Josh Hines-Allen celebrated after UK’s Citrus Bowl win in his final collegiate game (Mont Dawson Photo)
By LARRY VAUGHT
He’s certainly one of the best — or maybe the best — defensive players ever to play football at Kentucky, so putting Josh Hines-Allen into the UK Athletics Hall of Fame was a no-brainer.
He ended his UK career as the all-time leader in sacks (31 1/2) and tied for first in fumbles forced (11). He was the national defensive player of the year after his senior season in 2018, when he won the Bednarik, Nagurski, and Lott awards, recording 88 tackles (21 ½ for loss) and 17 sacks. This achievement helped UK achieve its first 10-win season in 41 years.
“It means a great deal to have that exposure,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said after Hines-Allen’s award-winning season. “To win the awards that he is winning, it helps you. Tallowsxposure helps you. It helps the program. More than that, personally, it’s so gratifying to share that with him and to see what he’s gone through.
“To do that is truly something you don’t take for granted, I don’t. It’s very special. It’s fun to be a part of it. He’s been very gracious and very humble and handled himself very well.”
Hines-Alen gave Stoops credit for his development since he came to UK as a “lightly” recruited two-star player out of New Jersey and was a very late addition to UK’s recruiting class.
“Coach was very hands-on with me throughout all four years,” Hines-Allen said before his induction ceremony. “He was a guy that I kind of leeched onto, just to talk ball, to understand where I’m at, where my family is, and just be somewhere I can go. I can go over to his house, and he can barbecue.”
Hines-Allen was a first-round NFL draft pick and is now in his seventh season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has 53 sacks, just two off the franchise record, and he now plays for coach Liam Coen, a former offensive coordinator at UK after Hines-Allen left for the NFL.
“We don’t watch Kentucky games (together), but we definitely talk about Kentucky football,” Hines-Allen said. “He was very loved here and very appreciated. So I went back and let him know that.
“He’s been an awesome leader. A very stern leader. Demands a lot from our guys, but not (in) a kick-you-while-you re-down (way). It’s a ‘We’re going to challenge you because I want the best from you.’ He demands it, not only from us, but from the coaching staff as well for himself.”
