University of Kentucky junior Barion Brown, renowned for his electrifying speed on the field, has been named a candidate for the Jet Award, recognizing college football’s top return specialist. The Jet Award Foundation announced Brown’s inclusion on the 14th annual award’s preseason watch list on Wednesday.
The Jet Award, named in honor of Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Famer Johnny “The Jet” Rodgers, will be presented at the Jet Award Gala on April 10, 2025. Last year’s recipient, Zachariah Branch from USC, exemplified the skill and impact celebrated by the Jet Award.
The preseason watchlist features standout return specialists from across the nation. The winner of the 2024 Jet Award will be chosen by a distinguished panel of voters, including media members from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), former Jet Award winners, and two of the award’s founders, Johnny Rodgers and William Reed.
Brown, a 6-foot-1, 182-pound all-purpose player from Nashville, made a significant impact in 2023 with a nation-high three kickoff returns for touchdowns. This achievement set a single-season UK record, previously held by Derek Abney in 2002 with two returns, and tied the SEC record. Brown’s four career kickoff returns for touchdowns also set a new UK record, surpassing Craig Yeast’s previous record of three (1995-98), and tied the SEC career record shared with seven other players.
The dynamic playmaker’s 36.0-yard kick return average (16 returns for 576 yards) led the nation and established a new UK single-season record, breaking Calvin Bird’s 1959 record of 30.42 yards (14 returns for 426 yards). Brown was named a first-team All-American by the Sporting News and a second-team All-American by 247Sports and CBS Sports.
Additionally, Brown has caught at least one pass in all 26 games of his college career, accumulating 1,167 receiving yards, which ranks 28th in school history.
Season tickets, mini-packs, and single-game tickets for Kentucky’s games against Southern Miss, South Carolina, Ohio, Vanderbilt, and Murray State are now on sale at ukfootballtix.com. Tickets for the highly anticipated home matchups against Georgia, Auburn, and Louisville will be available to the public starting Friday, Aug. 9, at 9 a.m. ET.
With strong demand for all ticket options, inventory for Kentucky’s SEC and nonconference rivalry games is expected to be extremely limited. Fans are encouraged to consider season ticket options to secure tickets for these games.