The 6-foot-2, 181-pound receiver bumped into Notre Dame assistant Mike Elston. Brown couldn’t even shake Elston’s hand, one of the few things allowed by the NCAA during the May evaluation period, because he hadn’t washed his hands yet.
Brown ended up with much more than a handshake, though. Elston met with Hanahan coach Charlie Patterson and afterward, Patterson informed Brown that Notre Dame was extending a scholarship offer.
“It surprised me, I didn’t see it coming,” said Brown. “I respect them as a very prestigious school. They caught me by surprise of course, but I like them. I like them a lot.
“I like the pro-style offense, I like the tradition. It’s just an overall good school.”
There’s no questioning the athleticism of Brown, who broke the state’s longest-standing state track record earlier this month. He broke the 31-year triple-jump state mark when he covered 51 feet, 2.5 inches at the Class AA state meet. Brown, who said he’s run a 4.33, caught 52 passes for 1,105 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior.
“They’re telling me they like my ability after the catch, instincts after the catch and me as a downfield threat,” he said. “I like to sneak behind the safeties.”
Brown’s offer list currently includes Arkansas, Cincinnati, Central Florida, East Carolina, Illinois, Kentucky, Marshall, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, and Notre Dame. The Irish are trying to get Brown on campus and there’s a chance that could happen this summer. Some of Brown’s coaches are from Michigan and he might drive up with them before taking a flight back to South Carolina, but he isn’t sure yet.
He’s yet to visit any schools, but expects to fit plenty of visits around a rigorous summer weightlifting schedule. Those summer trips will play a big role in his decision.
“When I make my visits, I’ve got to feel comfortable,” he said. “I know coaching staffs change, but I’d like to get comfortable with the coaching staff. I have to be comfortable away from home and feel it could be my home away from home. They have to good academics and a good graduation rate too.
“After the summer, I might try to cut it down to five. Then I’ll make sure I focus on my schoolwork and get stronger and faster.”
Brown plans on taking official visits, but doesn’t know when he’ll make a decision and claims no leaders at this point.
“I think of a lot of schools in my head, but I haven’t really sat down and thought about it,” he said.
