Deone Walker, Barion Brown named Preseason All-Americans by USA TODAY

The preseason honors continue to roll out for a pair of Kentucky Wildcats. USA Today released its 2024 Preseason All-American teams this morning and junior defensive tackle Deone Walker and junior wide receiver and return specialist Barion Brown both made the second team, Brown at the all-purpose slot.

This is just the latest accolade for Walker, a 6-foot-6, 345-pound giant who led Kentucky in tackles for loss (12.5), quarterback sacks (7.5) and quarterback hurries (8) last season. He also had two pass breakups, including one in the win vs. Florida that was intercepted by Kentucky and returned to the Florida 15-yard line to set up a touchdown drive. Walker has started in 24 straight games and set or tied single-game career highs in every category last season. So far, he’s been named Preseason All-SEC First Team by the media, Athlon, and Walter Camp, and to watch lists for the Outland Trophy and the Lott IMPACT Trophy.

Brown led the nation with three kickoff returns for touchdowns last season, which broke Derek Abney’s single-season record from 2002 and tied the SEC record (Willie Gault, Tennessee 1980; Brandon Boykin, Georgia 2009; Warren Norman, Vanderbilt 2009; Evan Berry, Tennessee 2015). The Nashville native has four kickoff returns for touchdowns in his career, which is also a Kentucky record, besting Craig Yeast’s record of three (1995-98). Last season, Brown averaged a nation’s best 36.0 yards per kick return (16 returns for 576 yards), also a Kentucky single-season record.

Brown was named first-team All-American by the Sporting News and a second-team All-American by 247Sports and CBS Sports. So far this preseason, he’s been named to watch lists for the Paul Hornung Award and the Jet Award, and Preseason All-SEC First Team by the media.

Only 19 days until we get to see Walker, Brown, and the rest of the Cats open the season vs. Southern Miss.

USA TODAY Sports Preseason All-American Teams

First team

OFFENSE

• QB: Carson Beck, Georgia (Sr.)
• RB: Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State (Jr.)
• RB: Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State (Jr.)
• WR: Tetairoa McMillian, Arizona (Jr.)
• WR: Luther Burden III, Missouri (Jr.)
• TE: Colston Loveland, Michigan (Jr.)
• OT: Will Campbell, LSU (Jr.)
• OT: Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas (Jr.)
• OG: Tate Ratledge, Georgia (Sr.)
• OG: Donovan Jackson, Ohio State (Sr.)
• C: Parker Brailsford, Alabama (So.)
• P: Alex Mastromanno, Florida State (Sr.)
• K: Graham Nicholson, Alabama (Sr.)

DEFENSE

• DE: James Pearce, Tennessee (Jr.)
• DE: Ashton Gillotte, Louisville (Sr.)
• DT: Mason Graham, Michigan (Jr.)
• DT: Howard Cross III, Notre Dame (Sr.)
• LB: Harold Perkins, LSU (Jr.)
• LB: Jay Higgins, Iowa (Sr.)
• LB: Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma (Sr.)
• CB: Will Johnson, Michigan (Jr.)
• CB: Denzel Burke, Ohio State (Sr.)
• S: Malaki Starks, Georgia (Jr.)
• S: Caleb Downs, Ohio State (So.)
• Returner: Zachariah Branch, Southern California (So.)
• All-Purpose: Travis Hunter, Colorado (Jr.)

Second team

OFFENSE

• QB: Dillon Gabriel, Oregon (Sr.)
• RB: Omarion Hampton, North Carolina (Jr.)
• RB: TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State (Sr.)
• WR: Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State (Sr.)
• WR: Tez Johnson, Oregon (Sr.)
• TE: Brant Kuithe, Utah (Sr.)
• OT: Ajani Cornelius, Oregon (Sr.)
• OT: Wyatt Millum, West Virginia (Sr.)
• OG: Tyler Booker, Alabama (Jr.)
• OG: Clay Webb, Jacksonville State (Sr.)
• C: Cooper Mays, Tennessee (Sr.)
• P: James Ferguson-Reynolds, Boise State (Jr.)
• K: Andrew Borregales, Miami (Sr.)

DEFENSE

• DE: Mykel Williams, Georgia (Jr.)
• DE: Nic Scourton, Texas A&M (Jr.)
• DT: Tyleik Williams, Ohio State (Sr.)
• DT: Deone Walker, Kentucky (Jr.)
• LB: Deontae Lawson, Alabama (Jr.)
• LB: Nick Martin, Oklahoma State (Jr.)
• LB: Barrett Carter, Clemson (Sr.)
• CB: Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame (Jr.)
• CB: Travis Hunter, Colorado (Jr.)
• S: Xavier Watts, Notre Dame (Sr.)
• S: Dillon Thieneman, Purdue (So.)
• Returner: Jayden Harrison, Notre Dame (Sr.)
• All-Purpose: Barion Brown, Kentucky (Jr.)