Brown, who is entering his fourth year with SFU but holds redshirt sophomore eligibility due to the lost 2019-20 pandemic season, finished with 14 receptions last season for the 5-6 Red Flash .. good for fifth on the team and tops among tight ends.

“I was the starting TE last season”, Brown says, “but at points in the season didn’t have much of a role in the passing game, which is fine because I’m a good run blocker as well.”

As a two-time NTL Player of the Year for Wellsboro, Brown was an all-around threat, but it was his defensive prowess that really gave opposing offensive coordinators fits. 

Does the former PA Football Writers’ All-State defensive lineman miss his time on the other side of the ball?

“Coming into college as a freshman, at times I would miss playing defense”, Brown explains, “but as I have played more TE these past couple years I think it’s more fun to be a playmaker .. and score touchdowns.”

Last season, Brown was able to experience a bit of SFU history, as he and the Red Flash played against an FBS opponent for the first time ever when they traveled to take on Eastern Michigan.

Despite a 35-15 loss, Brown was thrilled with the opportunity .. and caught a two-point conversion on SFU’s final score in front of 16,000-plus fans.

“It was an awesome experience”, Brown says. “The atmosphere is amazing and it allows you to be like .. hey, these guys are FBS level players, but we can play with them!”

Brown and company will take on another FBS school this season, as they open their schedule with a trip to Akron to take on the Zips on September 1st.

“This year opening with Akron will be just as awesome”, Brown says. “It’s a Thursday night game too, so the atmosphere will be thrilling, and there’s really nothing else a ball player could ask for.”

Brown will now have a fellow-NTL alum playing alongside of him in Loretto, as Troy’s Mason Imbt has joined the Red Flash as an offensive lineman.

“It’s cool having another NTL guy around”, Brown says. “I’ve talked to Mason and we joke about it .. not many people knowing where we’re from, up North.” 

“Having two guys from the area playing here .. D-1 .. it allows other kids from the NTL to know, if you want to play high level football, it can be done”, Brown continues, “It takes a lot of hard work and dedication, and you may have to sacrifice some other things in your life, but if you work hard enough it’s just like anything else in life .. you can accomplish it. And it’s definitely worth it.”

Brown and the Red Flash will spend their first four weeks on the road. After their trip to Akron, they’ll travel to Virginia to take on Richmond on September 10th, to Staten Island, NY on September 17th to play Wagner and back to Virginia to play Norfolk State on September 24th.

SFU’s home-opener will be on October 1st when they’ll host Central Connecticut.

To see SFU’s full schedule, find ticket information and follow the Red Flash, visit sfuathletics.com