LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky's junior quarterback is going to be a Las Vegas Raider.

Lynn Bowden Jr. was selected in the third round as the 80th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft Friday.

He is the second player from the state to be selected. Louisville's Mekhi Becton was selected in the first round by the New York Jets.

Bowden is the 11th player to be drafted under head coach Mark Stoops at Kentucky.  

The Youngstown, Ohio native was the of the Paul Hornung Award for the nation's most versatile player. Bowden, you'll remember stepped in to play quarterback for the Cats after injuries sidelined the others. It was the first time since high school he played the position. He proved he still had the skills as he set a school record for career and single-season rushing yards by a quarterback, broke the Southeastern Conference's single-game rushing mark by a quarterback, had the second-highest single-game rushing total in UK history, highest single-season yard per rush attempt average, and at least 100 yards rushing in seven of his eight starts at quarterback. 

During Bowden’s three seasons, Kentucky compiled a 25-14 record and played in three bowl games, winning the last two.

While Bowden is the first Kentucky player to play for the newly formed Las Vegas Raiders, he isn't the first to play for the organization known as the Los Angeles Raiders and the Oakland Raiders. Other Cats that have played for the Raiders include Ricky Lumpkin (2010), Derrick Ramsey (1977), Warren Bryant (1976), Rodger Bird (1965), Glenn Shaw (1959), Bob Dougherty (1956), Vito “Babe” Parilli (1951), and George Blanda (1948)