The accolades just keep rolling in this preseason for UK senior punter Max Duffy, senior center Drake Jackson and junior offensive tackle Darian Kinnard as the three Wildcats have been named preseason All-Americans by Athlon Sports.
Aussie punter Max Duffy was nominated a first-team specialist by Athlon, which also deemed him preseason first-team All-SEC. Duffy has also recently been named a preseason first-team All-American by Sporting News, Walter Camp and Phil Steele who also named him preseason first-team All-SEC. This comes after the rugby-style booter averaged a nation-best 48.10 yards per punt last season, leading him to winning the 2019 Ray Guy Award as the nation’s top punter and becoming a consensus postseason All-American.
Kentucky center Drake Jackson earned a spot on Athlon’s preseason second-team All-America. The Versailles, KY native has also recently been named preseason first-team All-SEC by Athlon and Phil Steele, as well as being deemed the most valuable center going into the 2020 season by Pro Football Focus. These honors come as Jackson has started 33 consecutive games anchoring the powerful UK offensive line also known as the “Big Blue Wall.”
Offensive lineman Darian Kinnard was named a preseason second-team All-American by Athlon Sports. The junior right tackle has also been tabbed a preseason fourth-team All-American by Phil Steele as well as preseason first-team All-SEC by Athlon and Steele. Kinnard earned this recognition after starting all 13 games for the Wildcats last season and finishing with 32 knockdowns and just one penalty in 706 snaps.