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Saturday, January 3, 2009
No, we're not talking about Donald Trump, although he's probably cashing in as well. We're talking about UCONN tailback Donald Brown who is fresh off a 261 yard performance in an International Bowl win over the Buffalo Bulls. Brown now concedes that he will be forgoing his senior season in Storrs to pursue opportunities in the NFL.
Brown is a junior and has one more year of eligibility to play college football. When asked prior to the bowl game if he was planning on leaving he said that he would stay, but as time went on reports surfaced that he and head coach Randy Edsall would discuss the matter further at a later time.
At the press conference after the International Bowl, Brown said the following:
"I'm not coming back, I'm going to the NFL. I know I told you guys earlier
that I was coming back but that was too [sic] eliminate the distractions on our
team. We had enough internal distractions going on and they didn't need that one
as a burden as well so I apologize for "lying" for what I did to protect my
team. They mean the world to me, so I'm willing to put my neck on the line for
them."
"To be honest with you, going into the season, I worked my tail off and I
made it a point to myself in the position to have the option to stay or leave.
As time grew closer and I just kept sleeping on it for nights and nights and I
just felt in my heart that was best for me. It was one of the toughest decisions
I ever had to make in my life."With the guy next to me [coach Randy Edsall]
giving me advice along the way and my parents and my high school coach made it a
lot easier for me."
This should not be unexpected at all and the UCONN backfield is left in the talented hands of Jordan Todman (who had a solid performance in the International Bowl as well) and Andre Dixon. The Huskies will also have a new quarterback handing the ball off to the new backfield; a possibility at QB is Notre Dame transfer Zach Frazier.
Brown is the second junior Big East football player who today declared that they would not return to college next year. Earlier today, Rutgers wide receiver Kenny Britt also declared his intention to make a jump to the pros. Currently, nfldraftdog.com has Brown tabbed as a 2nd round value and Britt as a 4th round value for this year's draft. It's disappointing to see these fine talents leave the Big East, but it does show potential Big East recruits that the league is producing top notch talent that can make a smooth foray into the NFL.