5 Kentucky Wildcats make All-SEC Coaches' Teams

Five Kentucky Wildcats have been recognized by the SEC coaches for their performance this season. Offensive tackle Darian Kinnard and center Luke Fortner were named First Team All-SEC, while defensive end Josh Paschal, wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, and running back Chris Rodriguez made the Second Team.

First Team All-SEC

Offense

QB: Bryce Young, Alabama

RB

• Tyler Badie, Missouri
• Brian Robinson Jr., Alabama

WR

• Jameson Williams, Alabama
• Treylon Burks, Arkansas

TE: Brock Bowers, Georgia

OL

• Darian Kinnard, Kentucky
• Evan Neal, Alabama
• Kenyon Green, Texas A&M
• Charles Cross, Mississippi State

C: Luke Fortner, Kentucky

AP: Velus Jones Jr., Tennessee

Defense

DL

• Jordan Davis, Georgia
• Sam Williams, Ole Miss
• DeMarvin Leal, Texas A&M
• Devonte Wyatt, Georgia

LB

• Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
• Nakobe Dean, Georgia
• Damone Clark, LSU

DB

• Roger McCreary, Auburn
• Jordan Battle, Alabama
• Jaylan Foster, South Carolina
• Montaric Brown, Arkansas

Special Teams

PK: Harrison Mevis, Missouri

P: Jake Camarda, Georgia

RS: Velus Jones Jr., Tennessee

Second Team All-SEC

Offense

QB: Matt Corral, Ole Miss

RB

• Chris Rodriguez Jr., Kentucky
• Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M

WR

• John Metchie III, Alabama
• Wan’Dale Robinson, Kentucky

TE: Jalen Wydermyer, Texas A&M

OL

• Jamaree Salyer, Georgia
• Ed Ingram, LSU
• Cade Mays, Tennessee
• Justin Shaffer, Georgia

C: Michael Maietti, Missouri

AP: Jerrion Ealy, Ole Miss

Defense

DL

• Phidarian Mathis, Alabama
• Derick Hall, Auburn
• Josh Paschal, Kentucky
• Jalen Carter, Georgia

LB

• Henry To’oTo’o, Alabama
• Bumper Pool, Arkansas
• Zakoby McClain, Auburn

DB

• Derion Kendrick, Georgia
• Theo Jackson, Tennessee
• Jalyn Armour-Davis, Alabama
• Lewis Cine, Georgia*
• Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State*

Special Teams

PK: Cade York, LSU

P: Nik Constantinou, Texas A&M

RS: Jameson Williams, Alabama

Kentucky Football bios for Kinnard, Fortner, Paschal, Robinson, Rodriguez

Luke Fortner

Fortner is a “super senior” and a 6-6, 297-pound center from Sylvania, Ohio. The two-time Campbell Trophy semifinalist has played in 54 career games for Kentucky, starting 35 in a row. After switching from right guard to center prior to the season, Fortner found his niche, excelling in his new role on the “Big Blue Wall.” He had 17 knockdown blocks in 12 games and allowed only one quarterback sack in more than 350 pass plays. Fortner was also named All-SEC Second Team by Pro Football Focus.

Darian Kinnard

Kinnard, 6-foot-5, 338-pound mountain from Knoxville, Tennessee, is one of the nation’s top offensive tackles. The two-time SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week, also 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. This season, Kinnard led the team with 30 knockdown blocks and allowed only one quarterback sack in more than 350 pass plays. Kinnard was also a first-team All-SEC member by PFF.
 
Under Fortner and Kinnard’s leadership on the offensive line, 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 new school record for a season. According to PFF, UK leads the SEC in rushing yards before contact, averaging 2. 6 yards per attempt.

Wan’Dale Robinson

Robinson, a 5-foot-10, 183-pounder from Frankfort, Kentucky, has been one of the most electric players to ever come through the Kentucky football program. The transfer from Nebraska has caught a team-high 94 passes, a school single-season record, and his 1,164 receiving yards are second on UK’s single-season list. In 12 games this season, Robinson has five 100-yard games which ranks second on UK’s single-season list. Robinson was an All-SEC First Team selection by PFF.

Josh Paschal

Paschal, a 6-3, 275-pound defensive end from Prince George’s County, Maryland, is the only three-time full-season team captain in Kentucky football history. The All-America candidate is having his best season yet in 2021, leading the team and ranking second in the SEC with 15.5 tackles for loss. He also has 53 tackles, 5.5 sacks, a team-high eight quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a blocked field goal. Paschal was a second-team All-SEC choice by PFF.

Chris Rodriguez

Rodriguez Jr., a 5-11, 224-pound running back out of McDonough, Georgia, ranks 12^th nationally and second in the SEC in rushing this season, averaging 106.0 yards per game. In 12 games this season, he has 1,272 rushing yards, which ranks seventh on UK’s single-season list. Overall, he has 2,633 career rushing yards for seventh on the school’s all-time rushing list. He has 14 100-yard games in his career (third all-time) and a school-record tying eight this season, including each of the last four contests. Rodriguez received third-team All-SEC honors from PFF.