When Lakeland’s John Brown signed his scholarship back in February of 2007, he was one of the most highly anticipated interior defensive recruits in university of Florida history. After an academic battle that set him back and caused a 2007 redshirt season, Brown is ready to earn a place in the defensive line rotation this year.
After a season of playing on the scout team while he solidified his academic standing, Brown is ready to get on the field in a game situation. At Florida’s media day last week, Brown talked about how happy he is to be back on the field with a chance to be a contributor.
“Things are going pretty good,” Brown said. “I had a good off-season. I’m getting pretty strong and pretty lean. Right now, practice is a lot of hard work. I’ve got to get back into it. I’ve got to get back into the whole running thing and get your body used to it and the hurting. Overall, everything is going alright.”
The 6-1, 295-pound mountain of a young man spent a portion of his Friday morning overlooking ‘The Swamp” from a room in the Touchdown Terrace. His right wrist was bandaged up and the soreness prohibited him shaking hands.
“I sprained my wrist and it’s all bruised up and swollen,” he said. “I’ll get a cast on it. Get a little boot on top of it and go, you know. It beats The Pit. Last year, I was in The Pit too long. I don’t think that I want to go through that anytime soon.”
What do you say to those Florida fans who are asking where’s Big John?
“He’ll be there soon,” Brown said flashing a grin. “I’ll tell you that much.”
Breaking into the Gators’ rotation won’t be as easy as one year ago. The numbers have increased and so has the level of experience and talent. And Florida defensive line coach Dan McCarney is making every one of his charges fight for a spot in the rotation. Brown wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Right now, the whole d-line is battling,” Brown said while nodding his head. “There is really no positions on the field that aren’t open. Jermaine (Cunningham) is hurt right now. We have no starting defensive linemen. Everybody is just battling. It’s like a big battle on the defensive line, so everybody is going at it everyday.”
And what about the academic hurdles that have troubled him?
“I’m comfortable,” he said. “That first year, I had to break into it and now I’m just working through it. I’m feeling pretty good right now with academics, pretty much. I’m pretty good.”
Brown is expected to see significant action in the rotation this year. He said that he has trained a little bit at the three spot too.
No matter where he plays on the defensive line, his family will love seeing him hit the field this fall. Brown says his family thoroughly enjoys seeing so many of their Polk County neighbors each and every weekend in Gainesville.
“They just love it,” he said without hesitation. “It’s just like (Lakeland) Dreadnaught football in a whole different stadium.”