Kentucky's 5 best players in 2014
The Kentucky Wildcats finished the 2014 season with a 5-7 record (2-6 SEC). The Wildcats opened at 5-1, but ended on a five-game losing streak, failing to secure bowl eligibility for the fourth consecutive year. Still, Kentucky looked improved in several areas and saw solid production from its key players.
Here’s a look at the Wildcats five best players in 2014.
1. Alvin “Bud” Dupree: Dupree ended a storied career in Lexington with a team-best 7.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. It’s no surprise that the 6-food-4, 264-pound DE/LB hybrid is a projected first round pick in the 2015 NFL draft given his dominance in the SEC over four years. Dupree recorded a season-best 1.5 sacks on three occasions in 2014 (Vanderbilt, Louisiana-Monroe and Missouri) and was named first team All-SEC.
2. Josh Forrest: After recording 29 career tackles in his first two seasons, Josh Forrest had a breakthrough junior campaign. Forrest finished fourth in the SEC with 110 tackles in 2014, including a career-high 20 tackles in Week 13 against Tennessee and five games with double-digit tackles. The junior also had 8.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
3. Stanley “Boom” Williams: It took Kentucky nine games to realize that Boom Williams was its best running back. The true freshman made his first start in Week 9 against Missouri and led the Wildcats with 488 yards and five touchdowns on 75 carries. Williams averaged 6.5 yards per carry, second to fellow freshman Nick Chubb in average for a running back with more than 100 attempts.
4. A.J. Stamps: Stamps led a Kentucky secondary that ranked No. 44 overall in passing yards allowed. The junior had a team-best four interceptions and was fifth among Wildcats players in total tackles (56).
5. Patrick Towles: Despite his struggles down the stretch, Patrick Towles had a surprisingly productive season in 2014. The redshirt sophomore ranked fifth in the SEC with 2,718 yards, 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions on 225-of-393 passing. He also had the most rushing attempts of any Kentucky player (145) and was fifth in rushing yards (303).