A.J. Stamps; Austin Macginnis 3rd team Preseason All-SEC

[Darrell KSR]

UK Story on it:

Stamps, MacGinnis Named Preseason All-SEC by Media

Stamps named third-team defensive back, MacGinnis third-team placekicker

LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky football senior safety A.J. Stamps and sophomore placekicker Austin MacGinnis have been named to the 2015 Preseason Media Days All-Southeastern Conference Team, the league office announced Friday.

Stamps was named to the third-team defense as a defensive back, while MacGinnis was a third-team placekicker. The Preseason All-SEC Teams were voted on by media attending 2015 SEC Media Days this week in Birmingham, Ala.

Stamps had a solid first season for the Wildcats after transferring to the Bluegrass State from East Mississippi Community College. The native of Vicksburg, Miss., moved from cornerback to safety his first season in Lexington and had immediate results, starting all 12 games with 56 tackles, four interceptions returned 103 yards, five pass breakups and one tackle for loss.

Stamps’ 103 interception return yards were the most by a Kentucky player in one season since 1981. The senior made his mark in UK’s season opener last year, grabbing a one-handed interception vs. UT Martin that was one of ESPN’s Top 10 plays of the day. He also had an interception against Vanderbilt that helped Kentucky grab its first SEC win and had an interception and two pass breakups in Kentucky’s come-from-behind victory over South Carolina.

A native of Wedowee, Ala., MacGinnis set six school records in his collegiate debut season, totaling 21 field goals, the most in Kentucky history. He had the most field goals in the SEC last fall, also leading all NCAA freshmen. MacGinnis finished with a school-record 104 points -- equaling the SEC lead -- and was one of only five kickers in the nation with three field goals of 50+ yards.

MacGinnis, who made a UK record 41 extra-point tries without a miss in 2014, set another school mark with the longest field goal in school history, a 54-yard boot at Tennessee. MacGinnis, who earned national placekicker of the week from the College Football Performance Awards after making four field goals at No. 22 Louisville, extending his school-record streak of nine consecutive field goals made. He also set a school record with 25 touchbacks on kickoffs in 2014.
Earlier this summer, MacGinnis was named first-team Preseason All-SEC by Phil Steele College Football. MacGinnis is also on the Lou Groza Award Preseason Watch List, which annually honors the nation’s best kicker.

[UKFlounder]

MacGinnis goes from 1st team postseason to 3rd team preseason, behind 2 guys he beat out last year. Interesting how that happens

[Darrell KSR]

Poor, poor media voting this year. I think that the postseason ballots will look as different this year as they've looked in many years. JMO.

Healthy dose of homerism? I don't think so. It wil be fun to revisit this at the end of the season, though.

[suncat05]

MacGinnis goes from 1st team postseason to 3rd team preseason, behind 2 guys he beat out last year. Interesting how that happens

I myself believe he is the cream of the crop among SEC placekickers. So the 3rd place posting has me a bit confused, especially given the season he had last year. Hopefully the post season polls will correct this obvious mistake.

[LonnyDemaree]

Austin MacGinnis on the third team? This is a travesty of justice. There is no better kicker in the SEC that MacGinnis. I'm told by a former UK coach that Mac will be drafted in the first round when the time comes.

[LonnyDemaree]

At SEC Media Days A. J. Stamps admitted that after the first six games or there about he leveled off and wasn't playing with that early intensity. The SEC lets you know you are now playing against young men and not boys. the said he ran out of steam. but this year his steam will last throughout the entire season and he will play like an All-American.