Future Watch: DeAndre Brown, Southern Miss

By BRIAN VORNBERG

Once in a great while a fresh face arrives on the college football scene and you get that gut feeling that this player is something special. One of those players that makes the college game seem like child’s play…a player destined for great things. It appears, my friends, as though true freshman wide receiver DeAndre Brown is one of these players.

Brown, a 6'6" 220-pound giant with big time athleticism, has been on the scene for very little time thus far. He hails from the tiny town of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, right on the Gulf Coast about two miles east of Biloxi. With its population of just over 17,000, Ocean Springs is not a high school football hotbed by any means. Nevertheless, Brown managed to rack up 700 yards receiving during his senior year of high school, but even more incredibly, totaled over 1,000 yards on the ground as a running back!

Though virtually unknown to many in the natural world, in the world of college football recruiting, Brown was a man amongst boys. His eye-popping catch in the back of the end zone during the 2008 Army All-American game only helped prolong people’s glances and make them wonder who this kid from Mississippi really was. The college football scouts already knew. Brown held a slew of offers from historic programs such as Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, and Miami. He also had offers from major players in the new age of college football like Texas Tech. Rather than doing the obvious and choosing to attend one of these prestigious universities Brown held the wild card. He chose to stay close to home and attend the University of Southern Mississippi, right in his own backyard. It may have surprised most, but anyone who has ever spoken with DeAndre or knows him probably knew all along that he would make the choice that he did.

Meeting DeAndre Brown in person would only solidify one’s belief that he is not only a special player, but a down-to-earth, good guy as well.

Being in Conference USA rather than the SEC hasn’t slowed Brown down or kept him from making noise in his true freshman year. He’s started from day one for the Golden Eagles and, although the team is struggling to find its rhythm, he certainly isn’t. Brown has been one of the most impressive receivers in the NCAA this year and already has a 200-yard receiving game to his credit. He has tallied 46 receptions for 747 yards and is tied for sixth in the nation with nine touchdown receptions. Remember, he’s only a freshman. This could get scary, folks. If you’re ever lucky enough to get the opportunity to see Brown play in person, please do. You won’t regret it.

See you on Sundays, DeAndre....

Photo Credit: King Photography