A Kentucky receiver was named to the Paul Hornung Award watch list

Barion Brown was named to the preseason watch list for the Paul Hornung Award.

Kentucky’s wide receiver unit should be one of the best in all of college football in 2024. Dane Key and Barion Brown should both have big seasons in Lexington, and both could be draft picks in 2025.

Brown, in particular, is very highly thought of by draft analysts, with some first round talk from some. He also has been named to the watch list for the Paul Hunung Award for 2024, as announced on Thursday.

Related: Maxwell Hairston on Jim Thorpe Award watch list

The Paul Hornung Award is given each season to “reward versatile, high-level performers in major college football.” As a talented receiver and a terrific return man, Brown certainly qualifies as versatile. Kentucky fans know he is high-level as well.

If Brown were to win the award, he would be the second Wildcat to do so. Lynn Bowden won it after the 2019 season.

Brown is one of 48 players on the preseason watch list. Big Blue Nation is, of course, rooting for him.