Kentucky sophomore Barion Brown has built a reputation as one of college football’s most explosive playmakers this season, using his track-star speed to swing momentum in the Wildcats’ favor.
On Wednesday, Brown’s knack for game-changing kick returns earned him first-team All-American recognition from The Sporting News.
The Nashville native concluded the regular season as the SEC’s No. 1 kick returner, averaging a gaudy 31.7 yards per attempt – second only to Utah’s Ja’Quinden Jackson nationally. Brown took two kickoffs all the way back for touchdowns, tying UK’s single-season and career records in the process.
Brown wasn’t just a specialist though for head coach Mark Stoops’ 7-5 Cats. His versatility also showed up at receiver where Brown recorded a team-high 40 catches for 439 yards and three more scores. He added three punt returns for 51 yards and even 10 rushes for 121 yards when Kentucky got creative with him.
The all-purpose dynamo has racked up several All-SEC and All-America nods recently, but The Sporting News first-team selection may be the sweetest yet for the soft-spoken star.
“He’s obviously an electric guy and means so much to our team,” Stoops said about Brown earlier this year. “Everyone in the country knows that when he gets the ball, something good is going to happen.”
Kentucky will be counting on more Brown fireworks when it clashes with No. 22 Clemson in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Dec. 29 at noon. The Wildcats and Tigers game will be broadcast by ESPN from Jacksonville’s TIAA Bank Field.