Few players over the last decade have represented Kentucky Wildcats football as well as tight end Jacob Tamme, a standout both on the field and the classroom. A three year starter for the Wildcats, Tamme proved to be a difficult matchup for most SEC defenses, and he was a two-time first-team all conference performer under former coach Rich Brooks. Just as impressively, he was a four-year member of the SEC Academic Honor roll, and in 2007 was a finalist for the Draddy Trophy as the top student-athlete in the country. Tamme finished his career as one of the most accomplished pass catchers at the tight end position in the history of the conference, ranking second all-time with 133 catches for 1,417 yards.

Despite his success on the field, Tamme dropped down draft boards due some perceived physical limitations, in particular his lack of great size at 6-foot-3 and 236 pounds. As a result, he lasted until the 4^th round of the 2008 NFL Draft, where he was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts. Underutilized his first two years in the league, Tamme exploded onto the scene in 2010 after an injury to Pro Bowler Dallas Clark opened up a spot in the Colts’ tight end rotation. Tamme responded with 67 receptions for 631 yards and four touchdowns, becoming a reliable target for Peyton Manning in the middle of the field. While Tamme saw his production fall way off in 2011, most of the blame can be attributed to poor play from Indy’s quarterbacks, and Tamme signed a three-year, $9 million contract with the Denver Broncos during the offseason. Reunited with Manning in Denver, Tamme opened the season as a the Broncos’ starting tight end, and he totaled five catches for 43 yards and a touchdown in Denver’s season opening win against the Steelers. Neither the strongest or the fastest tight end in the league, Tamme just knows how to get open, and uses his immense knowledge of opposing defenses to provide a reliable target for his quarterback on a consistent basis. Tamme may not be a household name around the NFL, but his steady presence and stellar reputation will keep him in the league for a long time.

As Kentucky opens the 2012 season, here is a look at Buffalo Bills WR Steve Johnson, a former Wildcat who has gone on to find great success in the NFL. Johnson played just two seasons for Kentucky after transferring in from Chabot College in California, but went on to have one of the best seasons by a receiver in school history as a senior in 2007, catching 60 passes for 1,041 yards and 13 touchdowns. Despite this success, he was considered a raw prospect entering the draft, and was often overshadowed by teammate Keenan Burton, one of the best receivers in Wildcats history in his own right. But while the more experienced Burton has not been able to match his college success, Johnson has far exceeded the expectations that people had for him.

Johnson has made massive strides since entering the league as a seventh round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, and is now regarded as one of the best young wide receivers in the game today. Johnson hardly made any impact during his first two years in Buffalo, totaling just 12 catches from 2008-2009. No one could have expected the breakout season he had in 2010, when is production went through the roof with 82 catches for 1,073 yards and 10 touchdowns, becoming a go-to target for Ryan Fitzpatrick. Johnson proved that 2010 was no fluke a season ago, catching 76 passes and going over the 1,000 yard mark for the second consecutive season. His success landed him a long-term contract with the Bills, where he is expected to continue the growth he has displayed in his four seasons in the league. At 6-foot-2, 207 pounds, Johnson has deceptive speed and imposing size for the position, and is particularly dangerous in the red zone. As he continues to become more experienced he should only get better and better, as he is one of the most physically talented receivers in the game. Johnson was not around for very long, but fans with Kentucky Wildcats tickets hope that they will get to see the next receiver of Steve Johnson’s caliber catching touchdowns all season long.

1.  Randall Cobb, WR/TB/QB/KR (2008-2010): Cobb was hands down the most versatile player in the country during his time at Kentucky, and he was also one of the most dynamic and explosive as well. He played nearly every offensive skill position for the Wildcats, lining up behind center, in the backfield and out wide at different times. He accounted for 42 touchdowns during his career, including 22 rushing, 13 receiving, five passing and two punt return touchdowns. Finally able to focus more exclusively on wide receiver as a junior, he went over the 1,000 yard mark for the season, establishing himself as a solid NFL prospect in the prospect. Cobb, now in his second year with the Green Bay Packers, was a player opposing defenses had to account for at all times, no matter where he lined up.
   
2. Andre Woodson, QB (2004-2007): Woodson came to Lexington as one of the most heralded quarterback recruits in history, and he certainly lived up to that promise. He started at quarterback for his final three years, finishing second to Jared Lorenzen in career passing yardage and setting a new Kentucky record with 79 career touchdown passes. He saved his best season for last, passing for over 3,700 yards and 40 touchdowns. He guided the Wildcats to eight wins in both 2006 and 2007, the most wins for Kentucky in a season since 1977. The Wildcats continue to look for the heir to Woodson’s success at the position.
   
   
3. Wesley Woodyard, LB (2004-2007): Kentucky has become known for producing undersized, instinctive linebackers, and Woodyard was the best of the bunch. He came to the Wildcats as a safety, but was switched to linebacker during his freshman season and never looked back. In three years as a starting linebacker at Kentucky, Woodyard accrued 360 tackles, ranking as one of the highest totals in the SEC over the last decade, despite less than prototypical size (6-1, 235). He was voted first team All-SEC during both his junior and senior seasons, and despite not being drafted has carved out a nice NFL career as a spot starter and reserve linebacker for the Denver Broncos.
   
   

5. Tim Couch- Quarterback

Tim Couch attended the University of Kentucky and played from 1996 to 1998.  After splitting time as a starter for most of his freshman season, Couch eventually became the starter, and in only his second year set several school records.  He left after his equally impressive junior season and completed his collegiate career with an average 67% completion percentage, throwing for 8,435 yards and 74 touchdowns.  Furthermore, he set the Kentucky single season record for most completions in a season with 400.

4. Bob Gain- Offensive lineman/Defensive lineman

Bob Gain was a two-way player who starred for the Wildcats from 1947 to 1950.  Gain was an All-American, including winning SEC Linemen of the Year and the Outland Trophy in 1950.  He was a co-captain on the only Kentucky team to ever win an SEC championship and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980.

3. Art Still- Defensive end

The second overall pick in the 1978 NFL Draft, Art Still was a devastating force throughout his entire football career.  He was awarded All-American honors in 1977 due to an outstanding season that included him finishing with 20 tackles for net negative yards, which is still a University of Kentucky record.  He went on to have an outstanding professional career for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills and owns the Chiefs third highest sack total of all time with 72.5.

2. Vito “Babe” Parilli- Quarterback

One of the most decorated Wildcats of all time, Babe Parilli was the fourth overall pick by the Green Bay Packers in the 1952 NFL Draft.  He won the third ever Super Bowl as a member of the New York Jets, and is often lost in the conversation of great early quarterbacks.  At UK, “Babe” had three outstanding years, including being the only quarterback in the school’s history to win an SEC championship in 1950.  Additionally, he was a two time All-American, winning the awards consecutively in 1950 and 1951.

1. George Blanda- Quarterback/Kicker

Without a doubt the most distinguished player in Kentucky Wildcat Football history is George Blanda.  Blanda was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981 and played for 5 teams in his professional football career.  In 1963, he was named the AFL MVP, and twice led the league in passing yards.  Most importantly though he won 3 AFL championships, playing as both a quarterback and kicker.  When Blanda arrived at Kentucky the team was coming off of a 1-9 season, however the program did not lose more than 3 games for the duration of Blanda’s career thereafter.  Though he was not a member of the UK SEC championship team, Blanda went on to promote the school vicariously through his phenomenal career and play.

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Typically when thinking of the Kentucky Wildcats athletics one’s mind would go to their prestigious basketball program and it’s now 5 National Championships.  You would not expect to think Wildcat football; however the upcoming 2012 college football season has the blue grass state thinking just that.  A team that did not finish higher than 53^rd in any major statistical category last  season, the Kentucky Wildcats are looking to solidify themselves as a respected program in the toughest division in college football; the SEC.  As well, with almost all of their significant players returning from last season Kentucky should finally begin to make noise in the definitely weaker SEC East (as opposed to the loaded SEC West).

The Kentucky Wildcats ran a two-quarterback offense which, though unconventional, can prove in some situations to confuse the defense by presenting them with different looks.  Kentucky’s two quarterbacks are freshman Maxwell Smith from California and junior Morgan Newton.  Both players put up similar numbers last season, and will have to improve on those totals for Kentucky’s offense to thrive and bring them wins.  Newton threw for 793 yards and 8 touchdowns with a quarterback rating of 93.1 while Smith threw for 819 yards and only 4 touchdowns but had a rating 10 points higher at 103.3.  Though both players’ ratings were acceptable, the production and numbers are not as both quarterbacks should throw double digit touchdowns and over 1,000 yards each respectively in order to get the best results from the dual QB threat.

The Wildcat defense was their beacon of hope from last season, and after a strong recruiting class geared towards protecting that side of the ball Kentucky is looking to make some SEC East noise.  The Wildcats’ two highest rated recruits are both defensive lineman.  Alvonte Bell, a 6 foot 5, 220 pound defensive end with a 4.88 40 yard dash time will be joining fellow newcomer defensive tackle Jacob Hyde who at 6 foot 2, 315 pounds will be a pain for offensive lines playing the Wildcats and will often attract double teams that will free up his teammates. 

Kentucky has a relatively easy schedule this year, though the most important game could be the very first one on September 2^nd against in-state rival the University of Louisville.  These two schools have a long history and there is no love lost despite how either team is doing that respective season.  No doubt that the Wildcats toughest test will lie at Arkansas who is one of the elite teams from the SEC West.  This game will be a great indicator of just how far the Kentucky Wildcat football program has come.

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