Redshirt freshman quarterback Max Brown is entering his second season as a Florida Gator after not appearing in a game during his freshman year.
The Tulsa, Oklahoma native led Lincoln Christian High School to a 13-1 record and 3A state runner-up finish in 2021. Brown earned Oklahoma District 3-3A MVP after tossing for 2,750 yards and 41 passing touchdowns during his senior season.
After sitting in live on the first three days of fall practice, it’s evident that Brown has noticeably improved, even since spring camp. There’s more zip behind his ball and his accuracy seems to have significantly improved.
“Max has made improvement,” Head Coach Billy Napier said on Thursday afternoon. “I think he’s a classic example of a really good athlete and just started playing quarterback a couple of years in high school. And we took the guy for those reasons specifically. The pedigree of an athlete. The guy is a really good baseball player. The guy can run.”
Brown ran for 1,343 yards and 20 rushing touchdowns in his MVP District 3-3A MVP season. The 6-2, 212 pound quarterback also played for the Gators’ baseball team last spring.
“He’s gained like eight or nine pounds and lean muscle too,” Napier said. “ So I think just a repetition of throwing catching. The quarterback blueprint that the use of the summer is pretty rigorous. And I think he’s benefited from that, but there’s no doubt his accuracy is improved. I think he’s cleaned up his footwork, his stroke is much more consistent.”
While Brown seems to be physically ready to play, there’s some mental hurdles he’ll need to climb in order to move up the quarterback depth chart this fall.
“I think there’s some knowledge that contributes to that table in terms of understanding the system, so I think Max has come along pretty nicely,” Napier said. “So still, there’s an information gap there. He’s got to catch up mentally. But his work ethic this summer has impressed the staff and impressed the players.”
Brown has taken notice of transfer QB Graham Mertz’s work ethic in the offseason.
“He’s kind of got right in there and Graham’s hip pocket and he’s worked the way that you would want a quarterback to work,” Napier said.
Fifth year receiver Ricky Pearsall had high praise for Brown’s skillset during spring camp.
“He’s talented, he’s got a talented arm,” Pearsall said during spring caml. “He’s really gifted, you know, he’s got a good touch on the ball, he’s got that zip to it. So he’s gonna be really good.”
Napier didn’t completely rule out Brown’s chances of seeing the field this season like he did last year.
“I think that’s to be determined,” Napier said on whether Brown’s athleticism will allow him to see the field in certain situations. “But there’s no question as a player that’s one of the strengths that he has. He would bring up. There’d be an element to his game and I think contribute to your team if he was playing.”