Barion Brown, Tayvion Robinson Share Breakout Game in UK’s Victory Over NIU

Barion Brown catches his first touchdown as a Wildcat. (Vicky Graff Photo)

The finish wasn’t pretty, but Kentucky’s 31-23 victory over Northern Illinois has the Wildcats at 4-0 heading to Oxford next weekend for a Top-25 matchup against Ole Miss. While the Wildcats had many aspects of their performance that weren’t inspiring, wide receivers Barion Brown and Tayvion Robinson both had their breakout game for Kentucky.

Brown caught four balls for 102 yards and two touchdowns while Robinson led the team in both receptions and yards, posting a stat line of seven catches for 147 yards and two scores. The duo combined for 249 receiving yards with 183 coming after the catch. They also accounted for over 82% of quarterback Will Levis’ 303 passing yards and caught all four of his touchdown passes.

Brown’s first touchdown was the first of the game for Kentucky and the first of his young Wildcat career. His second was a 70-yard bomb to begin the second half, bringing back flashes of his kickoff return that turned the tides in Kentucky’s season opener against Miami (OH).

Robinson’s first score was a 69-yard home run and also his first as a Wildcat, with his second being Kentucky’s final scoring play that ultimately put the game out of reach.

The duo put together big time performances on a night fellow receiver Dane Key had just two catches on three targets for 15 yards. Key has had an incredible connection with Levis early on, catching a touchdown pass in Kentucky’s first three games of the season.

Up until last year, pass catcher was an area of inconsistency for Kentucky. But Wan’Dale Robinson’s campaign last season and now this trio of first-year Wildcats have Kentucky as one of the better passing threats in the country.

Thanks in large part to his two receivers, Levis had an efficient game completing 18-26 passes without an interception. The Kentucky offense will see star running back Chris Rodriguez return next weekend, but Levis will still need to replicate his success with his wide receivers the Wildcats plan on scoring enough points to beat a high-octane Ole Miss offense. Look for Brown, Key and Robinson to all play a major role in next week’s matchup.