Under Coach Mark Stoops<\/a> Kentucky finished 7-6 for a second straight season though this year didn’t feel quite as good as 2016. In addition the Cats lost in their bowl game for a second consecutive year. It was quite the eventful campaign so let’s take a look at the good, bad and the controversial from the Kentucky Wildcats 2017 Season In Review<\/strong> and hand out some awards.<\/p>\n Offensive MVP- Benny Snell Jr.<\/a>–<\/strong> If you gave this award at the halfway point of the season Snell would not have been the choice. However during the last five games of 2017 Snell went on a roll not seen in Lexington maybe ever.<\/p>\n The sophomore rushed for 777 yards over the final five games and 12 touchdowns. He finished 2017 with 1,333 yards and a school record 19 scores. The best thing for Stoops and company is he will be the centerpiece for the offense in 2018. Snell needs 1,411 yards to break Sonny Collins<\/a>‘ record of 3,835.<\/p>\n Runners-up Austin Macginnis<\/a> and Stephen Johnson<\/a>–<\/strong> Johnson was the MVP for the Cats in the first half of the season, but a shoulder injury limited him down the stretch. With a month to heal the senior had one of his best games in the Music City Bowl. His 257 yards through the air and two rushing scores nearly completed a comeback victory.<\/p>\n Macginnis leaves Lexington with the Kentucky record for field goals made with 72 and is the leading scorer in school history at 362 points. Both Johnson and Macginnis are seniors and finding replacements for both will be a top priority for the coaching staff.<\/p>\n Defensive MVP- Josh Allen- <\/a><\/strong>The junior linebacker had a breakout season in 2017 and was named second team All-SEC. As part of the “Blitz Brothers” Allen finished the season with 65 tackles, nine and a half for loss and seven sacks. For most of 2017 he led the SEC in sacks before finishing sixth.<\/p>\n Allen gave the Big Blue Nation a belated Christmas present when he announced he would return for his senior year.<\/p>\n pic.twitter.com\/UXdglfQmZ6<\/a><\/p>\n — Joshua Hines-Allen (@JoshHinesAllen) January 8, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nBest Performance On Offense<\/h4>\n
Best Performance On Defense<\/h4>\n
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