Kentucky’s Barion Brown Selected to Paul Hornung Watch List
Kentucky sophomore wide receiver and return specialist Barion Brown has been selected to the watch list for the Paul Hornung Award Watch presented by Texas Roadhouse, the Louisville Sports Commission announced Thursday.
Brown, from Nashville, Tennessee, recorded a team-best 50 catches for a team-high 628 yards, averaging 12.6 yards per catch with four scores as a wide receiver. He concluded the season as the freshman record holder for most receiving yards in a season (628) and most pass receptions in a season (50). He ranked fourth nationally and second in the SEC in kickoff return average (27.5) and 24th nationally and third in the SEC combined kick return yardage (440). He ranked fourth in the SEC in kickoff returns (16).
Earlier this year, he was named a preseason fourth-team All-American as a kick returner by Athlon Sports. He also was named to the All-SEC second team as a specialist and third-team offense as a wide receiver.
Finalists will be announced Nov. 15 and a winner will be determined on Dec. 6. The award’s annual award dinner will be held in Louisville, Kentucky in March of 2024.
Nicknamed The Golden Boy, Hornung was a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback at Notre Dame in 1956 and the NFL’s Most Valuable Player with the Green Bay Packers whose versatility earned him enshrinement in both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fames.
Kentucky has a previous winner of the award when Lynn Bowden took home the trophy in the 2019 season. Beginning that season as a wide receiver, he moved to quarterback when injuries hit that position early in the year. Bowden played QB for the final eight games of the season, leading UK to a 6-2 record in those games, including a victory over N.C. State in the Belk Bowl. He is believed to be the only player in college history to lead his team in rushing yardage, passing yardage and receiving yardage in the same season.
The Wildcats begin the 2023 season begins Sept. 2 in Kroger Field against Ball State. The Wildcats’ first three games of the season will be at home (vs. EKU on Sept. 9 and vs. Akron on Sept. 16). UK’s SEC home opener will be Sept. 30 vs. Florida.
Fans interested in season-ticket purchases for the highly-anticipated 2023 season can visit UKFootballTix.com for ticket prices and more information. Ticket packages start at just $225, offering significant savings over single-game ticket prices. Additionally, single-game ticket inventory for some of the most in-demand home matchups are already extremely limited, so fans hoping to guarantee a primary ticket spot for those games are encouraged to consider season-ticket options.
Fans may work together with a personal ticketing consultant to compare and purchase available seat locations by requesting a call or by contacting the UK Sales Office at (800) 928-2287 (Option 1).
UK Athletics and REVELxp have teamed up once again this year to offer turnkey, hassle-free tailgating for Kentucky football fans! All tailgates are located steps away from Kroger Field and offer a variety of package offerings to accommodate all groups. To learn more about tailgate packages, click here.
Mini-packs for the 2023 season are now available through UKFootballTix.com. Fans can choose one SEC matchup (Florida or Missouri) and two non-conference games (Ball State, EKU and Akron), with mini-packs starting at $104 per package.
Students interested in ticket options should visit UKStudentTix.com for complete information on football and men’s basketball ticketing and to learn more about student season passes and single-game options. The season pass request window has concluded as of Friday, July 28 and information about single-game student tickets will be available in mid-August.
Group tickets are also available for UK’s games against Ball State, EKU, Akron and Missouri. Groups of 15 or more can purchase tickets, starting at $25 each, by calling the UK Sales Office at (800) 928-2287 (Option 1). To learn more about group sales opportunities, visit UKathletics.com/Groups.
