University of Kentucky wide receiver/kick returner Derek Abney – who finished his career breaking or tying seven NCAA records and 11 Southeastern Conference records – has been named the kickoff/punt returner on the SEC Quarter Century Team chosen by the RotoWire sports statistics and analysis service.
Abney was named the kickoff/punt returner on the squad, which covers SEC football in the 25 seasons from 2000-24. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Abney starred at UK from 2000-2003, earning first-team All-America honors as a junior and second-team All-America as a senior.
Abney totaled eight touchdown returns in his career, six punt return TDs and two kickoff return TDs. Seven of Abney’s eight kick return touchdowns came against SEC teams, with the eighth coming vs. in-state rival Louisville. Abney became the first player in NCAA history with 2,000 receiving yards, 2,000 kickoff return yards and 1,000 punt return yards.
He finished his 46-game career for the Wildcats with 197 catches for 2,339 yards, with 18 receiving TDs. He still holds the UK record for all-purpose yardage, totaling 5,856 receiving, kick return and rushing yards.
Abney’s landmark career has continued to gain recognition since his Wildcat days. He has been elected to the UK Athletics Hall of Fame, been selected as a Living Legend of SEC Football, and in 2015, was named to the Football Writers Association of America 75th Anniversary Team, covering all players from 1940-2014.
Credit: UK Athletics
