Barion Brown Earned Kentucky MVP Honors at the Gator Bowl
Barion Brown produced a a performance rarely seen in this day and age of college football. Despite the loss to Clemson, you gotta tip your cap to the explosive Kentucky Wildcat.
The sensational sophomore from Nashville ran for a 22-yard touchdown, caught a 60-yard touchdown and ran a kickoff back for a 100-yard touchdown, the longest play in the 79-year history of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.
“When you have a guy like Barion that can really go, who has the speed and can make somebody miss, he is a threat.” That might’ve been an understatement from Mark Stoops.
He was one of two MVPs from the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. Clemson’s Phil Mafah, who rushed for four touchdowns, including the game-winner with 17 seconds on the clock, was named MVP of the winning team.
“I love playing in games like this. I just wished for a better outcome,” Brown said after the game. “I’m thankful though (for the new hardware).”
Brown finished his season on a high with 226 all-purpose yards and it could provide a springboard for an even more productive 2024 season. Excited to team up with Ja’Mori Maclin and new receivers coach Daikiel Shorts, he has high hopes for his third year in Lexington.
“It’s a great room. We’re ready to work,” he said. “We need a bowl game. I want to win one, and honestly, I don’t want to be in a bowl game. I want to be in the Playoff. I just want to win.”
Barion Brown Records Broken
— He’s the first Wildcat to score a receiving, rushing and return touchdown in a game since Don Phelps vs. Michigan State in 1946. Derrick Locke was the last Wildcat to hit the trifecta during an entire season back in 2009.
— Brown is just the second Wildcat to score three touchdowns in a bowl game. Rod Stewart scored all three for Kentucky in the 1976 Peach Bowl win over North Carolina.
— Brown now holds the UK career record for kickoff return touchdowns with four. His three in 2023 are also a single-season record.
— David Jones is the only other Wildcat with a kickoff return touchdown in a bowl game. Also on the opening kick of the second half, that big play propelled Kentucky to a victory over East Carolina in the Liberty Bowl.
Shout out to Corey Price for doing what he does best and compiling all of these impressive stats and facts.
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