Kentucky’s Barion Brown picked a great moment to have a career game.
The sophomore wide receiver had an electrifying 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second half of the Gator Bowl against the Clemson Tigers.
Most similar kick returns usually feature a broken tackle or two and/or several cuts. Brown just put it into overdrive and simply blew past the Tigers defenders, making it look easy.
.@BarionBrown goes 100 yards for the kick return TOUCHDOWN. pic.twitter.com/6WpbcY4k1Y
— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) December 29, 2023
Brown appeared to be moving super-humanly fast on the play, and appearances weren’t deceiving. According to Reel Analytics, he hit a top speed of 22.3 mph. Seattle Seahawks star D.K. Metcalf has the fastest max speed on a play in the NFL this season, at 22.23 mph.
And Metcalf’s 73-yard TD reception was the fastest top speed in the NFL since Raheem Mostert hit 23.09 mph early in the 2020 season.
So we are talking elite speed for Brown.
Watch: Barion Brown (@BarionBrown) hit a max speed of 22.3 mph on this 100-yard kick return touchdown. #ReelSpeed
🔗 https://t.co/UFKB2eX8pa pic.twitter.com/OthfArzxzX
— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) December 29, 2023
It was Brown’s third kick return touchdown of the season, and the fourth of his career, a Kentucky record. It was also his second TD of the game. He scored on a 22-yard end-around in the first quarter.
TOUCHDOWN KENTUCKY, @BarionBrown takes it 22-yards to the HOUSE. pic.twitter.com/YoJ33h7837
— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) December 29, 2023
Fans loved Brown’s blazing return.
The Most Dangerous Kickoff Returner In The Country: College or #NFL
He’s The Best: Most Dangerous🏈 https://t.co/RWJR3LZCTp— Shut-Up🏀& Dribble (@Uncle_ShutUp) December 29, 2023
Barion Brown of @UKFootball has had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in each of his last two games including today in the @taxslayerbowl.
The last FBS player to have a 100-yard KO return TD in each of his last two games of a season was Hawaii's Chad Owens in 2001. pic.twitter.com/ciU3NXHPNL
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) December 29, 2023
THE FLASH STRIKES AGAIN
BARION BROWN HOUSE CALL OFF THROUGH KICKOFF pic.twitter.com/6HiQ8ThKWr
— Barstool Kentucky (@BarstoolUK) December 29, 2023
Trying to figure out why the world continues to sleep on Barion Brown https://t.co/HOnOEkingg
— Dylan Egloff (@dylanegloff) December 29, 2023
He’s getting drafted just from this one play
— R.O.C. (@roc_digital) December 29, 2023
Why does Barion Brown come off the field so much? Dude should play almost every offensive snap.
— Matthew Hess (@thest0ne41) December 29, 2023
[Photo Credit: ESPN]
