A three-year letterman at Georgia, Kent was honored with his induction into the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2003 for his memorable performance against SMU.
 
On the third play of the game, the speedy and elusive sophomore sprinted 74 yards for the game's first touchdown to set the tone for the Bulldogs in a 24-9 victory over the Mustangs. He rushed for 149 yards that day to establish a Georgia bowl record that stood for 25 years.
 
Following his college career at Georgia, Kent went on to play in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Atlanta Falcons. After football, he entered law enforcement and in 1975 became the first Chief of Police of the newly formed Clarke County Police Department.
 
During this time, he took law classes at the Woodrow Wilson College of Law in Atlanta. In 1985, with a law degree in hand, he became a State Court judge in Athens, an elected position that he held for 26 years until his retirement in 2011.
 
Not only was Kent a tremendous football player and Cotton Bowl hero, he was a wonderful friend to everyone connected with the Classic. Throughout his career on the bench, one thing he never left at home was his Cotton Bowl wristwatch, a keepsake he proudly wore to remind him of that special day of December 31, 1966, at Cotton Bowl Stadium.
 
A "Judge Kent Lawrence Football Scholarship Endowment" has been established at the University of Georgia to honor his legacy and to provide a scholarship for a student-athlete pursuing a degree in criminal justice.