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Kentucky’s Barion Brown primed to create fireworks as playmaker

Grant Grubbsby:Grant Grubbs•07/04/23•

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Photo by James Gilbert | Getty Images

Kentucky wide receiver Barion Brown is an electric factory. Now, the sophomore standout is prepped to shock the Wildcats to new heights.

“He’s the kind of player that just makes you hold your breath every time he touches the rock. I mean, there was last year against Ole Miss. He had several kickoff returns where as soon as he caught the ball whether it was on the two yard line or whether it was a little bit further up, doesn’t matter, anytime he touched the rock you were like, ‘OK, this could go now here,'” On3’s own JD PicKell said on Tuesday’s episode of “The Hard Count.”

Brown gave Kentucky fans a lot to cheer about last season. As a true freshman, Brown set the freshman record for most receiving yards in a season with 628 and most pass receptions in a season with 50. Brown’s numbers weren’t only great in comparison to other freshmen.

The 6-foot-1 wideout recorded a team-best 50 catches for a team-high 628 yards, averaging 12.6 yards per catch with four touchdowns. As excellent as Brown was against defensive secondaries, he was even better against kickoff teams.

Brown was ranked fourth nationally and fourth in the SEC in kick return average with 27.5 yards per return. As a star track runner in high school, Brown’s lightning speed was his greatest ally on the highlight plays.

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Brown ran a 10.49 in the 100-meter dash, the third-fastest at the TSSAA state meet since 1985. PicKell believes with an offseason to improve his strength and a new quarterback in Lexington, Brown could be even better this season.

“I expect him to have potentially better production this coming season with Devin Leary playing quarterback now. I think he could be a more reliable quarterback for Kentucky. No knock on Will Levis,” PicKell said. “If they get it to him early and often, good things are gonna happen for Kentucky.”

It won’t be easy for Brown to out-do himself. For his outstanding efforts last season, the budding star was selected as a True Freshman All-American (On3), College All-True Freshman (PFF), Fourth-Team All-American (Phil Steele) and Freshman All-SEC Team member.

Watch Brown attempt to wow Kentucky fans once again as he begins his sophomore campaign when the Cats take on Ball State on Sept. 2.