Barion Brown and Dane Key will be going for a third straight win over Louisville this season. (X Photo)
He’s a preseason All-American both at receiver and kick returner after amassing 1,167 yards receiving and 1,016 kick return yards last season for Kentucky.
Barion Brown already has four career kick return touchdowns, including three last season. Both numbers are school records and have tied SEC records. His 36-yard per return average last season was the 17th all-time best mark in college football since 1976.
Kentucky receivers coach Daikiel Shorts emphasized Tuesday that Brown has been working much harder than he did his first two years at Kentucky despite the enormous success he had in 2023 and 2024.
“I’m extremely proud of him. He is what he is. He’s electric, he’s going to make plays, he’s got some God-given ability that none of us have,” the UK assistant coach said. “Just mentally, we really wanted him to get mentally tougher and I think that’s something that he got better at this summer.”
Junior receiver Dane Key has also played in 26 games the last two seasons with 24 starts. He has 79 catches for 1,155 yards and 12 scores. He’s a preseason all-SEC second team pick and like Brown, Shorts says he has improved.
“Dane’s had a tremendous camp. He’s a really good kid, all the boys in that room look up to him. He’s gotten extremely stronger since I’ve been here,” Shorts said. “He’s done a really good job of making some contested catches and just pushing himself to get ready for the season.”
Brown and Key caught passes from Will Levis in 2022. Last year they caught balls from Devin Leary. Now they figure to be catching balls from starting quarterback Brock Vandagriff this season.
“I think it has been great (with Brock). Me and Brock are always talking about what we can do better, what worked,” Brown said. “I’m always down to throw and catch. Me and Brock are going to be great.”
