It’s so amazing to me (as it is to many, I’m sure) that we are talking about the Class of 2010 so prominently at this point, with the national signing day for the Class of 2009 still three months away. I feel like we should be surprised, but we shouldn’t. This is the wave of the future, and Florida coach Urban Meyer has quickly adjusted his philosophy as such.
It is risky to take prospects at this point, however. The stars of today could become the duds of tomorrow, and that’s even well before some of these youngsters even sign on the dotted line.
One prospect that the Florida coaching staff won’t have to worry about falling into that trap is Mack Brown of Litonia (Ga.) King High School who could prove to be one of the top backs in the entire country for 2010. If his production to date is any indication, he will have his pick of colleges before it’s all said and done.
In analyzing the season that Brown has had to date, it’s hard not to notice that he seems to be getting stronger and into a groove as the season wears on. Brown is coming off one of his finest games of the season – a masterful 13-carry, 302-yard performance that resulted in three touchdowns on the night for Brown and a 42-7 victory for the King Lions. Even sweeter was the performance came against his former team, Redan High School of Stone Mountain, Ga. Afterward, Brown noted, “I guess I had something to prove because that’s my former team I played with last year.”
Much like what Tim Tebow had to deal with before the LSU game last fall, Brown found himself besieged by a deluge of phone calls in the days heading up to the game. “They were calling me all week, talking in my ear,” Brown continued. In the end, all those phone calls accomplished was fueling Brown’s fire.
In regards to his recruitment, Brown is sort of taking things easy. He is in no rush to make a decision, although he does plan to take a number of unofficial trips over the next few weeks. He reports that his first trip will be down to Gainesville to see the Gators “I have an unofficial visit next Saturday (for the South Carolina game),” Brown continued. “I have a visit to Alabama coming up, one to Ohio State and one to Georgia.”
Based on what Brown has said, it’s pretty safe to say that those four schools comprise his top group for now. The Oklahoma staff has gotten wind of the talented prospect, and it starting to show some interest now as well. In terms of offers, Brown has been offered by Arkansas, Louisville, Oregon, Duke and North Carolina.
Many have pointed to Brown’s 4.4-second speed in the 40-yard dash as the source of some of what makes him such a coveted prospect. Brown also noted that hours in the weight room are starting to pay dividends as well. Now weighing 190 pounds, 10 more than last spring, Brown admits to benching 285 pounds and squatting 440.
But the bright future can wait. Brown and his teammates are focused on the upcoming playoffs. King is coming off a 12-1 season last year, and despite already having two losses on the season, this Friday night is a big deal. “We’re the No. 2 seed right now, but if we win Friday, we’ll be the No. 1 seed,” Brown added. “We’re getting close to the playoffs, and I ain’t ready to go home yet.”