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Every Kentucky football player to win major college football awards

By Mat Mlodzinski

Jan 1, 2019; Orlando, FL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats linebacker Josh Allen (41) reacts to the crowd during the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 2019 Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2019; Orlando, FL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats linebacker Josh Allen (41) reacts to the crowd during the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 2019 Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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Preseason college football hype is upon us and there are multiple Kentucky football players on award watch lists. These Wildcats have won these awards in years past.

Bob Gain, OT

1950 Outland Trophy winner

73 years ago, Kentucky football offensive tackle Bob Gain was on top of the college football world. At 6-3, 230 pounds, Gain was an award-winning offensive tackle as the nation’s best interior lineman. His play helped Kentucky go 10-1, winning the SEC title and defeating Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl.

Courtney Love, LB

2017 Wuerffel Trophy winner

Hats off to Love, whose community service, academic excellence, and athletic achievements helped him win the Wuerffel Trophy in 2017. It was his senior season, and Love put up career-highs with 92 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss. His 58 assisted tackles were a team-best.

Off the field, Love spent time at Kentucky Children’s Hospital, a great example of someone who understands the importance of helping others.

As of 2023, he is Kentucky’s Graduate Assistant on defense.

Josh Allen, LB

2018 Chuck Bednarik Award winner

2018 Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner

Before he became a defensive star with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Josh Allen was a shutdown linebacker for Kentucky football. His 2018 season was one for the record books, as Allen compiled 17 sacks, which ranks inside the top ten all-time for a single season. SEC quarterbacks knew what was coming, and still couldn’t get out of the way. Only Murray State and Georgia escaped playing the Wildcats without getting sacked by Allen.

Lynn Bowden, QB, WR, RS

2019 Paul Hornung Award winner

The latest Wildcat to win a major award, Bowden did it all on the field for Kentucky. That’s the name of the award, which goes to the most versatile player in college football. In Bowden’s junior year, he rushed for nearly 1,500 yards and 13 touchdowns, while catching 30 passes for 348 yards and another TD. The year before, Bowden had more than double the number of receptions and yards but was used in the backfield for his junior season.

He also helped the Wildcats in the Wildcat offense, completing 35-of-74 passes for 403 yards and 3 TD. Finally, Bowden was used on kickoff and punt returns, averaging 24.4 yards per kickoff return. An all-around athlete, Bowden perfected multiple positions on the field to earn the Paul Hornung Award, which ironically, is named after a Louisville great.

Max Duffy, P

2019 Ray Guy Award winner

Duffy won the Ray Guy Award the same year as Bowden’s Paul Hornung Award win, giving Kentucky football two trophy winners in 2019. Kentucky didn’t have to punt a whole lot in 2019, but the 49 times they did, Duffy averaged 48.1 yards to lead the nation. That’s tied for the fourth-best average since 2000 and played a part in a commendable 8-5 season for UK.

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