Best UK football players over the years

[SevenTimeChamps]

As a relatively young fan, who hasn't gotten to experience much UK football success until recently, I can name the best players and memories of the last 5 years, but not anytime before that. I would like to see everyone's opinions about the Kentucky greats of the past decades.

Feel free to list the best players you've seen wearing the blue and white, or the best players you know of, regardless of position.

Thanks.

[gerntz]

You couldn't be far off by reading the names on the front facing of the upper decks of CWS.

[The Old School JPS]

I'll name a few somewhat second tier UK greats and I'll skip some of the most obvious ones you can find on Wikipedia and elsewhere like Art Still, Tim Couch, Babe Parilli, Sonny Collins, Derrick Ramsey, Craig Yeast, George Blanda, Lou Michaels, Jeff Van Note, Dermontti Dawson.

Paul Calhoun was a punter and safety in the 1980s. He was a headhunter on defense and a very good punter who boomed some incredibly long punts and even ran a fake or two for long TDs. He was a lot of fun to watch. He isn't usually ranked among the greats and didn't play in the NFL but he was a fan favorite in his day.

Jeff Snedegar was another fiercely competitive linebacker, in the mid/late 1990s. He came to UK as a quarterback after finishing second for Ohio's Mr. Football (to Andy Katzenmoyer I think). Against Tennessee in 1997 he could not use an arm due to injury yet still had a vicious one-armed sack of Peyton Manning. I can't remember if he was All-SEC or not.

John Grimsley was a UK linebacker in the 1980s who later had a long NFL career. Cam Jacobs was another very good linebacker at UK then who also ended up in the NFL.

Melvin Johnson was a vicious safety when Curry was the coach. He had a good NFL career later. Same is true for Maurice Douglass who also had a long NFL career. Same for Reggie Rusk too though his NFL career was shorter. Curry's teams were generally bad but for whatever reason UK always seemed to have a stellar defender in the secondary.

Bob Gain won the Outland Trophy at UK.

George Adams was a great powerful running back in the 1980s and a key player on the 9-3 UK team that finished ranked #19 in the final AP poll in 1984 after beating #20 Wisconsin in its bowl game. Adams was a first round draft pick of the Giants but suffered a broken leg that more or less ended a promising but ultimately short NFL career.

Moe Williams was a great running back in the 1990s who had a long NFL career. In one game at South Carolina in 1995 he tallied an amazing 429 yards: 299 rushing, 57 receiving, and 73 on kickoff returns (including one for a TD as I remember it). He had a lot of big yardage games before leaving early for the draft after his junior year.

Mark Logan and Mark Higgs were two other UK RBs who had good NFL careers and were a lot of fun to watch at UK. Higgs was incredible in his early time at UK. A knee injury slowed him down a bit later but he was still outstanding.

James Whalen Jr. came to UK as a walk on from Oregon and was a first team All American before he left, I believe leading the nation in pass receptions by a tight end in his final year (and perhaps final two years). He consistently ran perfect routes and had great hands. He was with the Dallas Cowboys for a while but was too small to block effectively in the league.

Wallace "Wah Wah" Jones played football at UK, and baseball, and was a three time All American in basketball at UK; during two of those years he also led the football team in receptions. He won an Olympic gold medal and played in the NBA. (Lowell Hughes also played basketball at UK and was UK's starting quarterback; Derrick Ramsey did the same thing, leading UK to a Peach Bowl win in 1976 and to a 10-1 record and top 10 ranking in 1977.)

Charlie McClendon played football at UK and then was a very, very successful head coach at LSU for many, many years. Jerry Claiborne also played at UK and was a very successful head coach at Virginia Tech, Maryland and then UK.

There are a lot of others.

[Matt Dillon]

All I can say is all the names mentioned so far are very deserving in my opinion. When you've been following UK fb as long as I have (this coming season will be my 55th), it would be impossible to name one or two players as the best.

[Watchtower]

My personal all-time favorite was Lou Micheals. He single-handedly beat Tennessee in his final game. I got his chin strap after he destroyed Memphis. He was the meanest person I've ever had the pleasure(?) of meeting as a kid and as a college student.

He is a Lexington legend amonst those who graduated from UK and Lexington high schools in the late 50's and early 60's. One of my good friends back then was considered to be the toughest guy in Lexington and he was deathly afraid of Lou. These guys would hang out at the CCI on Euclid and when Lou came in, the place would clear out, especially if he had been drinking. Bad A$$e$ from Louisville would come in looking for Lou. I saw him bite off a guy's ear out on the street in front of the CCI. When he was sober, he was a fairly nice guy.

Those were different times than today.

[sardiscat]

Herschel Turner, Walt Yowarsky, Warren Bryant, Joe Federspiel, Roger Bird, Larry Seiple, Sam Ball, Bubba McCollum, Frank LeMaster, Darryl Bishop, Jerry Claiborne (still holds UK's single season record for interceptions), Rick Norton (first player drafted in the 1966 NFL draft), Rick Kestner, Jim Kovach, DeWayne Robertson, Marty Moore, David Johnson, Doug Davis (Sam Ball was regarded as the stud OT on the 1965 team, but Davis actually had the longer career in the NFL), Dicky Lyons (the first), and Al Baker all were about as good as anybody who has played their positions at UK. Most of those guys played in the NFL. Three players who never got as much credit as they deserved (IMO) were Alfred Rawls, Willie Cannon, and Joey Couch.

Michaels was picked for the SEC's all-50 years team.

[Copland]

Pookie Jones has always been a player that stands out in my mind. I think he doesn't really get alot of the respect that he deserves in the UK Football pantheon.

[The Old School JPS]

My personal all-time favorite was Lou Micheals. He single-handedly beat Tennessee in his final game. I got his chin strap after he destroyed Memphis. He was the meanest person I've ever had the pleasure(?) of meeting as a kid and as a college student.

He is a Lexington legend amonst those who graduated from UK and Lexington high schools in the late 50's and early 60's. One of my good friends back then was considered to be the toughest guy in Lexington and he was deathly afraid of Lou. These guys would hang out at the CCI on Euclid and when Lou came in, the place would clear out, especially if he had been drinking. Bad A$$ from Louisville would come in looking for Lou. I saw him bite off a guy's ear out on the street in front of the CCI. When he was sober, he was a fairly nice guy.

Those were different times than today.

Thanks for sharing, Watchtower - I love to read those good old stories from way back when.

[Watchtower]

Thanks for sharing, Watchtower - I love to read those good old stories from way back when.

Yeah, it makes me feel like I'm one of the Founding Fathers. :icon_mrgreen:

[Oldswimkat]

I always liked Billy Jack Haskins. He just competed and liked his toughness.

I am just wondering how long it will be until Dermonte Dawson is going to the Pro Football Hall of Fame? He deserves it.

[johnkyblue]

One of my favorites was David Johnson. He suffered the same kind of injury I did. Before and after, you could tell a difference on the field as he was as good in the secondary as Dennis was on the line. They weren't related, I don't think.

[UKFBFAN]

My personal all-time favorite was Lou Micheals. He single-handedly beat Tennessee in his final game. I got his chin strap after he destroyed Memphis. He was the meanest person I've ever had the pleasure(?) of meeting as a kid and as a college student.

He is a Lexington legend amonst those who graduated from UK and Lexington high schools in the late 50's and early 60's. One of my good friends back then was considered to be the toughest guy in Lexington and he was deathly afraid of Lou. These guys would hang out at the CCI on Euclid and when Lou came in, the place would clear out, especially if he had been drinking. Bad A$$ from Louisville would come in looking for Lou. I saw him bite off a guy's ear out on the street in front of the CCI. When he was sober, he was a fairly nice guy.

Those were different times than today.

A friend spotted Lou Michaels playing the pinball machine and tried to tackle him. Lou looked down at this mosquito, picked him up by the seat of his pants, carried him outside and tossed him over the hedge. (What was that great restaurant near the train station on ?Limestone?) He held on to the pants just enough to rip out the back.

I witnessed his last game against Tennessee. I have a copy of that game. Almost every play goes behind Lou's blocking. They gave a new Cadillac to Bernie Shivley at halftime. We won.
Has anybody mentioned Blanda, Abney, Yeast, Higgs? Pakulak, Calvin and Roger Bird, Artose, Doug Pelfrey, Bob Gain, Jeff Zurcher, Dean Wells, Marlon McCree, Jeff Van Note, Dave Roller, Larry Seiple, Rick Kestner, Rick Norton, Jim Kovach, Dermotti Dawson, Joe Federspiel, Sam Ball, Tom Hutchinson? And what about Herky Rupp? Was he good or just well-known? Yeah, I used a book. We've seen some great ones go through there, haven't we?

[MSU Cat]

I think one of my favorites was Jared Lorenzen. How could you not like that guy?

[The Old School JPS]

Who, from the current roster, do you think is most likely to join this group?

[Russ24ky]

My favorite.. Mike Siganois.. Safety and PR for Fran Curic.. (The guy NEVER fair catched it)

[KYStout]

Dermonti Dawson...that guy was built like a monster.

[Watchtower]

Who, from the current roster, do you think is most likely to join this group?

Randall Cobb and maybe Derrick Locke.

[Watchtower]

Calvin Bird was also one of my favorites. He went on to play for the Raiders. There were some greats from the sixties. Calvin Withrow comes to mind. Joe Federspiel was great. Dave Roller was a good one.

Ronnie Cain was a great WR in the fifties. Bob Hardy, Delmar Hughes and Jerry Wollums were pretty good QBs. My favorite for futility (he did have heart, though) was Bernie Scruggs.

[Matt Dillon]

[QUOTE=Watchtower;733139]Calvin Bird was also one of my favorites. He went on to play for the Raiders.

Calvin played for the Chargers, if I'm not mistaken. It was his younger brother, Rodger, that played for the Raiders. I'm sure of that because I went to high school with Rodger.

[The Old School JPS]

George Adams, discussed previously in this thread, crossed my mind tonight. He was a first round draft pick off of the 1984 UK team that went 9-3. He started out with terrific NFL play and a very bright future but very early on suffered a broken leg and was never the same again. Revisiting it, his early NFL stats were outstanding.

As a rookie, George Adams had the following stats for the New York Giants:

128 rushing attempts for 498 yards (3.9 avg) and 2 TDs

31 receptions for 389 yards (12.5 avg) and 2 TDs

14 kickoff returns for 241 yards (17.2 average)

The 498 rushing yards and 31 receptions for 389 yards are even more impressive for a rookie considering that he had to share the backfield with RB Joe Morris, who made the Pro Bowl that year with 1,336 rushing yards (4.5 avg on 294 carries). Rob Carpenter was also a RB on that team and had over 4,000 career rushing yards going into the season.

He missed all of the following season, had his stats wilt a bit, and played a total of 6 NFL seasons but never got back to where he was before the broken leg.

Stats here:

http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=ADAMSGEO01

I wonder whatever became of him and how he's doing. I sure enjoyed watching him at UK.

[John Clay Rice Jr.]

In my opinion it's Tim Couch.

[Watchtower]

A friend spotted Lou Michaels playing the pinball machine and tried to tackle him. Lou looked down at this mosquito, picked him up by the seat of his pants, carried him outside and tossed him over the hedge. (What was that great restaurant near the train station on ?Limestone?) He held on to the pants just enough to rip out the back.

I witnessed his last game against Tennessee. I have a copy of that game. Almost every play goes behind Lou's blocking. They gave a new Cadillac to Bernie Shivley at halftime. We won.
Has anybody mentioned Blanda, Abney, Yeast, Higgs? Pakulak, Calvin and Roger Bird, Artose, Doug Pelfrey, Bob Gain, Jeff Zurcher, Dean Wells, Marlon McCree, Jeff Van Note, Dave Roller, Larry Seiple, Rick Kestner, Rick Norton, Jim Kovach, Dermotti Dawson, Joe Federspiel, Sam Ball, Tom Hutchinson? And what about Herky Rupp? Was he good or just well-known? Yeah, I used a book. We've seen some great ones go through there, haven't we?

That was the Adams House, a Wednesday night drinking spot for the Kappa Alphas and Henry Clay students.

[Watchtower]

[quote=Watchtower;733139]Calvin Bird was also one of my favorites. He went on to play for the Raiders.

Calvin played for the Chargers, if I'm not mistaken. It was his younger brother, Rodger, that played for the Raiders. I'm sure of that because I went to high school with Rodger.

You're right, of course. I got the first names mixed up....halfhiemers disease. Sorry.

[gerntz]

The best and your favorites aren't necessarily the same.

[Joe Hardy]

Who, from the current roster, do you think is most likely to join this group?
no brainer

Randall Cobb will go down as one of the most versatile and "best" UK football players ever. I'm thinking first team all American in his senior year.




some of the best I've seen in my 25 or so years of watching UK would be Doug Pelphrey, Tim Couch obviously...how about Artoose Pinner, Derek Abney, Kio Sanford

[Terry L. Wildcat]

This old goat's favorite football Wildcat is The Corbin Comet: Rodger Bird.

[BigBlue75]

Mike Pfeiffer. (sp?)

and already mentioned by some but I'll second:

Dermonti Dawson
Tim Couch
Sonny Collins
Mike Siganos
Moe Williams
Oliver Barnett
George Adams
Mark Higgs

and one I think should be included: Doug Kotar. (Ran a kickoff back for a touchdown the first time he ever touched the ball as a Wildcat.)

[Watchtower]

Against Klempson in Death Valley and that was the final score. A terribly boring game with the exception of the opening kickoff.

I read where Kotar came on campus in the only clothes he owned: jeans, white t-shirt and tennis shoes. He was promptly taken to Graves-Cox and was outfitted.

[TrueblueCATfan]

Randall Cobb
Tim Couch
Dickie Lyons Sr and JR
Craig Yeast

this are just a few off the top of my head

[tamme11]

As a relatively young fan, who hasn't gotten to experience much UK football success until recently, I can name the best players and memories of the last 5 years, but not anytime before that. I would like to see everyone's opinions about the Kentucky greats of the past decades.

Feel free to list the best players you've seen wearing the blue and white, or the best players you know of, regardless of position.

Thanks.

Rick Norton, and Dopey Phelps.

[vols30]

I always liked Billy Jack Haskins. He just competed and liked his toughness.

I am just wondering how long it will be until Dermonte Dawson is going to the Pro Football Hall of Fame? He deserves it.


Billy Jack is my favorite UK player. Watch the UT/UK game that had Peyton Manning and Billy Jack lighting up the scoreboard. The run that Haskins had in the 4th Qtr was the best run I've ever seen by a QB. He must have broke 5 tackles for a TD.

[DCWildcat]

I'm a young fan as well so I am not familiar with a lot of the older players. But there are plenty of big names in the somewhat-recent past.

My all-time favorite is Derek Abney, who is still (to the best of my knowledge) #2 on the SEC All-Purpose yardage list for his career (behind only Kevin Faulk).

Who knows what could've become of Rafael Little's career if it weren't for the injuries. He was a legitimate Heisman candidate going into his sophomore season, but fate intervened and the injuries never really left him alone.

Gotta mention Couch of course.

[DCWildcat]

Against Klempson in Death Valley and that was the final score. A terribly boring game with the exception of the opening kickoff.

I read where Kotar came on campus in the only clothes he owned: jeans, white t-shirt and tennis shoes. He was promptly taken to Graves-Cox and was outfitted.

Ha...there are certainly worse places to be outfitted!

[tamme11]

[quote=Watchtower;733139]Calvin Bird was also one of my favorites. He went on to play for the Raiders.

Calvin played for the Chargers, if I'm not mistaken. It was his younger brother, Rodger, that played for the Raiders. I'm sure of that because I went to high school with Rodger.

They had an older brother that played for ky, what was his name?

[Hanover Cat]

[quote=Matt Dillon;733154]

They had an older brother that played for ky, what was his name?

Jerry Bird played basketball at UK. He later played in the NBA for the Minneapolis Lakers.

[UKFBFAN]

Mike Pfeiffer. (sp?)

and already mentioned by some but I'll second:

Dermonti Dawson
Tim Couch
Sonny Collins
Mike Siganos
Moe Williams
Oliver Barnett
George Adams
Mark Higgs

and one I think should be included: Doug Kotar. (Ran a kickoff back for a touchdown the first time he ever touched the ball as a Wildcat.)

Interestingly enough I had the honor to meet Mike Pfieffer (Spelling?) on Saturday. He had with him his wife and family (3). All were charming and I found Mike to be both gracious and considerate. He looks good but is still favoring with that knee he hurt in his playing days. Mike was glad to be back in Lexington and took a tour of the Nutter training facility before the game. He was, indeed, one of our best.

[poodoo]

I'm just posting to thank you guys for so many wonderful memories as I read names. :) Continue on (and, sorry, I'm not adding to the list, for there are so many more I consider "best" -- and "favorite" players).

[DCWildcat]

Wesley freakin Woodyard.

Not just for his amazing play. He lead a group of Wildcats that lead to an amazing 07 run, and he started a pipeline from Lagrange that will continue to help us for years to come.

[UKFBFAN]

Wesley freakin Woodyard.

Not just for his amazing play. He lead a group of Wildcats that lead to an amazing 07 run, and he started a pipeline from Lagrange that will continue to help us for years to come.

Oh, Yeah, Him... :icon_biggrin: didn't I see him and Andrea Woodson at Saturday's Spring game?

[cumberlandredskin]

Jim Kovach was a great linebacker in the early to mid seventies,IIRC. He went on to play in the NFL for quite a few seasons. I believe he went on to become a doctor after his playing days were over. One of the best defensive players I can remember.
Here are a few others that most of you all have mentioned already:

Mike Fanuzzi QB in the early Curci years.
Derrick Ramsay
Art Still
Warren Bryant
Mike Sigonos
George Adams
Sonny Collins
Dermonti Dawson

[WILD BLUE YONDER CAT]

A friend spotted Lou Michaels playing the pinball machine and tried to tackle him. Lou looked down at this mosquito, picked him up by the seat of his pants, carried him outside and tossed him over the hedge. (What was that great restaurant near the train station on ?Limestone?) He held on to the pants just enough to rip out the back.

I witnessed his last game against Tennessee. I have a copy of that game. Almost every play goes behind Lou's blocking. They gave a new Cadillac to Bernie Shivley at halftime. We won.
Has anybody mentioned Blanda, Abney, Yeast, Higgs? Pakulak, Calvin and Roger Bird, Artose, Doug Pelfrey, Bob Gain, Jeff Zurcher, Dean Wells, Marlon McCree, Jeff Van Note, Dave Roller, Larry Seiple, Rick Kestner, Rick Norton, Jim Kovach, Dermotti Dawson, Joe Federspiel, Sam Ball, Tom Hutchinson? And what about Herky Rupp? Was he good or just well-known? Yeah, I used a book. We've seen some great ones go through there, haven't we?

Herky Rupp and FOOTBALL...?

[WILD1]

Still and Dawson, IMO.

[bleedbluelady]

Jim Kovach was a great linebacker in the early to mid seventies,IIRC. He went on to play in the NFL for quite a few seasons. I believe he went on to become a doctor after his playing days were over. One of the best defensive players I can remember.
Here are a few others that most of you all have mentioned already:

Mike Fanuzzi QB in the early Curci years.
Derrick Ramsay
Art Still
Warren Bryant
Mike Sigonos
George Adams
Sonny Collins
Dermonti Dawson

IIRC, Kovach was honored by the SEC at the SEC championship game in Atlanta this past season.

[poodoo]

Wesley freakin Woodyard.

Not just for his amazing play. He lead a group of Wildcats that lead to an amazing 07 run, and he started a pipeline from Lagrange that will continue to help us for years to come.

I said I wasn't going to name any players. Well, that young man is at the TOP of my list, particularly because of the reason you give here, DCWildcat. In my opinion, Wesley Woodyard, above all others, was responsible for the turnaround we witnessed during Coach Brooks' tenure. Too, while Wesley was huge in starting that LaGrange pipeline that continues to help us so, he was also huge in convincing top recruits, period, to come to Kentucky. That group of seniors of Wesley Woodyard, Keenan Burton, Jacob Tamme, Andre Woodson, and Rafael Little will always have a special place in my heart (along with so many other players). Wesley, though, is at the top of that list because of that productive pipeline from LaGrange (and all those guys could be listed here, actually) and all the others he led to Kentucky, who have then performed on the field and gotten wins for the program and helped others to decide on Kentucky. AMEN. :)

What HEART and CHARISMA and LEADERSHIP Wesley Woodyard had, besides athletic ability. Yes, to that one name I must respond. :)

[Blue Heaven]

I love all the guys we have had. It's hard to pick a favorite, so I will name a few.

-Derrick Abney- Lightning when ever he touched it
-Craig Yeast- see Abney
-Moe Williams- had a long pro career. His game against South Carolina was awesome!
-Higgs and Logan- awesome 1-2 punch at RB
-James Whalen- might be the best receiving TE I have ever seen at the college level