Kentucky offensive lineman Lance Heard and tight end Willie Rodriguez earned 2026 Preseason Media Days All-SEC Team honors on Friday.
Heard was named to the Second Team while Rodriguez landed Third Team recognition.
Here is a press release from UK Athletics:
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Senior offensive lineman Lance Heard and junior tight end Willie Rodriguez have been named to the 2026 Preseason Media Days All-Southeastern Conference Team, it was announced Friday. Heard earned second-team honors, while Rodriguez was selected to the third team.
Heard, a 6-foot-6, 325-pound offensive lineman from Bonita, Louisiana, transferred to Kentucky after two seasons at Tennessee (2024-25) and one season at LSU (2023), and enters the 2026 season as one of the Wildcats’ key additions on the Big Blue Wall. He has played 35 career games and made 24 starts. He has seen action on more than 1,700 snaps and allowed just three sacks overall. Heard was named to the All-SEC Third Team after making all 12 starts at left tackle for the Volunteers in 2025.
Rodriguez, a 6-4, 249-pound tight end from Taylor Mill, Kentucky, returns as an important piece of the Wildcats’ offensive attack. He started in seven of 12 games played last season, making 23 catches for 310 yards and one touchdown. He had two receptions for 28 yards and the first touchdown of his collegiate career against Eastern Michigan and a career-high six receptions for a career-best 78 yards at Vanderbilt. His six receptions were the most for a tight end for a UK player since C.J. Conrad caught six at Mississippi State in 2015.
The football season will kick off in 43 days, as Kentucky will host Youngstown State on Sept. 5 at 1 p.m. ET in Kroger Field on SEC Network+.
For complete coverage of the Wildcats at SEC Media Days, follow @UKFootball on social media and visit UKathletics.com.
