Anthony Brown Excited to join Explosive Kentucky Offense

A year after two freshmen wide receivers starred for Kentucky, not too many fans are focused on the latest newcomers at the position. Shamar Porter and Anthony Brown still have the chops to make plays in their first season for the Wildcats.

Kentucky’s Vince Marrow spent years recruiting Anthony Brown out of Springfield High School in Ohio. The explosive athlete helped the Wildcats reach back-to-back Division I State Championship Games. During the lengthy recruiting process there was always one name that came to light when discussing Brown’s potential at the next level. It’s a name he brought up in his first interview at UK on Behind Kentucky Football.

“Man, in 2021 when they had Wan’Dale Robinson, it was pretty explosive,” Brown said. “I came from a high school that was very explosive too. Coming to college and having the same things, an explosive offense, it’s a blessing.”

It’s a high bar for Anthony to exceed, but no task is too tall for the 5-foot-10 slot receiver. Tayvion Robinson is expected to get a majority of the reps in the slot with the ones, yet Brown believes he can be the next instant impact freshman at wide receiver.

“I feel like college is all about opportunities. With Dane (Key) and Barion (Brown) both going off last year, they took the opportunity and ran with it. That’s what I’m hoping to do.”

He’s got the chops to produce right away. Last year he caught 83 passes for an astronomical 1,626 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns.

Anthony Brown Learns Lessons from Family

Anthony Brown is not the first in his family to play wide receiver at the Power Five level. Michael Brown-Stephens has started for P.J. Fleck at Minnesota over the last two seasons, tallying 45 receptions for 325 yards and a touchdown. Anthony said his older brother’s work ethic eased his transition into the SEC.

“It helped me tremendously because I can learn from his mistakes and I can also learn from what he’s doing good and at it to my game,” Brown said. “Him being in a program that’s already established in the Big Ten, it helped me.”

He has one relative that is just a little more famous. His uncle is an EGOT, John Legend. Even though he did not guarantee his uncle will be performing at Kroger Field anytime soon, he did share how Legend has inspired him.

“I have an example of a successful person in my family,” Brown said. “Following in his footsteps, I know he does music and I do football, but his mentality, the things he does, I can take that in.”