Kentucky WR posts historic stat line in bowl loss to Clemson

Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver Barion Brown. Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Unio / USA TODAY NETWORK

Speedy Kentucky WR posts historic stat line in Gator Bowl loss to No. 22 Clemson

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 12/29/23

Kentucky wideout Barion Brown's performance in Friday's TaxSlayer Gator Bowl would have been the headline if not for an epic fourth-quarter collapse in a 38-35 loss to No. 22 Clemson.

After getting involved in a pregame scuffle with the Tigers, Brown expressed his frustrations on the field, posting the stat line of a lifetime. The versatile sophomore finished with 226 all-purpose yards and three total touchdowns, etching his name into the record books.

Brown notched rushing and receiving scores while setting the record for the longest kickoff return for a TD in Gator Bowl history (100 yards.)

.@BarionBrown goes 100 yards for the kick return TOUCHDOWN. pic.twitter.com/6WpbcY4k1Y
— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) December 29, 2023

For Brown, it was his second consecutive game with a 100-yard kick return TD and the fourth of his career, a UK record. According to OptaStats, Brown is the first FBS player since Hawaii's Chad Owens (2001) to post 100-yard kick return TDs in back-to-back games to close a season.

Along with his exploits on special teams, Brown was a terror on offense.

On the ground, he rushed twice for 26 yards, including a 22-yard score.

TOUCHDOWN KENTUCKY, @BarionBrown takes it 22-yards to the HOUSE. pic.twitter.com/YoJ33h7837
— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) December 29, 2023

Meanwhile, Brown caught four balls for 98 yards (24.5 YPC) and a 60-yard TD through the air.

That is THREE @BarionBrown TD's pic.twitter.com/dBzfFO3GBR
— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) December 29, 2023

Unfortunately for Brown, late-game miscues by the Kentucky offense overshadowed his outing. The Wildcats led 21-10 through three quarters, but four turnovers, including a Brown fumble, helped Clemson outscore Kentucky 28-14 in the final stanza.

How the 2023 campaign ended for Kentucky might be hard to swallow. However, Brown can look back at what was a highly successful sophomore campaign. The speedster finished the year with 43 receptions for 539 yards (four TDs), 147 rushing yards (one TD) and 576 kick return yards (three TDs) off 16 attempts.

More must-reads: