High school coach says Barion Brown has major gifts, skills when he’s focused like Kentucky has him now

Barion Brown signed autographs for fans after UK's win over Miami. (Vicky Graff Photo)

Kentucky opens Southeastern Conference play Saturday, Sept. 10 when it travels to the Swamp to face Florida. Game time is 7 p.m. ET and will be televised on ESPN.

Maybe some were surprised by what freshman Barion Brown did in his first game at the University of Kentucky. However, Pearl-Cohn High School coach Tony Brunetti was not the least bit surprised by what his former star player did.

“He has gifts. He has always been pretty good at kickoff returns. He has run a lot back (for touchdowns),” Brunetti said. “He is a gamer. He has skills. He just does a good job making plays.”

Brown did such a good job that he was named Southeastern Conference Special Teams Player of the Week after breaking a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the win over Miami of Ohio. It was the first Kentucky kickoff return for a score since Derrick Locke went 100 yards against Louisville in 2009 and only the seventh 100-yard return in UK history. He became the first freshman to return a kickoff for a touchdown since Kio Sanford in 1994.

Brown, a four-star recruit, also caught three passes for 45 yards, including a 38-yard run and catch.

“I didn’t know how fast he would fit in but I knew he had the potential. Kentucky has done a good job of preparation with him,” Brunetti said. “He has major gifts. It’s just him being focused. When he is (focused), he is pretty good. Kentucky has done a great job with keeping him in a good mindset and staying focused.”

Stoops insisted Monday he was not surprised by Brown’s kickoff return score.

“I wanted to see that, because a great returner like that needs to trust his speed in that situation, and guys that have it, do it. In that moment, when he turned the corner, I had a good feeling, and it was gone,” Stoops said. “I don’t know who was even in pursuit at that point – watching it live as far as what body type, whether it was a DB, safety, kicker.”

“I didn’t know who was in position on that sideline, but I felt like it was going to the house, because the great ones, when they turn that corner in the open field like that – it’s all about the true speed and he has it.”

Brown’s only mistake came when he dropped the football just an instant after hitting the end zone. The play was reviewed to see if he had “fumbled” before the end zone and that would have wiped out the score.

“I was like, ‘Please don’t do that,’” Brunetti said. “But even if it (the ruling) had gone the other way, it would have still been a good lesson learned. We all have to learn and grow. He’ll learn from that.”

Brunetti is hoping Brown can “play out” again Saturday night when UK plays at Florida, a 5 1/2-point favorite over the Cats.

“The crowd is going to be really hostile. Playing on the road never really bothered him in high school but everybody you are playing against now is just as talented as you,” Brunetti said. “I know he will step up to the challenge. College-wise, it’s a lot harder to win games and he knows that.”

“But we are so proud of him. It’s a blessing what he’s doing. He has been texting me all summer and he’s really happy. He’s going in a good direction and in a good place. He just has to stay focused and block out all the social media and not let that get to him. Just keep playing like he can.”