Class 2012: Dynamic Derek Brown to be an offensive force at next level

Today, CFC shines the spotlight on class 2012 star wide receiver from the Citadel Phoenix, Derek Brown. Derek has been playing football since he was eight years old.

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Class 2012: Dynamic Derek Brown to be an offensive force at next level

Today, CFC shines the spotlight on class 2012 star wide receiver from the Citadel Phoenix, Derek Brown. Derek has been playing football since he was eight years old.


Derek Brown

Positions:
Wide Receiver, Quarterback

Height/Weight:
5’10, 155 lbs

Teams:
Citadel Phoenix (high school: NSSAFFL)
Halifax Hornets (varsity: NSVFL)
Nova Scotia Schooners (provincial)
Halifax Seahawks (junior varsity: NSVFL)
Halifax Chargers (bantam)
Halifax Argos (peewee)
Team Nova Scotia under-17

Commitment:
None

Consideration:
Open

Class:
2012

In his storied football career, Derek has displayed why he is among the elite players in Nova Scotia. First with the Halifax Argos and then the Halifax Chargers, the star wide receiver won back to back Iron Man awards.

While he mainly plays wide receiver, this past season marked a different chapter in Derek’s playing career. Entering his senior year with his high school team, the Citadel Phoenix of the Nova Scotia Student Athletic Federation Football League (NSSAFFL), Derek was to play a position that he was unaccustomed to on the field.

“We asked him to make the ultimate sacrifice for our team this year: to play a position other than the one best suited for him,” explains Phoenix co-head coach and defensive coordinator Jeff Lawley. “Derek was asked to play quarterback for us and did so without any hesitation.”

Throughout the NSSAFFL season, Derek displayed chemistry on the field with wide receiver A’dre Fraser. They were known as the offensive, yet dynamic duo that created magic anytime they were on the field. Both played an integral role in the Phoenix offensive game plan.

“It’s no secret, we have two weapons on offense: Derek Brown and A’dre Fraser,” said Lawley back in November, when the Phoenix was preparing to face the Spartans in the NSSAFFL Tier 1 semi-final game. “Our success or failure rides on their shoulders and they know it.”

By the end of the 2011 season, Derek pivoted the team to their fourth straight NSSAFFLTier 1 championship title. The Phoenix and league recognized Derek’s successful campaign this season as he was named co-team offensive MVP, NSSAFFL Nova Division co-league offensive MVP, and NSSAFFL Nova Division first all-star team selection at the quarterback position.

While experiencing many golden moments of his football career, the graduating wide receiver says a special moment came while representing Team Nova Scotia at the Football Canada Cup in 2010.

“My most memorable football moment is catching the game winner in the first game of the Football Canada Cup versus Alberta,” says the standout, who played for the Halifax Seahawks and Halifax Hornets of the Nova Scotia Varsity Football League (NSVFL).

While NFL receivers Devin Hester (Chicago Bears) and Santonio Holmes (New York Jets) are players Derek tries to emulate on the field, there is no question who the strongest influences are in his life.

“In life, it would be my parents because they raised me to be who I am,” comments the wide receiver, who likes to play catch in his spare time away from the field.

Even though Derek is unsure of what he would like to study at the post-secondary level, football is definitely part of his plans. Depending on what the future holds for the graduating Phoenix star, he will take the things he’s learned from the game in order to reach his goals.

“I’ve learned to work hard from football, it has taught me discipline and really everything,” adds Derek.

As for Derek’s talents on the field, he is gifted and the real deal.

“Derek is a highly skilled athlete,” explains the Phoenix co-head coach. “Derek is a truly phenomenal receiver as he possesses great hands but even better vision to know how to get open and make defenders miss in the open field and get valuable yards after the catch.”

Furthermore, the Phoenix offensive dynamo is an effective leader, who is respected by his peers and coaches.

“It is also worthy of note that he provides excellent leadership off the field as he was the recipient of the Citadel Football Mentorship Award as voted by his teammates,” adds Lawley, who just completed his 22nd season as co-head coach alongside Mike Tanner. “Derek had a terrific season at quarterback and led our team to an undefeated season.”

“He is a great leader as all of his teammates and coaches looked to him to provide a spark when needed.”

While it was a successful transition into the quarterback position for the Phoenix this past season, the Phoenix co-head coach says that Derek will excel at the university level in the previous position he’s been accustomed to playing for years.

“As good as his season was as a quarterback, he will be better suited as a receiver at the next level,” comments Lawley.


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