Four Wildcats Earn All-SEC Coaches Team Honors
Four Kentucky Wildcats, Alex Raynor, Barion Brown, Eli Cox and Deone Walker, were selected All-Southeastern Conference by the league’s coaches, it was announced.
Raynor, a senior from Kennesaw, Georgia, was named the first team kicker. He made his first 15 field goal attempts of the season and finished 15-of-16 and at 93.8 percent, broke his own school record for best field goal percentage in a season (made 10 of 11, 90.9 percent, last year). All totaled, making 25 of 27 during his time as a Wildcat set the SEC and UK career records at 92.6 percent.
Earlier this season he set a school record with a 55-yard field goal against then-No. 1 Georgia. He also hit a 51-yarder against Georgia, becoming only the second player in school history with two 50-yarders in one game, the first since 1977. He nailed kicks of 48 and 27 yards in the 20-17 upset at then-No. 6 ranked Ole Miss, earning SEC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. He was a Lou Groza Award Star of the Week in week three and is a Lou Groza Award finalist for 2024.
Barion Brown, a junior from Nashville, earned first team honors as a return specialist and second team at the all-purpose position. Eli Cox, from Nicholasville, Kentucky, and Deone Walker, from Detroit, each were named to the third team.
Brown again shined as a return man, proving to be one of the most dangerous weapons in FBS in the return game. He had 886 all-purpose yards this season, including 18 kick returns for 449 yards (24.3 yards/return) and his SEC record fifth career kick return touchdown, a 99-yarder at Florida. He currently owns the school record for kick return average at 29.3 yards per return, which also makes him the active career FBS leader.
For the season, he ranked second on the team with 29 catches for 361 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 50 yards on 13 carries with a score.
Cox, a durable O-Line anchor who has started 38 consecutive games, every game of the last three seasons, allowed only one sack for the entire season while totaling 72 blocks at the point of attack and 10 knockdown blocks. He graded at 76 percent for the season and had an assignment grade of 99 percent. He is on the Outland Trophy Watch List and Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List.
Walker proved a massive presence in the middle of UK’s defensive line, often drawing double teams. He had 37 total tackles in 11 games played, including 5.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He also broke up a pair of passes and recovered a fumble.
