Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low
A quick trivia question: Who leads the SEC in all-purpose yardage?
It's nobody from Florida, Alabama, Auburn or any of the high-powered attacks.
Rather, it's Kentucky junior tailback Derrick Locke, who's one of the best stories of perseverance going in the SEC.
Locke is averaging 173.2 all-purpose yards per game, which is almost 25 yards more than any other player in the SEC. He's coming off his best all-around performance of the season in the 38-20 loss to Alabama, rushing for 75 yards on 20 carries, catching six passes for 63 yards and returning two kickoffs for 66 yards.
He also picked up a linebacker blitz in pass protection, allowing Mike Hartline to connect with Randall Cobb on a 45-yard touchdown pass.
Locke, who had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Louisville earlier this season, wasn't even a sure bet to be playing when spring practice began for the Wildcats back in April. He tore two ligaments in his left knee last season, an injury Kentucky's trainers initially feared might be career-ending.
But Locke worked feverishly to get his knee back into shape and hasn't missed a beat this season. If anything, he's a more complete player.
Not bad for a guy who came to Kentucky as a track athlete and asked to also play football. I'd say Kentucky coach Rich Brooks is glad that he inquired.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Chris Low
Low joined ESPN.com in 2007 after 10 years with The (Nashville) Tennessean covering the University of Tennessee and SEC. The Rock Hill, S.C., native lives with his wife in Knoxville and has three sons.
