Barion Brown Named to AP All-Bowl Team
University of Kentucky all-purpose player Barion Brown was named to The Associated Press All-Bowl Team as a kick returner.
Brown, a 6-foot-1, 174-pound sophomore from Nashville, had three receptions for 100 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown reception in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl vs. Clemson on Dec. 29, 2023. He added two carries for 26 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown rushing. He also added a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on the first play of the second half, his third TD return of the season and the fourth of his career.
Brown’s kickoff return for a TD, which was unofficially credited as 102 yards according to the Bowl’s stat crew (collegiate rules allow 100 to be the official maximum yardage), was the longest in TaxSlayer Gator Bowl history, a record previously held by Andre Debose of Florida (99 yards) against Ohio State on Jan. 2, 2012.
Brown’s three kickoff returns for TDs this season led the FBS. It also set a single-season UK record (former record two by Derek Abney in 2002) and tied the Southeastern Conference record (Willie Gault, Tennessee 1980; Brandon Boykin, Georgia 2009; Warren Norman, Vanderbilt 2009; Evan Berry, Tennessee 2015).
His four career kickoff returns for TD also set a new UK record (former record three by Craig Yeast, 1995-98) and tied the SEC career record shared with seven other players.
The playmaker became just the second player in school history to have a rushing, receiving and kickoff return for a touchdown in the same game. The other player to do so was Don “Dopey” Phelps vs. Michigan State in 1946. It also marked the first game of Brown’s career that he had a touchdown both receiving and rushing.
For the season, Brown led UK in pass receptions with 43, good for 539 yards and four scores. He also had 12 rushing attempts for 147 yards (12.3 average) and one TD.
His 36.0 kick return average (16 returns for 576 yards) led the nation and set a new UK single-season record. The previous record was 30.42 (14 for 426 yards) by Calvin Bird in 1959.
Brown, who has caught at least one pass in 26 straight games, which is every game of his college career, currently has 1,167 career yards receiving, which ranks 28th in school history.
He earned All-America honors from Sporting News (first team), 247 Sports (second team), CBS Sports (second team) and College Football Network (third team). Additionally, he was named first-team All-SEC by Phil Steele and Pro Football Focus and second-team All-SEC from the league’s coaches and the AP.
For more information on the UK football team, visit ukathletics.com/football and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and “X,” formerly Twitter.
