Vince Marrow says Lynn Bowden is the best Kentucky player of all time

Following Lynn Bowden Jr.'s 233-yard, two-touchdown rushing performance, along with his 73 yards and touchdown pass through the air, Kentucky associate head coach Vince Marrow had high praise for his superstar playmaker. In fact, he couldn't have had higher praise for the junior all-purpose player. On social media after the game, Marrow said that Bowden was the best player in Kentucky football history. "Respect to all the players that played [at Kentucky in the past, but] Lynn Bowden is the best player that has put on the Blue," Marrow wrote. "Go Big Blue." https://twitter.com/vincemarrow/status/1212115521723916291?s=20 After the game, Marrow was asked by reporters about his comments on Twitter and whether or not he'll hear from any former players. With all due respect to the all-time greats, Marrow says he doesn't care.

"I don't care," Marrow said. "I think Mike Edwards is gonna hit me up. It's all respect to them guys but come on man. You know [Bowden's] running the ball probably 90% of the time and what'd he rush for? 230, a new record? I'm pretty sure I'm going to hear from Benny. I know I am. I ain't even sending a message to him. I'm waiting to hear from you. But I think [Bowden] is the best."

After the game, UK head coach Mark Stoops was on the same page as Marrow, calling Bowden "one of the best players" to ever wear Kentucky across his chest. "He really is one of the best players," Stoops said. "I mean that with great respect for all the people that were here. That's what I talked about, when you're putting the ball in his hands every play, he loves that because the game is running through him, it's running through him on every play. "I don't know, that was one of the most impressive displays I've seen in a long time," Stoops continued. "What he did and the way he puts this team on his back and plays for him, it's amazing. It's very admirable and we have great appreciation for him." Stoops said that "nothing" about Bowden's game and what he's able to bring to the table every time he steps on the football field surprises him, adding that if he played quarterback all season, he feels he would've been a Heisman finalist. "Really, nothing he does surprises me," Stoops said. "Everything he does, he competes, he cares about his teammates and, you know, you can't ever count him out. ... If he would have played like that, if we would've started him at quarterback, there's absolutely no doubt in my mind that he would be in New York at the Heisman [Trophy Presentation]. You can't take away from Joe [Burrow] and people that were there, incredible players, but this guy right here is one of the best players in the country. He showed that." At the end of the day, it's going to be a major challenge for the Kentucky coaching staff to find another player like Bowden in the future. In fact, with the former four-star recruit finishing his three-year Kentucky career with 1,530 rushing yards, 1,303 receiving yards, 495 passing yards, and 22 touchdowns, it might not be possible at all. "I don't know if you can replace a guy like this," Stoops said. "You really can't."