Jacquez Jones, Josh Paschal earn SEC Player of the Week honors

Two Wildcats earned recognition from the Southeastern Conference for their performances in Kentucky’s 20-13 win over Florida. Senior inside linebacker Jacquez Jones was named SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week, while senior defensive end Josh Paschal won SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week.

Jones had nine tackles, including one for loss, a quarterback hurry, and a game-saving pass breakup. His fourth-down pass breakup in the end zone with 18 seconds left sealed the victory. The Ole Miss transfer had two shared tackles for loss, one on a three-yard loss that helped force a punt and also on a one-yard loss leading up to UK’s decisive game-changing blocked punt. Yesterday, he was named Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week.

.@ESPN_Jac shut the door #ForTheTeam 😼 pic.twitter.com/my1FNuNsUA

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) October 3, 2021

Josh Paschal made several huge plays on defense, but his performance on special teams changed the game. With Kentucky trailing 10-7 in the third quarter, Paschal blocked Florida’s 48-yard field goal attempt, which freshman Trevin Wallace returned 76 yards for a touchdown to give the Cats the lead.

That just happened. 👋 @JPaschalx | TD return @WallaceTrevin

📺 – @ESPN – https://t.co/071KUqeHQH | #ForTheTeam 😼🏈 pic.twitter.com/WhfQSBn4RF

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) October 3, 2021

Paschal also made seven tackles, including 2.5 for loss. He won Reese’s Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week earlier today. Kentucky’s defense limited Florida to 171 rushing yards and 382 yards total offense, well below their season averages of 322.5 rushing yards (third nationally) and 540.8 yards total offense (ninth nationally). The Cats ended Florida’s streak of 14 consecutive games of 400+ yards total offense, the nation’s longest active streak.

SEC Players of the Week – October 4

• Offensive: Brian Robinson (RB, Alabama), Will Rogers (QB, Mississippi State), Bo Nix (QB, Auburn)
• Defensive: Jacquez Jones (LB, Kentucky), Will Anderson (LB, Alabama)
• Special Teams: Joe Bulovas (PK, Vanderbilt), Josh Paschal (DE, Kentucky)
• Defensive Line: Devonte Wyatt (DL, Georgia)
• Offensive Line: Cade Mays (OT, Tennessee)
• Freshman: Len’Neth Whitehead (RB, Tennessee), Jarquez Hunter (RB, Auburn)