Barion Brown, Dane Key are passing eye test at Kentucky spring practice

One could make the case that Ohio State is “Wide Receiver U”. New Kentucky cornerback Jantzen Dunn saw that crazy talent every day in practice for two seasons playing for head coach Ryan Day.

Garrett Wilson (New York Jets) and Chris Olave (New Orleans Saints) were top-15 draft picks who went on to have outstanding rookie seasons in 2022. Jaxon Smith-Njigba will be a first-round selection in April. Marvin Harrison Jr. is returning to Ohio State in 2023 and will be a consensus preseason All-American.

Ohio State is loaded at receiver. However, Dunn thinks Kentucky is also strong at wideout. The former four-star recruit out of Bowling Green (Ky.) South Warren has been very impressed with Barion Brown and Dane Key early in spring practice.

“I honestly believe that Barion and Dane are at the level that I was competing at at Ohio State,” said Dunn. “Those guys are really good.”

Those are strong words from the Big Ten transfer. However, both Brown and Key absolutely looked the part last season.

Key was Kentucky’s top X receiver leading all receivers in success rate (56.4%), 15-plus yards receptions (13), and touchdowns (six). Brown was more boom or bust leading the team in targets (85) and receptions (50) but was fairly inefficient (58.8% catch rate, 34.1% success rate) despite flashing his explosive playmaking ceiling in spurts.

🏎💨 @BarionBrown

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The young duo should be cornerstone pieces of the Kentucky offense in 2023 with NC State transfer Devin Leary at quarterback. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen wants to see the sophomores take the next step in their development by adding play strength.

“I think they learned the game is physical in the SEC. Whether that’s press and defeating man coverage, or that’s going and blocking safeties, I think they know they need to take the next step physically,” Coen said on Tuesday. “That’s eating right, that’s sleeping, how you’re living off the field and doing all of the little things to put yourself in a position to gain weight and gain muscle, or else we’re going to get thrown around and be weak at the point of attack, which is obviously what we’re not trying to get accomplished.”

Being able to play through handsy physical coverage is the next step for both. However, it’s clear both Barion Brown and Dane Key have next-level talent. That showed up during the first week of spring practice.