Entering his junior, Kentucky WR Lynn Bowden Jr. is making a major to his appearance. His trademark dreadlocks are no more.

“I felt like if I cut my hair, everybody could see my face, instead of hiding behind my hair,” Bowden told WKYT CBS Lexington.

It’s part of wanting to be more outgoing and accessible.

“I really don’t like to meet new people or talk to new people,” Bowden added. “I’m coming out of my shell.”

That includes his interaction with UK football fans.

“I feel like I did a poor job of interacting with them,” Bowden said. “Even at the Cat Walk, I need to interact more with fans, get with them and take more pictures with them.”

While the headlines often focused on Benny Snell and Josh Allen, Bowden was the team’s leading receiver (67 catches for 745 yards and five touchdowns) in 2018. As one of the team’s most prominent players, Bowden should receive more attention and some of his own headlines in 2019. Offensive coordinator Eddie Gran says that is part of the reason the third-year receiver is re-shaping his image.

“We always talk about your image and the brand you’re building,” UK offensive coordinator Eddie Gran said. “He wants to build a brand.”