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Seems like staff wants Joe Brown for OL.

Paramount (Calif.) High School lineman Joe Brown never expected to be in this position as a late Hurricane signee.

Heck, at one point he wasn't even sure he'd graduate high school.

It took an intervention during his sophomore year to get him focused on achieving his dream of playing college football. Back then he was sleeping through class and not doing homework. Then one day he was called into a meeting with the school principal and guidance counselors.

"You don't want to be like your brother (former highly recruited OT Maataua Brown)," they told Joe. "He's not going to make it (academically)."

That got Joe's attention. He says "it was a wakeup call," and Brown started listening in class and doing homework instead of hanging out with friends. Now his transcripts the last two years combined with a January SAT score of 810 make him academically qualified.

"I didn't think I'd be in this position," Brown said. "My first two years of high school I thought if I was a great player on the field I'd just be able to go to college, they'll see what a great athlete I am, can teach me what I need to know.

"In that meeting they said just buckle in, start doing your work. It's been a long, hard way to go. But signing with Miami, it's a great relief. I'm the first in my family to graduate."

Brown signed on Sunday - he committed to coach Al Golden at the end of a visit to campus on Saturday. UM and UTEP were the only schools that showed interest after Brown's high school coach, Matt Howard, sent out his highlights and transcripts to programs across the nation early last week.

"On Wednesday coach Howard told me during school that UTEP had offered me, and as I was going home coach Howard said `Miami wants to know if you can fly out tomorrow,'" Brown said. "I was like `That's cool!' My family was all for it."

Brown says he was sold on the visit.

"Miami, they're different from other schools," he said. "In Miami you're not just a student, just a player. You're part of a family. And I figured this could be a cool school to go to. Because me, I'm all about family. And the facilities are all nice, the weather is good, and the surroundings - it looks like an island."

Brown landed an offer from Golden on Saturday and took it on the spot.

"He was like, `Can you see yourself coming here?' and (after Brown committed) he said `Welcome to Miami, to the U,'" Brown said. "I knew at that point where I was supposed to be as far as the next level."

Brown says he prefers to play defense but is fine playing offensive line, which is where UM plans to use him. He says he expects to start out as an offensive guard.

"I know coach (Art) Kehoe wants him to play O-line - they're leaning toward offensive line," Howard said of the 6-foot-4, 336-pounder. "The guys that had recruited him out here - Washington, Colorado, Utah, Utah State - they all said `We think he's an offensive lineman.' The body type, they think offensive line. And Joe will play whatever. This is a great opportunity for him."

Brown says he'll arrive in June and that "I'm getting ready, working out. And I got a tip from Sunny (Odogwu). He said to join yoga because it helps, and that's what I'm going to do."

Brown's only experience on offense in high school was playing offensive tackle in goal line situations. He also did some O-line footwork drills that Howard videotaped on his iPad and sent to coaches.

"They liked what they saw," Howard said, adding that "Personally I think he would really, really succeed on the offensive side of the ball once he gets over there. He'll be a natural at it."

Brown is a two-time defensive player of the year in the San Gabriel Valley League, and he had 61 tackles, nine for losses, with six sacks and four forced fumbles last season.

"I think his potential is just tremendous," Howard said. "His brother was a heck of a player for us and didn't make it academically, committed to Washington. With Joe, he has great football instincts. You see on screen passes, he senses it out. And he has real good feet for being over 330 pounds. He's just an athletic big guy, is a pretty good basketball player, is that kind of athlete."

Brown's goals for his first year as a Cane?

"To me I have no doubts I'll play as a freshman, but I also don't have that much pride, so I'll just say I'll go and work my hardest and whatever happens, happens," he said. "For now I'm really just working on keeping my grades up to make sure I can get there in June."
 
850Cane said:
Seems like staff wants Joe Brown for OL.

Paramount (Calif.) High School lineman Joe Brown never expected to be in this position as a late Hurricane signee.

Heck, at one point he wasn't even sure he'd graduate high school.

It took an intervention during his sophomore year to get him focused on achieving his dream of playing college football. Back then he was sleeping through class and not doing homework. Then one day he was called into a meeting with the school principal and guidance counselors.

"You don't want to be like your brother (former highly recruited OT Maataua Brown)," they told Joe. "He's not going to make it (academically)."

That got Joe's attention. He says "it was a wakeup call," and Brown started listening in class and doing homework instead of hanging out with friends. Now his transcripts the last two years combined with a January SAT score of 810 make him academically qualified.

"I didn't think I'd be in this position," Brown said. "My first two years of high school I thought if I was a great player on the field I'd just be able to go to college, they'll see what a great athlete I am, can teach me what I need to know.

"In that meeting they said just buckle in, start doing your work. It's been a long, hard way to go. But signing with Miami, it's a great relief. I'm the first in my family to graduate."

Brown signed on Sunday - he committed to coach Al Golden at the end of a visit to campus on Saturday. UM and UTEP were the only schools that showed interest after Brown's high school coach, Matt Howard, sent out his highlights and transcripts to programs across the nation early last week.

"On Wednesday coach Howard told me during school that UTEP had offered me, and as I was going home coach Howard said `Miami wants to know if you can fly out tomorrow,'" Brown said. "I was like `That's cool!' My family was all for it."

Brown says he was sold on the visit.

"Miami, they're different from other schools," he said. "In Miami you're not just a student, just a player. You're part of a family. And I figured this could be a cool school to go to. Because me, I'm all about family. And the facilities are all nice, the weather is good, and the surroundings - it looks like an island."

Brown landed an offer from Golden on Saturday and took it on the spot.

"He was like, `Can you see yourself coming here?' and (after Brown committed) he said `Welcome to Miami, to the U,'" Brown said. "I knew at that point where I was supposed to be as far as the next level."

Brown says he prefers to play defense but is fine playing offensive line, which is where UM plans to use him. He says he expects to start out as an offensive guard.

"I know coach (Art) Kehoe wants him to play O-line - they're leaning toward offensive line," Howard said of the 6-foot-4, 336-pounder. "The guys that had recruited him out here - Washington, Colorado, Utah, Utah State - they all said `We think he's an offensive lineman.' The body type, they think offensive line. And Joe will play whatever. This is a great opportunity for him."

Brown says he'll arrive in June and that "I'm getting ready, working out. And I got a tip from Sunny (Odogwu). He said to join yoga because it helps, and that's what I'm going to do."

Brown's only experience on offense in high school was playing offensive tackle in goal line situations. He also did some O-line footwork drills that Howard videotaped on his iPad and sent to coaches.

"They liked what they saw," Howard said, adding that "Personally I think he would really, really succeed on the offensive side of the ball once he gets over there. He'll be a natural at it."

Brown is a two-time defensive player of the year in the San Gabriel Valley League, and he had 61 tackles, nine for losses, with six sacks and four forced fumbles last season.

"I think his potential is just tremendous," Howard said. "His brother was a heck of a player for us and didn't make it academically, committed to Washington. With Joe, he has great football instincts. You see on screen passes, he senses it out. And he has real good feet for being over 330 pounds. He's just an athletic big guy, is a pretty good basketball player, is that kind of athlete."

Brown's goals for his first year as a Cane?

"To me I have no doubts I'll play as a freshman, but I also don't have that much pride, so I'll just say I'll go and work my hardest and whatever happens, happens," he said. "For now I'm really just working on keeping my grades up to make sure I can get there in June."
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OG seems like a good position for him. I think he is a good late pickup for the OL. Develop him and get him in the weight room for two your and reevaluate him in his redshirt-Sophomore year.
 
I suppose this is the type of pickup we can get excited about. I dont sound excited bc Im really not. But historically taking a mean SOB from the DL that isnt quick enough to play DT anymore, and moving him to the OL (interior most likely) can be a great move for all involved!
 
Best of luck to the young man! Always encouraging to see them have an opportunity to better their lives. He is the first person in his family to graduate high school! I hope he brings the same drive and determination to the football field.

Go 'Canes!
 
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Is #61 still available? Say hello to Figs 2.0...

And that's because we don't have the coaches to turn a monster like Seantrel into a monster on the field, so how will Odogwu and this kid develop into monsters?

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