Lynn Bowden Jr. has started every game this year for the wildcats, but his role in the offense took a detour no one expected at the start of the season.
Bowden was a QB in high school and dynamic play maker. His freshman season (2017) at UK he was moved to receiver. His ability to make plays earned him accolades such as being named SEC Freshman of the Week (Oct. 9) after leading UK with 128 all-purpose yards in the Wildcats win over Mizzou and Coaches’ All-SEC Freshman Team.
His Sophomore season (2018) he was a standout. He led the team in catches (67), receiving yards (745) and TD catches (5). His 67 catches broke the school record for most by a sophomore in school history. He returned 25 kickoffs for an average of 21.6 yards, had two punt returns for TDs on just five total returns, a 58-yard punt return for a TD in the first quarter vs. Penn State and 67-yarder at Missouri. He was named to the All-Bowl Team by the AP and USA Today, Second-Team All-SEC All-Purpose Performer (Coaches, Athlon), SEC Special Teams Player of the Week after win at Missouri, and was on the Paul Hornung Award Preseason Watch List.
Entering the 2019 season there was high expectations for UK’s standout receiver/returner. After injuries at quarterback forced him to return to Quarter Back, Bowden set a school record for career and single-season rushing yards by a quarterback, broke the SEC’s single-game rushing record by a quarterback, had the second-highest single-game rushing total in UK history, the highest single-season yards per rush attempt average and deliver at least 100 rushing yards in six of his seven starts at quarterback (and miss a seventh by a single yard vs. Georgia). Bowden announced that he would enter the NFL Draft after the Belk Bowl.
Bowden has been named the recipient of the Hornung Award. The Hornung Award is annually awarded to the most versatile player in college football. Previous winners include names like Saquon Barkly, Jabrill Peppers, and Odell Beckham Jr. The winner will be honored on March 4, 2020 at the award’s annual dinner, to be held at the Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky.
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