The award recipient is chosen via media members from around the state casting their votes, as Bowden’s heroics during the 2019 Kentucky Football season propelled him ahead of former Louisville QB Lamar Jackson and former Murray State point guard Ja Morant.
For some voters, the fact that Bowden’s performances occurred in the commonwealth helped push him ahead of Jackson and Morant, both of whom either had or are in the midst of fantastic seasons in the NFL and NBA.
This makes the second year that a Kentucky Football player has won the award, with former UK pass rusher Josh Allen taking home the award in 2018.