Former University of Kentucky quarterback Andre’ Woodson was signed to the official roster of the New York Giants this week. Woodson was a sixth-round pick in last year’s NFL Draft but was cut before training camp and spent all but one week of the season on the Giants’ practice squad.

Ohio State junior receiver Brian Hartline, the older brother of Kentucky quarterback Mike Hartline, has decided to skip his final year of eligibility and enter the NFL Draft. Hartline had 90 catches for 1,449 yards and 13 TD’s during his three-year Buckeye career and is scheduled to graduate in June with a communications degree.

University of Kentucky senior linebacker Johnny Williams has been chosen to play in the East/West Shrine Game on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 3 p.m. CST at the University of Houston.

Williams will be joined on the East squad by Louisville quarterback Hunter Cantwell.

University of Kentucky junior linebacker Micah Johnson posted on his Facebook page that he will bypass the NFL draft and return to UK for his senior season.

Johnson said the NFL Draft Advisory Board told him he had a ‘third to fifth round grade’ in its evaluation. Johnson said he wants to return to Kentucky and lead the Wildcats to a BCS bowl and become the best linebacker in the country. Johnson had 93 tackles and 12.5 tackles for loss in 2008.

Johnson’s Facebook declaration was originally reported by the Danville Advocate Messenger on Monday. UK has still not released official word on the status of Johnson or its other two juniors considering turning pro, defensive end Jeremy Jarmon and cornerback Trevard Lindley.

The Jan. 2 Liberty Bowl matchup between Kentucky and E. Carolina drew a 2.7 rating on ESPN, representing an average of 2,630,000 homes.

Overall, the 23 bowl games broadcast on ESPN and ESPN2 averaged 2,810,000 homes, (a 2.5 rating), which is an eight percent increase over last year.

The Champs Sports Bowl drew ESPN’s second-largest audience ever, as an average of 5,098,000 homes (a 5.2 rating) watch Florida State beat Wisconsin 42-13.

The Emerald Bowl (California 24, Miami 17), Alamo Bowl (Missouri 30, Northwestern 23 OT) and Holiday Bowl (Oregon 42, Oklahoma State 31) all drew a 4.6 rating.

Don’t look for Kentucky Coach Rich Brooks to ride off into the sunset after the AutoZone Liberty Bowl

On Thursday, Brooks shot down the notion that it would be perfect timing for him to step down if the Wildcats win its AutoZone Liberty Bowl matchup against East Carolina on Friday.

ESPN.com’s Chris Low wrote this week if Brooks was able to guide the Wildcats to a third straight bowl win, something that hasn’t been done since 1949-50-51, that it would be a good time to walk away and turn the program over to head-coach-in-waiting Joker Phillips.

“The 67-year-old Brooks could exit with the satisfaction of knowing that he leaves the program much better than he found it,” Low wrote. “A win would give the Wildcats 23 wins over the last three seasons, matching their best three-year win total since 1976-78.”

When asked about Low’s article on Thursday, Brooks said he hasn’t entertained any thoughts of stepping down after the game.

“Maybe it would be a perfect time to try for four (straight bowl wins),” he said.