Vince Marrow calls Lynn Bowden the “best football player in the country”

Lynn Bowden is having a season for the ages.

With a bowl game still remaining, the junior quarterback has rushed for 1,245 yards and 11 touchdowns this season.

On Saturday against Louisville, he set an SEC single-game record for rushing yards from a quarterback with 284.

As a team, the Wildcats rushed for 517 yards, a single-game school record. As the starter at quarterback, Bowden led the Wildcats to a record of 5-2.

It is obvious that Bowden is a special players, his versatility is supported by his numbers to show that he is a rare talent. But Kentucky assistant coach Vince Marrow went a step further on Saturday, calling Bowden the “best football player in the country.”

Bowden is not going to show up on any Heisman ballots. The Wildcats are not in the hunt for the College Football Playoff, and his dominant run did not begin until mid-season. His passing stats are nothing to write home about, but he has led Kentucky in both receptions and rushing yards, playing the majority of the season as the starting quarterback. But what really sets Bowden apart?

According to Mark Stoops, it is not something you will find on a stat sheet. It’s his toughness, competitiveness, and alpha dog mentality.

“He is truly remarkable in so many ways. But you have to recognize his competitive nature, and just how tough and competitive and what a leader he is. In our business, if you are going to be an alpha dog, then you be an alpha dog and that’s him. When you do that time and time again and prove it and put the team on your back, and say, let’s ride, let’s do this, you know, it’s remarkable.”

For a primarily-running wide receiver to touch the ball on almost every single play for seven games, leading the team in carries, you can imagine the number of SEC-level hits Bowden has taken this year. He has had to come out of the game a time or two to walk off an injury, but his resilience to get back on the field and make a play for his team is one of the most inspirational things we have ever seen on a gridiron in Lexington. And according to Marrow, there has always been something special about Bowden.

Bowden is a special player, and in all likelihood, we have seen the last of him at Kroger Field. But what he has done for this team, almost single-handedly saving this season, is something that will live on in Kentucky football lore forever. He is one of the all-time greats, and it has been an absolute pleasure to watch him suit up for Kentucky the last three years.