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Friday Update: Kentucky Football and Kentucky Basketball Recruiting

By Luke Bennett

LEXINGTON, KY - OCTOBER 26: Landon Young #67 of the Kentucky Wildcats looks on against the Missouri Tigers as heavy rain falls in the second half of the game at Kroger Field on October 26, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY - OCTOBER 26: Landon Young #67 of the Kentucky Wildcats looks on against the Missouri Tigers as heavy rain falls in the second half of the game at Kroger Field on October 26, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Enjoy Wildcat Blue Nation’s Friday updates!

Today’s update features Kentucky Football All-Bowl nominees and a big development in Kentucky Basketball recruiting…

1. Two Wildcats named All-Bowl Team Members

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 31: Rayshard Ashby #23 of the Virginia Tech Hokies tries to stop Lynn Bowden Jr. #1 of the Kentucky Wildcats as he runs with the ball during the Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium on December 31, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 31: Rayshard Ashby #23 of the Virginia Tech Hokies tries to stop Lynn Bowden Jr. #1 of the Kentucky Wildcats as he runs with the ball during the Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium on December 31, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Yesterday afternoon, USA Today released their selections for this year’s All-Bowl Team. Obvious selections like Joe Burrow and Justin Jefferson highlighted the star-studded roster. However, two Kentucky Wildcats were nominated for their dominant performances in the Belk Bowl.

Lynn Bowden Jr. and Landon Young land spots for All-Purpose and Offensive Lineman positions respectively.

USA Today’s Paul Myerberg wrote of the two: “Young led Kentucky with eight knockdown blocks in the Wildcats’ 37-30 win against Virginia Tech in the Belk Bowl… Bowden set an FBS bowl record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 233 and threw for the game-winning score against Virginia Tech.”

Bowden’s selection was not a surprise as he was named to the All-Bowl Team by several media outlets including the Associated Press, ESPN.com, and Sports Illustrated. Bowden put up mind-boggling numbers in the Belk Bowl, rushing 34 times for 233 yards, to become the highest rushing quarterback in bowl game history. He also scored three touchdowns, two by foot and one through the air, a pass that connected with Josh Ali to clinch the game. In total, he passed for twelve times, completing fifty percent of his throws. Finally, he left Charlotte as the Belk Bowl MVP.

Young was a major cog in this year’s famous “Big Blue Wall” that led Kentucky to single-season school records in rushing yards (3,264), yards-per-carry (6.3), and rushing touchdowns (36). Also, Young was the captain of the NCAA’s flagship community service team, the Allstate AFCA Goodworks Team. He was honored at the Sugar Bowl for this honor. Finally, he announced via social media that he will return for his senior season at Kentucky.

2. Greg Brown LOVED Kentucky

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 18: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats stands on the court as the American national anthem is performed before his team’s game against the Utah Utes during the annual Neon Hoops Showcase benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer at T-Mobile Arena on December 18, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Utes defeated the Wildcats 69-66. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 18: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats stands on the court as the American national anthem is performed before his team’s game against the Utah Utes during the annual Neon Hoops Showcase benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer at T-Mobile Arena on December 18, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Utes defeated the Wildcats 69-66. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

As you may be aware, Greg Brown, a five-star Power Forward recruit, took an official visit to Kentucky last weekend. Brown was present for Kentucky’s win over Alabama where the crowd went absolutely bonkers for the young man. There was a lot of speculation and hearsay about the young man’s trip, with many pundits claiming his stay in Lexington was one step closer to a commitment in Kentucky.

In a recent post for Sports Illustrated, Brown blogged about his experience at Kentucky.

"I’m just coming off my visit to Kentucky last weekend and it was a great visit. I loved the environment, the coaches, the players really, genuinely wanted me to come there.The fans were chanting, “We want Greg!” at the game and that was crazy because they’re so loud there. Everyone was telling me that Kentucky had a wild fan base, but they exceeded what I was expecting.I think the highlight was the game. The second half was so live and everyone was in to the game. You could feel the energy."

According to 247 Sports, Greg Brown is the top-PF in the 2020 recruiting class. The same outlet also ranks him eighth overall and garnering a .9973 rating. Alongside Kentucky, Brown is considering Texas, Memphis, and Michigan. While the Longhorns are considered the runaway favorites, his trip to Rupp helped sway him in the other direction.

A link to his highlight reel can be found here.

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