Brooklyns Own Brandon Brown Making a Break

by Lead Journalist Jasmine Ng

“I'm fast, explosive with the ball in my hand, and feel I'm capable of changing the outcome of a game when presented with the right opportunity” – Brandon Brown

Position

WR/KR

Status

Free Agent

Jersey Number

19

Located

Brooklyn, New York, USA

Height/Weight

6’0, 160lbs

Current Level

Professional

Stats/Awards

-          Tied for 4th in receptions on my team as a college freshman with 30 receptions

-          350 yards and 3 touchdowns. Followed by a solid sophomore season where I finished 3rd in receptions with 47 645 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns under former Head Coach Corey Valentine.

Wide Receiver, Kick Return, Brandon Brown from Brooklyn, New York. His journey for football began as early as 7 years old. But before falling in love with football, he was in to baseball. He played as shortstop and he would find himself emulate his child idol Derek Jeter. Football was later introduced by his childhood friend Nathaniel Sprouse and his mother Dawn. Nathaniel Sprouse played for a local team known as the Brooklyn SkyHawks from the Flatbush area of Brooklyn, New York. Ms. Dawn, his childhood friend’s mother took Brown to one of the team practices where he instantly fell in love with the game.

He soon transitioned to play football at the age of 7. Brandon Brown played under Coach Graven and he started his football career in the quarterback position. Soon later he continues to play football in high school. Then he played at the junior and division two

collegiate level. Brown has been recognised as the third and fourth leading receiver on his team behind upperclassmen. As Brown continued his career in football he played for Carnasie High School under former Head Coach Mike Camardese. They brought back to back city championships in the junior varsity level. He then proceeded on to play college football at Globe Institute of Technology who are in division one NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) community college located in Midtown Manhattan under former Head Coach Corey Valentine. Where Brown graduated and received his associate degree in Sports Management. Following that degree in Globe Institute of Technology, he attends Cheyney University of Pennsylvania which is a smaller division of two schools where he played under Head Coach Kenneth Lockard. This team competes in the PSAC east (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference), which is well known and respected for being the toughest conference in the division two collegiate level.

Brown has experienced in playing as wide receiver along with returning the ball on special teams. These positions came naturally because of the playing time he received. Not only did playing time made it natural but as previously mentioned, Brown played baseball before he fell in love with football. Baseball helped him in a way to succeed in football because he played in a similar position as he does now. Shortstop is a catching position on the field as is being a wide receiver. The only difference is, contact and speed. He had to learn how to take contact and speed and he learnt to be quick on his hands and feet.

When you ask Brandon Brown on his playing style, he would describe his playing style and compare himself to Desean Jackson who currently plays for the Philadelphia Eagles. He describes that they have similar body types; he is fast, explosive with the ball in his hand and feels he is capable of changing any outcome of the game when presented with the right opportunity. Brown’s strengths are; he has the ability to perform under pressure which comes from playing in big game situations throughout both his high school and college career. His training regimen consists of strength, speed and flexibility. Brown trains four days a week with a personal trainer. He himself trains with former Jacksonville Jaguar and founder of JBFIT Jeremiah Brown. No matter how much effort he puts in to training, he still finds room for improvement. He feels he needs to work on putting on more weight for more improvement. The actions he has taken to achieve this goal are to have harder workouts, eat foods in high carbs such as; protein and starches along with trying to get an early rest to have a goodnight sleep.

Everyone has an on field and off field accomplishments. For Brandon Brown, his future goal for off the field is to do more of giving back to his community and the less fortunate. For Brown to able to sign a contract, it would allow him to financially provide for his family and the ability to take care of his 71 year old grandmother and mother who raised him to be the person who he is today. It would be a complete blessing for any opportunity to play. Brown has had many field accomplishments that we do not know about. He recorded his first ever college football reception and setting a personal high in return yardage with 50 on his first ever punt return. Some of Brown’s off the field accomplishments till this day includes being inducted in as a member of an organization “Men of Excellence”, who firmly stands behind brotherhood and community building. He was also a member of Choir Psi Phi Inc. It is a student based music fraternity located in Richmond, Virginia. In December 20^th, 2013 Brown was invited to participate in the Euro/American Challenge located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina that was hosted by Coach George St. Lawrence and the rest of the CDFL (Collegiate Development Football League) staff.

2nd Annual Euro/American Challenge Game Participant: Dec 20, 2013 off-season parachute training: Brandon Brown film

7pm Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium Myrtle Beach, South Carolina player. Team Europe #84 off-season parachute training continued: Brandon Brown Film

As an athlete, you have your important influences in your life that melds you into the player and person who you are today. For Brandon Brown, his mother, grandmother, brother, wife and son has been an inspiration. As he is the eldest child and grandchild it made him the man of the family. He feels it is his duty to take care of his loved ones through his hard work and sacrifices. His journey is continuously supported by his entire family. At one point in his life, he was tried with something that he still holds dearly to him. It all started when his daughter Monica who was supposed to be born in March 2011 be she was three months premature and she was delivered in January of 2011 instead. Without having fully developed lungs her daughter passed at birth. It is something he had a hard time in recovering. Brown had experienced phases of depression where he didn’t want to do anything but stay home and give up. He now has a memorial tattoo for her daughter that covers his entire chest and this he considers it one of his prized possessions. He now wakes up feeling blessed every day no matter how hard life got. Brown has come a long way in looking in the mirror and looking at his tattoo chest piece, it reminds him daily in where he’s supposed to be for the rest of life and bring motivation to push him to be the best of the best in fulfilling his dream, passion and love for the sport he grew up playing. Brown will make it one day to play professional anywhere he puts his mind into.

A moment in time in his career that made it his most memorable in football was; for him it was recording his very first reception in his college football career. Brown’s reaction was super excited. The first reaction after he did from catching the pass, he got up and gave the referee back the ball and then looked to his teammates to celebrate as a team.

A little interesting fact about Brandon Brown, he grew up being raised by his grandmother and mother. His grandmother had a very old school, old soul music. He grew up listening to many talented musicians such as; the O Jays, Delphonics, 2 tons of fun and many more others. From all that old soul, old school music Brown immediately would listen to Michael Jackson and would sing, dance along to all his songs. He would be sad when people told him he wasn’t pop artist material. Better stick to football Brandon Brown!

Next up for the native from Brooklyn, New York, on the field, as for now, Brown will be attending the NFL Regional Combine on March 29, 2014 at the Baltimore Ravens Under Armour Practice facility. As for off the field plans, he would continue what he loves with football and coach a pee wee football team the Brooklyn Chiefs that is located in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York. He can inspire the next generation of upcoming football players.

___________________________________________SPECIAL SHOUT OUTS

I would like to thank Next Level Combines for providing me with the opportunity to tell my story, and thank my mother Nicole, Grandmother Elizabeth, Brother Denis, and wife Olivia for standing behind me and for being the drive that kept me going when I felt like giving up. My journey has continuously been supported by my entire family.

Film reviewed for 2013 EAC Game for Player Board by Coach George St. Lawrence: "Nice Player"!