#10- Bryce Brown/ Tailback/ Redshirt Sophomore/ Kansas State Wildcats
In the winter of 2009, The #1 overall high school football recruit in the U.S, Bryce Brown, from Wichita, Kansas, had his choice of colleges narrowed down to three major football schools. Oregon, Miami,FL, and Tennessee had courted Brown, and the 6'0 220 lbs. tailback chose to attend Tennessee over Miami, who had his older brother Arthur at linebacker at the time and had Bryce held to a non-binding verbal commitment for two years previous.
Head coach Lane Kiffin, then at UT, now at USC, promised the sun, moon, and stars to Brown to get him at UT, but once the star got on campus, the treatment turned into isolation, lies, and cold shoulders. Though Brown got through his first year with the Vols, rushing for 460 yards on 101 attempts with 3 touchdowns, it was inevitable that the tailback would leave Knoxville and find another path to success. Brown became unhappy with Kiffin, as he was in the coaches doghouse, and also seemed very disgruntled being at that far of a distance from his family, and his hometown of Wichita. At the end of the '09 season, Brown left UT over night without anybody but his family knowing that he was leaving the Tennessee campus in Knoxville, for good. Soon after, news came that his brother Arthur, who was also a highly regarded recruit in 2008, was transferring out of Miami to go back home and attend Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas along with his younger brother Bryce.
Arthur redshirted the 2010 season with Bryce at KSU, making the upcoming season Arthur's junior year and Bryce's sophomore year of eligibility. With the familiarity of home, and being with his sibling, I expect major production in 2011 from both Brown's, especially Bryce. Arthur will make a huge impact on the defensive side of the ball, where K-State needs a presence at linebacker, and Bryce will replace new Miami Dolphins running back and former Wildcat, Daniel Thomas. Thomas had a huge breakout last year, becoming one of college football's best running backs, and with legendary head coach Bill Snyder back for his 20th season at KSU (Snyder retired in 2005 and returned in 2009) I expect nothing less than numerous awards and a blast off start at the all-time rushing record of 4,979 yards at KSU held by San Diego Chargers tailback and return man Darren Sproles, who was at KSU from 2001-2004.
To say the least, I expect big things from Bryce Brown and Kansas State in 2011.
Article: Ronald Hill
Photo: courtesy of mbd.scout.com
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