CHESAPEAKE (WAVY) – Andrew Brown has proven his worth at every level of football. After an All-American career at Oscar Smith High School, and four solid years as a star defensive end at the University of Virginia, he’s ready to prove he belongs at the next level.
“Me and my dad were sitting on the couch looking at the (NFL) combine like ‘Man, I’m going to be there. I can do that too.
“Now I’m doing it,” said Brown, who will wait to hear his named called at this weekend’s NFL Draft.
At Oscar Smith, Brown was one of the top recruits in America, and was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year.
“I thought that was the pinnacle right there,” said Andrew Brown Jr., Andrew Brown’s father. “I thought you couldn’t get any better than that.”
At 6-foot-4, 285 pounds, Brown wrapped up his UVA career with 10.5 quarterback sacks, and that was after injury-shortened freshman and junior seasons.
The challenge this weekend will be handling the uncertainty. “The nerves are going to be terrible,” said Brown.
“For one, you don’t know where you’re going and then second, you don’t know when you’re going, third it’s just a waiting game.”
Moreso than any opposing lineman, Brown’s biggest obstacle came when he was just 11 years old, when his mother passed away from breast cancer. “I miss her,” said Brown.
“I wish she was here to watch. I wish I could give her that hug that she would definitely give me if she was here.”
Brown has always played with his mother in mind, and number 9 on his jersey. The number represents the date he lost her.
“There’s lot of pride and passion behind it,” said Brown.
He’ll look to bring that passion to the next level.