UK football lingering questions: Can Barion Brown and Dane Key back up years of hype?

Each week leading up to the start of Kentucky football preseason camp, the Herald-Leader will take a look at one significant question facing the 2024 Wildcats.

This week, we’re looking at Kentucky’s wide receiver room. In year three at UK, can Barion Brown and Dane Key find the consistency that has eluded them thus far in college?

A year ago, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that wide receivers Barion Brown and Dane Key were poised for a breakout season after impressing as freshmen at Kentucky. Instead, the inconsistency that could be excused by inexperience the year before remained the defining element of their sophomore seasons.

Key’s statistics marginally improved from year one to two with five more catches for 117 more yards, but Brown actually recorded fewer catches and receiving yards as a sophomore than he did as a freshman.

“It starts with those two guys,” UK coach Mark Stoops said this spring when asked about expectations for Key and Brown. “... Those two guys are going into their third season. This is where they need to make the jump. I’m seeing more consistency. I’m seeing the details, the leadership, difficult catches. They’ve all had their moments, but it’s consistency that we’re looking for. I’m seeing some good results right now.”

How coaching changes could help Kentucky wide receivers

After the disappointing second season from Key and Brown, Stoops fired wide receivers coach Scott Woodward and replaced him with former Houston assistant Daikiel Shorts in December.

While Shorts did not take over the position until after the Gator Bowl loss to Clemson, Brown already reported being impressed by his new position coach after that game. That bond appeared to strengthen in spring practice as Shorts, a former standout receiver at West Virginia, quickly gained the respect of his players.

“They’ve got some talent to them or obviously they wouldn’t be here, but they’re just good kids,” Shorts said during spring practice. “They’re fun to coach. They’re very coachable. You can kind of get after them and they respond to it.”

Brown and Key will be playing for their third offensive coordinator in three seasons at Kentucky with Bush Hamdan taking the reins of the Wildcats offense this year.

Hamdan’s system is similar to the pro-style scheme run by Rich Scangarello in 2022 and Liam Coen in 2023, but Kentucky will no longer operate out of the huddle. While the Wildcats will not suddenly turn into a lightning-fast offense like Tennessee, a faster tempo should offer more opportunities for receivers to get more touches.

If Georgia quarterback transfer Brock Vandagriff lives up to his former five-star recruiting ranking, that should mean plenty of targets for Brown and Key. Hamdan pointed to his 2016 Washington offense that featured two 1,000-yard receivers as an example of the potential for UK’s junior duo.

“I never want those guys to put too much pressure on themselves with things like that,” Hamdan said in the spring. “I mean, they’re both NFL-talent-level receivers. We’ve got to get them playing extremely fast and to focus on their fundamentals. … I think it’s got to come right back to the joy, the love of the game, the love of each practice and getting better. Whether that stuff happens now or in a couple years, those are two guys we want playing for a long, long time.”

How competition could push Barion Brown and Dane Key

While the focus will remain on Brown and Key entering the season, Kentucky’s wide receiver room is no longer dependent on their performances.

North Texas transfer Ja’Mori Maclin arrives as one of just 25 players in the country to record at least 1,000 receiving yards last season. Sophomore Anthony Brown-Stephens has a year of experience under his belt. Freshman Hardley Gilmore was one of the breakout stars of spring practice.

Kentucky’s deep tight end room should also factor in the passing game with Jordan Dingle, Josh Kattus and Khamari Anderson all expected to factor as pass-catchers.

“There are certainly three to four players in that (tight end) group that we can go out there and win with today,” Hamdan said. “So, I think we need to continue to build their role, continue to bring those guys along, but that’s a group that works at it. They’re very intentional about what they do. They’re going to be a unit that’s got to lead us for sure in the fall.”

Prediction

Key looked on the verge of turning a corner in 2023, so it is easy to imagine a breakout season for him as a junior. Brown is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the country with the ball in his hands, as evidenced by his kick return prowess. If Vandagriff can live up to the hype, Hamdan should be able to find creative ways to get Brown the ball in space without force-feeding him. At least one of the juniors should top 1,000 receiving yards this season. The depth of pass-catching options will probably prevent both of them from reaching that plateau though, even if they show significant improvement.

UK football lingering questions: How good can top NFL draft prospect Deone Walker be?

Kentucky football lingering questions: Should fans be concerned about running back?

Kentucky football lands state’s top-ranked recruit again, but this one is a late riser.

As Texas, Oklahoma join SEC, a look back at league’s original 1933 constitution

Who is the best UK transfer in the Mark Stoops era? We’ve seen a wide range of outcomes.