Big Blue Brew 8/2: Seeing Double

Today, we're celebrating Deone Walker racking up the preseason honors.

🔵 The Official Daily Newsletter For Kentucky Athletics

Good morning. Christmas? In August? Not quite yet, but it sure felt like it for the kids who received bikes from Kentucky football’s J.J. Weaver this week. Scroll on down to read all about it!

Save The Date: The cross country team released this year’s schedule, and if you’re looking to watch a meet in person the first one close to home is in Richmond on Friday, September 1. Click here to view the full schedule.

What all are we tossing into today’s Brew?

🚴 J.J. Weaver in the community
✌️ Deone Walker up for two trophies
🔵 And much, much more!

📈 STOCK UP

🔼  Christmas In August. J.J. Weaver created “The Perfect Fit” foundation to help kids in the community who are just like him. How so? Believe it or not, the Kentucky football player has six fingers, and he met two kids at an elementary school who also had six fingers.

And his struggle to find a comfortable glove to wear playing football led him to contact Nike to make a “perfect fit” for him. Through his foundation, J.J. donated bikes at Iroquois Park to kids this past weekend.

🔼 Seeing Double. Among the very best! Deone Walker has earned a spot on the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Outland Trophy. Standing tall at 6’6” and 330 pounds, the sophomore played in all 13 games last season and did his best Hulk impersonation all year long—putting up 40 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, five quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, one sack, and one forced fumble.

He finished the season earning freshman All-America honors from six different organizations, was named second-team All-SEC by three organizations, and was a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award.

When do we find out if he’s a finalist?

Bronko Nagurski Trophy: The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce the finalists on November 15. The winner will be announced at a banquet on December 4.

Outland Trophy: The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN will announce the Outland Trophy winner in December.

🤔 BIG BLUE TRIVIA

Cream of the crop. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is awarded to the nation’s top defensive player, and it hasn’t been very long since it was given to a Wildcat.

Our question today—who was the Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner in 2018 when a Kentucky football player last took home the award?

Think you got it? Scroll on down to the bottom of this email for the answer!

🔵 ONE BIG THING

All Rhodes lead home. Kentucky women’s basketball has named Jaamal Rhodes as their Associate Coach of Player Relations.

Jaamal Rhodes has over two decades of experience in high school and club ranks where he coached and developed athletes—producing 17 college players, nine being Division I, during his time as girls varsity head coach at AZ Compass Prep School.

📬 STICK WITH US

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📅 COMING SOON

Saturday, August 5

🏈 Football Fan Day @ 11:00am ET | More Details

Thursday, August 17

⚽️ Women’s Soccer vs. Eastern Kentucky @ 7:30pm ET (Season Opener)

Thursday, August 24

⚽️ Men’s Soccer vs. Florida Gulf Coast @ 7:30pm ET (Home Opener)

Friday, September 1

🏐 Volleyball vs. Pittsburgh @ 7:00pm ET (Home Opener)

Saturday, September 2

🏈 Football vs. Ball State @ 12:00pm ET on SEC Network | Watch Live | Reserve Your Tailgate

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: Josh Allen

🔵 Have a great Wednesday!