Here's an article on our frosh WR/KR Vincent Brown; hopefully he only has to return one kick-off on Saturday
FOOTBALL: Kick returner sparks Aztecs
David Biderman, Sports Editor
Issue date: 9/18/07 Section: Sports
Media Credit: Glenn Connelly / Photo Editor
Freshman Vincent Brown has taken off for SDSU as a returner, despite being recruited as a wide receiver.
Inexperience on the San Diego State football team secondary has been the dark cloud raining over the beginning of the 2007 season, resulting in two dreary losses.
Head coach Chuck Long knows his safeties and cornerbacks are trying to learn on the job, but he wishes they'd received their on-field lessons in games SDSU didn't lose by an average of 24.5 points.
While the last line of the defense can't stand the heat of its trial-by-fire, freshman kick returner and wide receiver Vincent Brown is fending off the flames with ease.
In his first-ever collegiate game against Washington State, Brown returned six kicks for 146 yards and followed that with four returns for 109 yards Saturday against Arizona State.
"We felt all along (that) he could play and produce for us this year, from day one of training camp," Long said. "(Brown's) a very mature young man. We thought he did well (and) we feel like we've upgraded our return units and he's part of that upgrade."
Not bad for a guy who initially signed with the Aztecs in large part because of his receiving pedigree.
Brown was the first SDSU oral commitment in 2007 and he was rated the No. 18 receiver prospect in California by
www.scout.com.
He was Rancho Cucamonga High School's most valuable offensive player in his senior year, racking up 42 catches for 530 yards and six touchdowns, but Long saw more value in his return game than anywhere else.
"Pretty much right away they just started kicking to me and told me to see what I could do," Brown said. "You have to be ready to go whenever or wherever the coaches tell you."
Even if it means stepping out of the limelight. The wide receiver position is often coveted by younger offensive players because of its appeal to fans and its pension to draw flashy plays, but Brown is taking his position-change with a grain of salt.
He did have two receptions on Saturday, but his role-to-date primarily has been special teams. And he's okay with that.
"I'm just trying to play any part of the game I can," Brown said. "I'm doing whatever I can and I think I've had a couple of good returns where I feel like I've given the team good position.
"That's my part of the team right now so I'm doing it and trying to make the coaches happy."
At this point, it would appear he's doing just that. The Aztec coaches might be disappointed with SDSU's slow start, but they've taken notice of Brown's crafty play.
« Last Edit: Today at 6:59am by AztecBruce » Link to Post - Back to Top Logged