Five University of Kentucky football players have been named to the 2024 Preseason Media Days All-Southeastern Conference Teams, the league announced Friday.
Junior defensive lineman Deone Walker and junior defensive back Maxwell Hairston earned first-team defense honors, while junior Barion Brown was named first team as a return specialist and third team as an all-purpose player. Senior offensive lineman Marques Cox and senior linebacker Jamon “Pop” Dumas-Johnson were also selected for the third team.
Walker, a 6-foot-6, 345-pound native of Detroit, had a standout sophomore season in 2023, leading Kentucky in tackles for loss (12.5), quarterback sacks (7.5), and quarterback hurries (8). He also had two pass breakups, including a key one in the win over Florida, which set up a touchdown. Walker, one of seven permanent team captains last season, has started all 24 games since his freshman year. His performance in 2023 included career highs, such as nine tackles against South Carolina and 4.0 tackles for loss at Missouri.
Brown, a 6-foot-1, 182-pound playmaker from Nashville, had a nation-high three kickoff returns for touchdowns in 2023, setting a new UK single-season record and tying the SEC record. His four career kickoff return touchdowns also set a new UK record and tied the SEC career record. Brown led the nation with a 36.0-yard kick return average, earning first-team All-American honors from Sporting News and second-team All-American honors from 247Sports and CBS Sports. He has caught at least one pass in all 26 games of his college career, accumulating 1,167 career receiving yards.
Hairston, a 6-foot-1, 186-pounder from Detroit, ranked fifth nationally with five interceptions in 2023, the most by a Wildcat since 2009. His two interception returns for touchdowns against Vanderbilt tied an SEC single-game record, earning him National Defensive Player of the Week honors. Hairston also ranked eighth in the SEC in passes defended with 11.
Cox, a 6-foot-5, 318-pounder from Peoria, Illinois, played left tackle on an offensive line that was a midseason honoree for the Joe Moore Award. He helped pave the way for top rusher Ray Davis and protected quarterback Devin Leary, who had the second-most touchdowns in the SEC.
Johnson, a 6-foot-1, 245-pound senior from Hyattsville, Maryland, transferred to Kentucky in 2024 after three seasons at Georgia, where he helped the Bulldogs win back-to-back national championships. He has 126 career tackles, including 17 for loss, 9.5 sacks, and seven pass breakups. Last year, despite missing four games due to injury, he had 34 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks.
Season tickets, mini-packs, and single-game tickets for Kentucky’s games against Southern Miss, South Carolina, Ohio, Vanderbilt, and Murray State are on sale at ukfootballtix.com. Tickets for high-demand games against Georgia, Auburn, and Louisville will go on sale to the public on August 9 at 9 a.m. ET, with limited availability expected. Fans are encouraged to consider season ticket options to secure seats for these games.
