Penn State Football: RB Journey Brown could be a secret weapon for Nittany Lions
Redshirt freshman Journey Brown would be a sneaky option on offense for Penn State football this season.
College football is all about watching new players come out of virtually nowhere to make a big impact for their team. Redshirt freshman running back Journey Brown could be that player for Penn State football this season.
He’s unknown right now, but could quickly make a name for himself.
The depth chart at running back is a bit crowded for Penn State this year. Miles Sanders will take over as the starter, with fifth-year seniors Mark Allen and Johnathan Thomas backing him up. An x-factor in the mix this year will be true freshman, five-star recruit Ricky Slade.
Sanders will eat up most of the carries, but offensive coordinator Ricky Rahne could get creative in an effort to spread the ball around.
Although it will likely be difficult for Brown to get many snaps this year, that doesn’t mean that he won’t be part of the offensive game plan. He has too much speed and big play potential to keep on the bench.
From running out of the backfield, to splitting out wide to run a jet sweep, to catching a pass, Brown could be used in several ways.
While at Meadville High School in PA, Brown was a superstar and put up some of the best numbers of any high school player. In 2016 he led the state with 51 total touchdowns and rushed for 2,791 yards. He was named to the All-State team and was a candidate for Pennsylvania’s Mr. Football.
During a game as a junior in 2015, Brown set a state record for a single game after racking up an amazing 722 yards with 10 total touchdowns. Those single-game numbers are mind-blowing, no matter what the level of competition.
The numbers speak for themselves. Brown is a stat machine who can be a nightmare for opposing defenses to stop.
Aside from starring on the football field, Brown was also a high school track star. He set the state record by running the hundred-yard dash in 10.43 seconds and ran the fastest time in the state in 2016 with a 6.87 sixth-yard dash.
Brown is clearly gifted and blessed with great speed. While he may not be an every-down back, his speed and ability can certainly be useful to an offense.
If Brown doesn’t get much of an opportunity on offense do to the crowd of players in front of him, he could find a home on special teams.
Next: Penn State Football Player Profile: DT Kevin Givens
Regardless of how he’s used, Brown is a unique talent who could turn out to be a very useful weapon for the Nittany Lions this season.
