named 2019 AP First Team All-American as an all-purpose player and won the Paul Hornung Award signifying the nation’s most versatile player.
Defense
End: Josh Paschal (2017-2021) — The Prince George’s County, Maryland, product was the defensive leader (53 tackles, 16 tackles for loss) of Kentucky’s 10-win team in 2021. His blocked field goal against Florida, which Trevin Wallace ran back for the go-ahead touchdown in what became a 20-13 UK win, sent electricity coursing throughout Kroger Field.
Tackle: Deone Walker (2022-2024) — The sophomore season (2023) produced by the Detroit product — 55 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 7.5 quarterback sacks, two passes defended — was the most disruptive year from a Kentucky interior defensive lineman this century.
Tackle: Corey Peters (2006-2009) — The Louisville product was the defensive line anchor of the Rich Brooks era ascension in Kentucky’s football fortunes. Peters finished his UK career with 152 tackles, 27 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks and was chosen 2009 First Team All-SEC by the league’s coaches.
End: Alvin “Bud” Dupree (2011-2014) — Primarily a 4-3 defensive end at Kentucky, Dupree finished his career with 247 tackles, 23.5 sacks and 39 tackles for loss. His 6-yard pick-six off a deflected pass gave UK a 45-38 win over Steve Spurrier and South Carolina in 2014, the first signature win of the Mark Stoops coaching era.
Linebacker: Josh Hines-Allen (2015-2018) — In the best individual season by a Kentucky defender so far this century, Hines-Allen finished 2018 with 88 tackles, a school record 17 sacks and 22 tackles for loss. He also forced five fumbles, defended four passes and recovered two fumbles. For his efforts on Kentucky’s 10-3 team in 2018, Hines-Allen won the Nagurski Award, the Bednarik Award, the Ronnie Lott IMPACT Trophy, and was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year and AP First Team All-American.
Linebacker: Wesley Woodyard (2004-2007) — The LaGrange, Georgia, product led the Wildcats in tackles in 2005 (100), 2006 (122) and 2007 (139) and is the leading career tackler (395) among 21st century Wildcats.
Linebacker: Danny Trevathan (2008-2011) — The Leesburg, Florida, product led the SEC in solo tackles in 2010 (85) and 2011 (67) and led UK in interceptions in 2011 with four. First Team All-SEC by the AP and the coaches in 2010 and by the AP in 2011.
Cornerback: Trevard Lindley (2004-2009) — Other than offensive skill players, no one has made more positive game-altering plays for Kentucky in the 21st century than did the Lithia Springs, Georgia, product. Finished UK career with 10 interceptions, two pick-sixes, two forced fumbles and a fumble-return touchdown.
Safety: Mike Edwards (2014-2018) — Among 21st century Kentucky players, Edwards is tied for the most career interceptions (10). He is also a member of UK’s career 300 tackle club (318).
Safety: Winston Guy (2008-2011) — The former Lexington Catholic star made over 100 tackles in both 2010 (106) and 2011 (120), and played on three bowl teams during his UK career.
Cornerback: Maxwell Hairston (2021-2024) — The speedy product of Bloomfield, Michigan, led the SEC in interceptions in 2023 with five, two of which he returned for touchdowns. For his UK career, Hairston finished with six picks, three of which became pick-sixes.
Special teams
Place-kicker: Austin MacGinnis (2013-2017) — The product of Wedowee, Alabama, carries the mantle of “best place-kicker in Kentucky history.” For his UK career, MacGinnis made 72 of 91 field goals and hit game-winners vs. Mississippi State and Louisville in 2016.
Punter: Max Duffy (2018-2020) — For his stellar 2019 season — the Australian averaged an SEC-best 48.1 yards a punt — Duffy was named an AP First Team All-American and the winner of the Ray Guy Award, signifying the nation’s best punter.
Kickoff returner: Barion Brown (2022-2024) — In the three seasons he played for Kentucky prior to transferring to LSU for the 2025 season, the Nashville product returned a school record five kickoffs for touchdowns. Brown’s three kickoff return TDs in 2023 tied the SEC single-season record.
Punt returner: Derek Abney (1999-2003) — In an electric return season in 2002, Abney returned four punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns to earn AP First Team All-America honors. The Mosinee, Wisconsin., product finished his UK career with a school record six punt return touchdowns and as Kentucky’s all-time leader in all-purpose yards (5,850).
This story was originally published June 20, 2025 at 7:15 AM.
