WildcatRick
09-21-2009, 12:50 PM
After Saturday’s narrow 31-27 victory over Louisville, Kentucky coach Rich Brooks seemed to focus more on Derrick Locke’s fumble on a third-quarter kickoff return than he did his 310 all-purpose yards.
Brooks was quite a bit more complimentary of his junior running back Sunday after he had time to review the game film.
“I think if you take away the fumble on the kickoff, he played as good a game as somebody has played in quite a while. He returned kicks extremely well, caught the ball, made plays in the running game. He was very active and a key factor in our win,” said Brooks.
Locke, who missed the second half of last season after injuring his knee, had a 100-yard kickoff return among his school-record 191 kickoff return yards, rushed 15 times for 72 yards and caught four passes for 47 yards. His 310 all-purpose yards were a career-high.
He currently ranks fourth in the country on kickoff return average at 47.5 yards per return and is ninth in the country in all-purpose running at 185.5 yards per game.
Locke never doubted that he would be back making plays at Kentucky this season.
“I expected to come back and be ready to play. I worked my butt off and it is paying off. I am going to have little aches and pains but it is something you just have to get over and play,” Locke said.
Larry Vaught (http://www.amnews.com/stories/2009/09/21/uks.544923.sto)
Brooks was quite a bit more complimentary of his junior running back Sunday after he had time to review the game film.
“I think if you take away the fumble on the kickoff, he played as good a game as somebody has played in quite a while. He returned kicks extremely well, caught the ball, made plays in the running game. He was very active and a key factor in our win,” said Brooks.
Locke, who missed the second half of last season after injuring his knee, had a 100-yard kickoff return among his school-record 191 kickoff return yards, rushed 15 times for 72 yards and caught four passes for 47 yards. His 310 all-purpose yards were a career-high.
He currently ranks fourth in the country on kickoff return average at 47.5 yards per return and is ninth in the country in all-purpose running at 185.5 yards per game.
Locke never doubted that he would be back making plays at Kentucky this season.
“I expected to come back and be ready to play. I worked my butt off and it is paying off. I am going to have little aches and pains but it is something you just have to get over and play,” Locke said.
Larry Vaught (http://www.amnews.com/stories/2009/09/21/uks.544923.sto)
