Barion Brown can be a Game-Changer against Georgia

“Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games.” It’s become a cliche, but like all cliches, they stick around because they’re true. For Kentucky to go toe-to-toe with college football’s most dominant program, the Wildcats need Barion Brown at his best.

The fastest player in college football is an outstanding return man, but the offensive production hasn’t been there so far in his junior season. In week one, he had seven touches for only 42 yards and he dropped what would have been at least a 30-yard reception. Against South Carolina Brown had two rushes for -11 yards and didn’t catch a pass, snapping a streak of 27 games with a reception.

“That’s on me; you look at it from a standpoint of him being one of our playmakers,” offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan said on Tuesday.

“I’ve been impressed with his attitude throughout the offseason to where he’s at. He’s come back, ready to go back to work. There’s no excuse for that. We’ve got to find ways to get him the football, to protect it, to push it down the field”

Barion Brown showed plenty of times early in his career that he’s capable of being at his best against the best. In the Gator Bowl against Clemson, he had a rushing, receiving, and return touchdown while reeling in 100 receiving yards. The year prior in a top 25 matchup at Ole Miss, he had a couple of monster returns and a 51-yard gain late in the game that gave the Cats a chance to win it.

Arguably his best game as a Wildcat happened the last time Georgia traveled to Lexington. Barion Brown had 10 receptions for 145 yards, both of which are still career highs. Backed up deep in their own territory, he gave the Cats life with an explosive 42-yard reception that got Kentucky rolling. They capped off a 99-yard drive with a touchdown to Brown.

Despite his exceptional performance, Kentucky ultimately lost 16-6. After watching Wan’Dale Robinson move the ball against the Dawgs the year prior, it became abundantly clear that in order to compete, you have to have explosive playmakers in space. A big day for Barion Brown is Kentucky’s best chance at pulling off the improbable and snapping Georgia’s 41-game regular season win streak.

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