Six University of Kentucky greats will be inducted into the UK Athletics Hall of Fame in late September. The 2012 class includes former UK student-athletes Derek Abney (football), Leroy Edwards (men’s basketball), J.B. Holmes (men’s golf), Jeff Keener (baseball), Clayton Moss (swimming and diving) and Nancy Scranton (women’s golf). The class will be formally inducted during Hall of Fame Weekend, Sept. 14-15, in conjunction with the football game against Western Kentucky University.
Derek Abney (2000-03) is arguably the greatest kick returner in college football history after setting seven NCAA records, 11 SEC records and 14 school records for kick returns and all-purpose yardage. Abney was named a first-team All-America as a junior, second-team All-America as a senior and a three-year first-team All-SEC performer, becoming only the fourth player in school history to accomplish that feat. The talented star was the first player in NCAA history to accumulate 2,000 receiving yards, 2,000 kickoff return yards and 1,000 punt return yards. In all, Abney returned eight kicks for touchdowns during his career (six punts, two kickoffs), while he ended his UK career ranked second in three statistical categories: receptions (197), receiving yards (2,339) and touchdowns receiving (18). Abney’s NFL career ended because of injury.
J.B. Holmes (2002-05) led UK to its lone SEC championship in 2005 on top of being named the SEC Golfer of the Year, becoming the only UK player to claim the distinguished honor in school history. During his career, Holmes earned six first-place finishes and 35 top-10 finishes, more than any other player in the Brian Craig Era. The Kentucky native was a PING All-American three years, including a first-team All-American in 2004. He also earned first-team All-America by the Golf Coaches Association of America in 2005 and was named an Academic All-American, the GCAA All-American Scholar and the Cleveland Golf All-American Scholar in 2004 and 2005. Professionally, Holmes won two FBR Open titles on the PGA Tour and was a member of the 2008 Ryder Cup championship team. He has surpassed more than $10 million in career earnings.
Leroy Edwards (1935) was named the 1935 Helms National Player of the Year after averaging 16.3 points per game that season. A consensus first- team All-American, Edwards was also named first team All-SEC after leading the Wildcats to a perfect 11-0 record in league play en route to the SEC Championship.
Jeff Keener (1980-81) compiled a 20-5 pitching record during his two seasons with the Wildcats and still holds UK career records with a 2.01 ERA. He allowed only 5.1 hits per nine innings en route to a career winning percentage of .800, which is second in school history.
Clayton Moss (1999-2003) was an eight-time All-America diver and three-time All-America honorable mention honoree for the Wildcats. He earned All-America status on all three boards during his time at UK.
Nancy Scranton (1983-84) was Kentucky’s first All-SEC performer in women’s golf and also is UK’s most successful player in the LPGA ranks.
13 Responses to Derek Abney, J.B. Holmes among six going into UK Athletics Hall of Fame
Leave a Reply
Blue Zoom Radio Show
Polls
Loading ...Choose Your Favorite!
It’s good to read that Derek Abney will be inducted into the UK Athletics Hall of Fame. I think the world of him, and I still remember my tears of joy as I had jumped up and down up in Commonwealth Stadium when he had broken the record for kick returns for touchdowns. Too, while I never met or even watched J. B. Holmes in competition, I had so respected him because of what others had said about him as a young man, besides as a competitor.GO CATS!!!
I LOVED watching Derek play! It was one of my first years as a Cats fan and he was my first favorite player. A great honor for an outstanding career.
Congrats to all the honorees!
They come no better than Derek Abney as a player or person
Congratulations Derek!!!!
By far, the best kick returner ever to play at UK, and he was a really good receiver to boot. Until Derek came on the scene, I always thought that Roger Bird was the best, but Derek’s ability to find that seam, then turn on the afterburners when he was through the hole was unparallelled. One of my favorite memories was sitting in the corner of the end zone at Commonwealth and watching Derek bring one all the way right at me.
Let’s not forget the other names on that list. All great athletes in their own right.
Until Randall I thought Derek was the most exciting player I had seen play at UK since Dickie Lyons Sr.
John, I would throw in Craig Yeast with Abney, Cobb and Dicky Lyons Sr. as special, special big-play guys
Larry – agreed. Craig was probably the most explosive player I’ve seen at UK. Don’t know if anyone had a quicker first step? I remember the play against Florida in the Swamp when Tim threw that quick out pass to Craig and he blew by the CB and out ran the Florida defense for a 90+ yard TD. I had a buddy down there at the game and he said the Florida fans even up to him and marveled that they’d never seen a faster player.
I used to have a contact who had a treasure trove of old UK football film. Some went back to the Bear Bryant era. He sent me a tape of the UK UT at Stoll Field I think it was 1967 or ’68? It’s in color. Dickie kicked off, punted, returned kickoffs and punts and rushed for 144 yards. I don’t think we’ll ever see Dickie’s likes again?
John, what incredible film that must be. Wish I could see it — or post on the site. That would be something
Larry – send me a mailing address via my email address and I’ll see if I can locate them and ship them to you. Their CD’s so I’ll eat the shipping. One is a color film of the Orange Bowl UK v. Santa Clara. No voice over though. Another is a color copy of the Sugar Bowl UK v OU.
Thanks John. Just send address your way
Larry, good point about Craig Yeast, another all time-favorite “big play” guy (and “Anonymous” had been little, ‘ole me).
Craig was special. Just ask Tim Couch, who still loves him. But so were Derek, Randall and Dicky Sr.