Tight-knit wide receiver room an early strength for Kentucky football
Liam Coen has been gifted a loaded wide receiver room in what will be his second stint as Kentucky’s offensive coordinator. Powered by the three-headed monster of fifth-year senior Tayvion Robinson and sophomores Dane Key and Barion Brown, there is more talent at the WR position in Lexington than there has been in recent memory (don’t forget about the tight ends either).
During the 2022 season, despite playing next to a struggling offensive line, those three were as reliable as they come on the outside. Robinson, Key, and Brown combined for 127 catches, 1,644 receiving yards, and 13 touchdowns. To put into perspective just how much they contributed to the offense, that trio accounted for over 68 percent of Will Levis‘ overall passing yards and passing touchdowns.
To have all three back in 2023 is huge for Coen, especially with NC State transfer Devin Leary coming in to replace Levis.
It doesn’t stop there, though, and that’s what should have the Big Blue Nation excited for what Coen can craft up on offense this fall. Kentucky lost a handful of wide receivers in the transfer portal this offseason, but there is still plenty of talented depth to go around.
Redshirt sophomore Dekel Crowdus continues to draw rave reviews as a potential breakout piece. Freshman Anthony Brown is similarly earning early praise from the staff. Jordan Anthony is one of the fastest people — not just in terms of college football — in the entire country while Brandon White isn’t too far behind him. Anthony and White are just redshirt freshmen, too.
There’s a lot to like about what is brewing in the Kentucky wide receiver room.
“We feel like we have a good nucleus of receivers,” UK head coach Mark Stoops said after Saturday’s open practice. “A good five, six guys. We obviously need some more for depth and practice purposes and just development, but we feel good about our room.”
“I see that they’re coming out and making plays,” Key said of the wide-outs on Saturday. “Anthony Brown, he’s gonna be a playmaker, Brandon White. A lot of the freshmen that didn’t play last year are just gonna come out and make plays when it’s their time and whenever they get the ball in their hands.”
Aside from Robinson, the rest of the starting or rotational wide receivers are all relatively young. They’re either sophomores, redshirt freshmen, or true rookies. But that youth is helping breed connectivity. The wide receivers consider themselves a tight-knit group — even letting the “old” man in Robinson join in on the fun. In particular, Key and Barion Brown have developed a close relationship that has trickled down to the rest of the room.
“Barion is a clown. I’m probably with Barion every day,” Key said. “Outside of football, we’ll probably arrive at the facility at the same time, he’ll be over at my house just chilling, I’ll be with him just hanging out. It’s not just me and Barion, it’s the whole receiver room. Me, Barion, Dekel, Tayvion, Brandon White, just everybody in that room, we’re always together. It’s really a special bond in that room.”
Leary certainly won’t be lacking any options this coming fall.
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