Kenneth Horsey a Deserving Winner of Pop Warner College Football Player of the Year Award

Kenneth Horsey, left, is an inspiration to numerous youngsters as well as former UK quarterback Will Levis. (Vicky Graff Photo)

If there is a more deserving player to be named the 2022-23 Pop Warner College Football Player of the Year than Kentucky senior offensive lineman Kenneth Horsey, I’m not sure who it could possibly be.

The Pop Warner youth football/cheerleading organization certainly agreed as Horsey was named the winner Thursday of the award that goes to a player who exhibits leadership on the field, in the classroom and in the community.

Horsey has done countless hours of community service work for heart health after needing open heart surgery just before the end of his high school senior year in Florida after complaining about a pain in his side. After a growth was found on one of his heart valves, surgery was performed and doctors were not sure if he would play football again or not. But Horsey came to UK on time, redshirted the 2018 season and has now started 33 straight games at guard and tackle.

He has volunteered with the Lexington chapter of the American Heart Association and in 2021 received the Finn Collier Service Award (named for a 7-year-old who lost his life to heart issues) from the AHA for his work with the organization.  He also was named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for his volunteer work with the AHA and was a candidate for the Wuerffel Trophy.

Horsey has participated in numerous community service events, including CPR training for the UK football team and staff in 2021. He also hosted a CPR awareness session for media members the same year.

About a year ago I watched him talk to over 200 players at the Centre College Soccer Camp. He came to Danville with quarterback Will Levis but the camp participants were mesmerized by his story and personality.

Horsey graduated in December of 2021 with a degree in communication. He is working on a master’s degree in social work now.