Shooters Shoot: Barion Brown predicted his Kickoff Return Touchdown on Monday

Barion Brown knew he was going to take one to the house against Miami (OH). The freshman was so eager to enter the end zone, he almost dropped the ball, literally.

Kentucky left the halftime locker room leading Miami by only three and needing a shot in the arm. The true freshman delivered. Barion Brown fielded the opening kickoff one the left side of the end zone, turned the corner and sprinted 100 yards into the end zone.

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The score was the first on a Kentucky kickoff return since 2009. Earlier this week Barion Brown learned no Mark Stoops player had ever returned a kickoff for a touchdown. He immediately knew that was changing once he stepped onto the field.

“We were talking about that Monday. As soon as he said that to me, I looked at my wide receivers coach and we just started laughing,” Brown said after the game.

A reporter asked if he expected to return one so soon. “Yeah. I knew I was going to do it.”

The casual confidence is nothing new for the former four-star recruit. Ranked as the No. 88 player in the 2022 recruiting class by the On3 Consensus, he was the highest-ranked out-of-state skill player to ever sign with the Wildcats. The athleticism is undeniable. Tayvion Robinson, an all-conference punt returner, could see it coming from a mile away.

“I told him it was coming. We’ve been talking about it Friday since we were in the hotel,” Robinson said. “I was saying he’s going to get one and this is the week to get it. He’s a very fast guy and when he hit the sideline I don’t think anyone’s going to catch him.”

Barion Brown was just happy to catch a return. Opponents have avoided giving him return opportunities for years.

“I returned a lot my sophomore year (of high school), but it stopped my junior and senior year because they stopped kicking me the ball.”

He did have to sweat out the score. The officials went to the booth to review if Brown dropped the ball before crossing into the end zone. Ultimately, the call on the field stood, but it was almost too close to call.

“A little too close for comfort,” Mark Stoops said after the win. “I was a little nervous. Obviously I was concerned because we needed that big play and you hate to see that happen and get wiped away. A couple things, he veered instead of running straight in. And obviously, we told him to hand the ball to the official, not to drop it because we’ve seen that. We’ve seen it on TV with professionals and in college. He is a great young man. The first thing he said was, ‘I’m sorry.’ It’s okay. He’s very respectful, wants to be great and do good for his team. He’ll learn. He’s a great young man.”

Barion Brown was great in his debut. In addition to the special teams touchdown, he caught three passes for 45 yards. The best is yet to come from the game-changing athlete from Nashville.