Seven University of Kentucky football players have earned a spot on the 2023 Athlon Sports Preseason All-America and All Southeastern Conference teams announced.
Sophomore return specialist and wide receiver Barion Brown (Nashville, Tennessee) highlights the group with a fourth-team All-America honor as a kick returner. He also was named to the All-SEC second team as a specialist and third-team offense as a wide receiver.
Senior transfer running back Ray Davis (San Francisco) was named All-SEC second-team offense. After two seasons at Temple and two at Vanderbilt, Davis has compiled 2,497 career rushing yards and 2,936 career all-purpose yards.
Sophomore defensive lineman Deone Walker (Detroit) and senior outside linebacker J.J. Weaver (Louisville, Kentucky) were named All-SEC second-team defense. Walker had a monster freshman season in 2022 with 40 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, five quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and a forced fumble in 13 games.
Weaver, a team captain and Lott Trophy candidate last season, totaled 47 tackles (seventh on the team), 6.0 tackles for loss (second-most on the team), a team-high 3.0 sacks, three quarterback hurries, a team-high three fumble recoveries, a team-high-tying two forced fumbles and a blocked kick in 2022.
Super senior offensive lineman Kenneth Horsey (Sanford, Florida) earned an All-SEC third-team offense nod as one of the key cogs on the Big Blue Wall. He has seen action in 37 career games with 33 straight starting assignments. He has returned to his natural position of left guard in 2023 after playing left tackle in 2022.
Sophomore wide receiver Dane Key (Lexington, Kentucky) earned All-SEC fourth-team offense after totaling 37 catches for 519 yards (third-highest on the team) and a team-high six scores last season. His six touchdown receptions set a new UK single-season freshman record. He was named honorable-mention Freshman All-America by College Football News and on3sports last season.
Junior inside linebacker Trevin Wallace (Jesup, Georgia) was named All-SEC fourth-team defense after he charted 54 tackles (fifth-most on the team), 5.5 tackles for loss (third-most on the team), 2.5 sacks, two interceptions (team-high tying) and a quarterback hurry last season.