Lineman

LEXINGTON - Two seniors who passed up a chance to enter the NFL draft to return to Kentucky have been named to the UK football team's leadership council in voting by players at each position. Linebacker Micah Johnson and cornerback Trevard Lindley were elected on the defense along with lineman Corey Peters. The offense is represented by lineman Zipp Duncan, receiver Kyrus Lanxter, tight end Ross Bogue and running back John Conner. The council's role is to represent the team on issues that need player input and to bring team concerns to the attention of the coaching staff if needed.

LANCASTER - More than 700 high school football players from nine states attended the Cincinnati Nike Combine earlier this month, but only 25 performed well enough to make the all-combine team. Garrard County's John Shoemaker was one of those 25. "I was surprised," Shoemaker said when he learned he had made the team. The 6-3, 328-pound offensive lineman was one of just two Kentuckians to make the team, along with Eric Shaw of Lafayette. According the combine's Web site, the team was chosen "based upon combine performance and projected college recruitability.

When Daniel Wiechart found out he was going to have a new coach for his senior football season, the Boyle County lineman admits he was a bit apprehensive and skeptical. "I wasn't too worried about it, but I was a little concerned," said Wiechart. However, new Boyle coach Larry French was never concerned about Wiechart's ability. He decided to use him only at offensive tackle even though he had played both offense and defense for the Rebels the two previous years. The decision not only paid off for the unbeaten Rebels, but it led to Wiechart being chosen as The Advocate-Messenger Area Lineman of the Year in voting by area coaches.

LEXINGTON - Junior guard Zipp Duncan has been a rarity for Kentucky this season - a relatively healthy offensive lineman. He's not had to miss any games, something tackles Garry Williams and Justin Jeffries as well as guards Jess Beets and Stuart Hines wish was true for them. Even tight ends Maurice Grinter and T.C. Drake have been hobbled at times by injuries. "It is a fortunate feeling for me, but unfortunate for a lot of guys. It makes it real tough to have good play in the line when you don't have continuity in who is playing," said Duncan.

LEXINGTON - Myron Pryor found himself in unfamiliar territory twice in a 48-hour period. First, he scored his first collegiate touchdown on a 72-yard fumble return in Sunday's 27-2 win over Louisville, a run the 310-pound Louisville native insists he'll never forget. Next, he found himself at the podium at coach Rich Brooks' weekly news conference earlier this week to discuss being named Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week. "I still think scoring the touchdown was better, but I liked doing this, too," said Pryor.

STANFORD - They haven't played a game yet, and already the Patriots are fighting some major injuries. Lincoln County coach Mike Settles said his team could be without three starting offensive lineman, including one who might be out for the season, heading into Friday's PBK Bank Death Valley Bowl matchup against Washington County. "It will be a major impact on the outcome of the game," said Settles, the Patriots first-year coach who refused to identify the players or reveal the injuries.

No player being recruited by Kentucky has more ties to the UK football program this year than Indianapolis offensive lineman Zack Martin. His father, Keith, lettered at Kentucky from 1981-83 and played one year with current Kentucky linebacker coach Chuck Smith, who is Zack Martin's chief recruiter. His mother is a former trainer at Kentucky who met her husband there. That's why his family has UK football season tickets and Zack Martin has "been down there a bunch to watch Kentucky play" in past years even before he was offered a scholarship by the Wildcats.

NASHVILLE -- Florida State coach Bobby Bowden joked that he wanted Kentucky coach Rich Brooks to "feel sorry" for his team, a notion that Brooks quickly rejected. However, despite having only 43 scholarship players available because of an academic scandal and injuries, Bowden made it clear that Florida State was not without talent going into Monday's Music City Bowl against the Wildcats. "It's not like we are going to put a bunch of guys out there who ain't no football players," said Bowden during Sunday's Music City Bowl press conference.

STANFORD - No matter what coach Larry French asked Daniel Walls to do, the Lincoln County senior lineman always seemed to be able to do it. "He has done all we have ever asked of him, and we asked a lot," said French. "He might not always be the best player out there, but he finds a way to play like the best player. " That effort enabled Walls to be selected as The Advocate-Messenger Area Lineman of the Year in voting by area coaches. Other linemen who received votes were Mercer County's William Harris, Danville's Pearce Nesbitt and Garrard County's Josh Gibson.

Having electricity at the flip of a switch is something that many people take for granted. But for the employees at Blue Grass Energy, electricity is always on their mind, and safety takes top priority. With that in mind, recently, line crews practiced their annual "hurt-man" rescues behind their facility located off U.S. 27. "We're our own first responders," said Rad Combs, Blue Grass Energy's safety coordinator. "Our linemen take pride in being among the best and safest in their profession.