On Day 3 of the NFL Draft, the Saints went against their traditional norms and did something fans within the state of Louisiana have been waiting on since 2018—they drafted a player from LSU. Barion Brown was selected in Round 6 with pick No. 190. The last time the Saints did this was in 2018 when they drafted Will Clapp, who now serves as the assistant offensive line coach for the team.
Barion Brown grew up in Nashville, TN, and played for Pearl-Cohn Comprehensive High School, where he won state championships in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash as both a junior and a senior. However, football was where his passion truly was. He was a versatile athlete, playing running back, wide receiver, and defensive back. During his senior year, he finished with just over 1,100 yards from scrimmage and 12 total touchdowns. He was ranked as a five-star prospect coming out of high school and had offers from top programs. His final three were Kentucky, TCU, and Alabama, and he ultimately chose Kentucky.
While at Kentucky, Brown displayed his elite athleticism and world-class speed. He became a dynamic playmaker—an offensive weapon who posed a major threat anytime the ball was in his hands. Brown tied the FBS record for kickoff return touchdowns with six during his collegiate career. In his debut, he returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown.
After three seasons at the University of Kentucky, Brown entered the transfer portal and chose LSU as his new school. He was seeking a fresh start and the opportunity to play with an established quarterback, as well as for a team with playoff aspirations. LSU seemed like the perfect fit. Unfortunately, the season did not unfold as expected. LSU went on to lose six games, and their veteran quarterback was hampered throughout the season by an unknown injury, ultimately being sidelined toward the end of the year.
Even through the challenges of the season, Brown remained a fan favorite. His character on the field and the way he embraced the community off the field made fans across Louisiana rally behind him. Brown gave his all for LSU, finishing with 51 receptions for 532 yards and one receiving touchdown, while also tying the LSU record for kickoff return touchdowns with one.
Brown will be a great fit for what the Saints need and is excited for the opportunity, especially considering the success of returners like Rashid Shaheed. He understands what it means to play for LSU and then transition to playing for the Saints.
Ironically, he sent his mother to the store to buy team hats for the draft, but they only had one available—and it was a Saints hat. It seems like he was destined to be a Saint.
"I always kind of had it in the back of my head that I was going there. This is the only hat my parents bought today."Former #LSU WR Barion Brown fired up to be drafted by the #Saints. pic.twitter.com/Dvf1jzEqNy