Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1472993
7 2 A U G U S T 2 0 2 2 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M DEFENSIVE BACKS and look forward to him having a big year this year." Penn State is seeking a new starter be- side Brown now that Jaquan Brisker, an- other former Lackawanna standout, is off to the NFL as a second-round pick by the Chicago Bears. Brown is mentoring his younger teammates, a group that is hardly light on talent. It includes junior Keaton Ellis, sophomore Jaylen Reed and redshirt freshman Zakee Wheatley. Wheatley is transitioning from cornerback, where he practiced last year, and he's been joined by three other newcomers to the safeties room: freshmen KJ Winston, Christian Driver and Mehki Flowers. Brown says his job is to make sure who- ever ends up on the first team with him is ready to go by the opening kickoff at Purdue on Sept. 1. "This year, we've got a couple of guys that can really play," Brown said. "I can't even tell you who's going to be in this [starting] spot, because this is an ex- tremely competitive environment, and anything can happen. "Obviously, these guys put in the film hours, the on-the-field hours. They're working, they want to be in the best shape possible come the season. It's one of the most competitive groups I have been around as far as work ethic and focus on the game." The player who wins the job, whoever it may be, can rest assured that Brown will be there for him every step of the way. Brown learned from Brisker the im- portance of leadership and camaraderie, and now he hopes to emulate his former teammate's senior season to propel both the Penn State defense and his own NFL Draft stock. Don't expect him to do so in a flashy way, though. Brown prefers to let his play do the talking, and it's worked out quite well so far. "My play speaks for itself," Brown said. "If you have a conversation with me or I do an interview, my personality speaks for itself. … It's what you see on an everyday basis. Whether you're watching film of me, whether you're having a conversation with me, or you're just around me, that's who I am. I feel like my personality and my work ethic are the most consistent things about me." ■ After starring at Trenton (N.J.) Catholic High, Brown went on to become a first-team junior college All-American at Lackawanna College in Scranton, Pa. The Falcons went 21-1 during his two seasons there before he transferred to Penn State. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL "I started off having to work my way up, and that's how I always grew. When I went to Lackawa- nna, I had to work my way up to the top, and that's what made me the guy I am today." B R O W N