Today on KSR: Two years since the passing of Jared Lorenzen

July 3, 2019: the day we lost the Hefty Lefty himself, Jared Lorenzen.

Two years ago today, the Kentucky football family lost an absolute legend, arguably the biggest fan-favorite in program history. The Covington, Kentucky native still stands as the program’s all-time leading passer at 10,354 career yards, the single-game passing leader (528 yards vs. Georgia, 2000), second-most career passing touchdowns with 78, first in career total offense (10,637 yards), first in single-game total offense (525 vs. Georgia, 2000) and first in total touchdowns (90), among other highlights.

Off the field after his playing days, Lorenzen was as passionate about his Kentucky Wildcats as anyone, regularly pouring his heart out on Kentucky Sports Radio and the KSR Pregame Show regarding the state of the program at the time. My personal favorite moment was his reaction to Kentucky’s victory over Florida in The Swamp back in 2018, with the former gunslinger live streaming himself during the final seconds of the game and moments after in disbelief that the 31-year streak was officially coming to an end.

“As a former player, you never think it’s going to happen. For this team to go down there and win? Wow,” Lorenzen said. “I know everybody is going to say ‘hey, we’re going to win the (SEC) East’ and all this stuff, but let’s just take a while and — let’s soak this win in for a while.”

Ending seconds https://t.co/nROZpbwJoD

— jared lorenzen (@JaredLorenzen22) September 9, 2018

Wow https://t.co/iKbNupccYq

— jared lorenzen (@JaredLorenzen22) September 9, 2018

Three years later, and we’re all still soaking that win in, along with all of the other significant achievements and heights this football team continues to reach under Mark Stoops; we just wish you were here to celebrate it all with us. Could you imagine Jared’s reaction to a season of Lynn Bowden at quarterback, watching him make defenders look silly while scrambling aimlessly toward the end zone every Saturday? How much joy would he have gotten out of Bowden’s 284-yard, four-touchdown rushing performance against Louisville in a 45-13 blowout win? Or his game-winning touchdown pass in the Belk Bowl against Virginia Tech to close out the season?

Better yet, how much joy would Jared have gotten out of the team rallying around John Schlarman and Chris Oats this past season? Playing through a pandemic, regularly missing key starters and playmakers, but still destroying Tennessee in Knoxville, Mississippi State at home and North Carolina State in the Gator Bowl? He would’ve been so damn proud.

Both on and off the field, Lorenzen was simply the best, and we miss him.

While we celebrate his life a bit today and get the July 4th holiday weekend started, check out some of KSR’s previous articles on the Hefty Lefty below:

• Eli Manning’s statement on the passing of Jared Lorenzen
• Jared Lorenzen’s Hall of Fame Speech in 2015
• Patrick Towles shares note from his mentor, Jared Lorenzen
• Hal Mumme shares a great story about Jared Lorenzen’s arm strength
• ‘The Helmet Catch’ would not have happened without Jared Lorenzen
• Whoever said ‘Don’t Meet Your Heroes’ is a Liar by Nick Roush
• A walk in Jared Lorenzen’s shoes by Tyler Thompson
• Bleacher Report: The Everlasting Legacy of the Hefty Lefty

And while you’re at it, watch his ridiculous career highlight tape from his time at Kentucky:

Love ya, 22.

Vote for Madison Lilley as Best College Athlete (Women’s Sports)

Kentucky volleyball’s own Madison Lilley is up for an ESPY, and she needs your help against some stiff competition to take home the trophy.

Up for the Best College Athlete in Women’s Sports, Lilley is taking on the likes of Paige Bueckers of UConn Basketball, Odicci Alexander of James Madison Softball and Jaelin Howell of Florida State Soccer.

To vote, all you have to do is click on the link below and select Lilley’s name.

🥎 🏀 ⚽️ 🏐

Make your pick for who should win the ESPY.

(📍 @CapitalOne)

— ESPN (@espn) July 2, 2021

The Kentucky volleyball superstar is currently in third place and will need a strong comeback to win the ESPY. Work your magic, BBN.

Jalen Duren cuts list to five options

The nation’s No. 1 overall prospect is down to five options.

2022 five-star center Jalen Duren has cut his list down from 11 options to five on Friday, with Kentucky, Memphis, Miami (FL), the NBA G League and the NBL representing the finalists.

Duren announced his final cut just days after taking an official visit to Kentucky, his third trip in as many weeks. He previously visited Miami (FL) from June 14-16 and Memphis from June 21-23 before heading to Lexington from June 28-30.

“Pure development on and off the court,” Duren told Travis Branham of 247Sports. “I want to go to a program where they’re going to teach me how to be a pro, they’re going to teach me how to handle myself as a pro and they’re going to teach me how to be a pro on the court as well and that means a lot to me in turns of my development.”

Kelvin Joseph and Quinton Bohanna will be on Hard Knocks

The Dallas Cowboys have been selected for HBO’s all-access football show ‘Hard Knocks,’ meaning former Kentucky football standouts Kelvin Joseph and Quinton Bohanna will be making their television debuts as professional athletes starting Tuesday, August 10.

While the main focus of the show will be to highlight Dak Prescott’s road to recovery, Ezekiel Elliot proving he’s still among the league’s best in the backfield, Jerry Jones being Jerry Jones, and the franchise’s attempt at returning to greatness, Joseph and Bohanna – two larger-than-life personalities, as we saw time and time again during their careers in Lexington – are sure to see solid screen time over the course of the five-episode docuseries.

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Enjoy the start to your 4th of July weekend, BBN.