LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky junior quarterback/wide receiver Lynn Bowden has declared for the 2020 NFL draft. Bowden will play his final game for the Wildcats in the Belk Bowl against Virginia Tech.

"To our fans, the Big Blue Nation, you took a kid from Youngstown, Ohio and helped me become a man," Bowden said. "For that, this place is my forever home. It won't be easy to leave that, but now is my time to enter the 202o NFL Draft. The memories we made here are something special. From a 10-win season last year to going back to my old position this year. I'll be taking those memories with me wherever I go next. But first, we got one more game to win. For my last game in Kentucky blue, I need all of BBN to come out and support us and help us get this bowl game win. Come see about it in Charlotte."

Bowden's junior season could go down as one of the most memorable in school history. After starting the season at wide receiver, Bowden took over at quarterback for the sixth game of the season and has remained there ever since. Kentucky is 5-2 with Bowden at quarterback and has transitioned into one of the top rushing offenses in the country. Bowden leads the team with 1,235 yards and 11 touchdowns. He's also the team's leading receiver with 348 yards and one touchdown. For his contributions, Bowden received first-team All-Southeastern Conference honors as an all-purpose player by the Associated Press on Monday. Bowden is also the front-runner to win the Paul Hornung Award for the most versatile player in college football.

"What can you say about Lynn?" Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said following a 45-13 win over Louisville on Nov. 30. "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."

The Youngstown native has been one of the most dynamic players in the Southeastern Conference over the past two seasons. While he made his mark at quarterback this season, Bowden was one of the league's top-producing receivers as a sophomore. He caught a team-leading 67 passes for 745 yards and five touchdowns. It was the most receptions for a sophomore in school history. In addition to his five touchdowns as a receiver, Bowden also returned critical punts for a touchdown against Missouri and Penn State in the Citrus Bowl.