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Oct. 20, 2003
University of Virginia junior offensive guard Elton Brown is a big man. He is big not only in size, but more importantly, in attitude and presence. Listed at 6-6, 333-lb., he cuts an imposing figure that would make any defender think twice about getting through him to reach the ball. It might surprise one, then, that Brown didn’t start playing football until he was in ninth grade. It might be even more surprising to learn that he quit after the first two days because “they hit too hard.”
“I was a baseball player,” recalled Brown of his early athletic endeavors. “I was scared to play football. But my cousin [UVa basketball player Elton Brown] said I should give it a try, so in ninth grade I came out for the JV team.”
Brown’s first stint as a football player lasted two days. The next day he stayed home and when his mother asked him why he wasn’t at practice, he told her that “they hit too hard.”
His mother’s reply was simple: “You better get back there and hit harder or I’ll hit you!” Needless to say, Brown quickly made his way back to the gridiron that day.
By the following year, Brown was a two-way starter for Heritage High School, playing on both the offensive and defensive lines at tackle. That season the Hurricanes traveled to Hampton High School to face the Crabbers, who featured future UVa teammates Almondo Curry and Marques Hagans. Hampton was one of the top-ranked high school football teams in the nation at the time and was riding a 40-game winning streak. Undaunted, Brown and the rest of the Hurricanes took the Crabbers to five overtimes before ending the streak with a victory. “It was a great feeling,” said Brown.
Two years later, Brown transferred to Hampton where he helped the Crabbers to a 10-2 record and a second-place finish in the Class 3A, Eastern Region, Peninsula District in 2000. Along the way, he earned All-District, All-Region, and All-Daily Press honors and was rated the No. 17 defensive lineman in the nation by ESPN.com.
As Brown began to consider scholarship offers from colleges, proximity to home was important to him so his mother would be able to come and see him play. “Virginia was the closest big-time school to my mother, and I was very impressed with the school. I loved its accolades and I had the chance to be with a number of my friends,” said Brown.
As a true freshman in 2001, Brown moved into the Cavaliers’ starting lineup against Wake Forest in the ninth game of the season and remained there the rest of the way. Following Brown’s insertion into the starting lineup, the Cavaliers averaged more yards rushing and passing per game and averaged more points per game than before. In just the second start of his career, Brown contributed to UVa’s come-from-behind upset against then-#20 Georgia Tech.
Trailing 38-33, UVa faced second-and-four from its own 49 on its next-to-last possession of the game. On the ensuing play, wide receiver Billy McMullen caught a 10-yard pass from quarterback Bryson Spinner in triple coverage and quickly lateraled to tailback Alvin Pearman, who raced 27 yards to the end zone. “It was great being in the huddle just before the play knowing what was coming and then seeing it work-and win us the game,” recalled Brown.
As a second year in 2002, Brown started all 12 games in which he played and turned in a tremendous season, earning honorable mention All-ACC honors. In the third week of the season, the Cavaliers returned home to face #22 South Carolina looking to avoid an 0-3 start. Brown turned in the best effort of his career to that point, recording 10 knockdown blocks, allowing no sacks, and grading out at 90 percent as Virginia upset the Gamecocks 34-21. The next week he was graded above 90 percent again as Virginia evened its record with a 48-29 win over Akron.
Three weeks later Brown and the Cavaliers faced a deficit at home against Clemson, going into the fourth quarter trailing 10-6. With the ‘Hoos driving, Brown threw a key block that allowed McMullen to reach the end zone, putting the Cavaliers ahead for good.
In UVa’s next game, against North Carolina, Brown once again graded out over 90 percent as the Cavaliers stormed from behind to defeat the Tar Heels 37-27 and notched their sixth consecutive win.
On November 23rd the #18 Maryland Terrapins came to town with second place in the ACC on the line. The game was a testament to the turnaround that head coach Al Groh had worked with the Cavaliers, as Virginia was picked to finish seventh in the ACC in the preseason.
Maryland bolted out to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, but after that it was all Virginia. The Cavaliers outscored the Terps 20-0 in the second quarter en route to a 48-13 upset, clinching a tie for second place in the conference. Brown had a career-high 17 knockdown blocks and did not allow a sack or pressure, grading out at a career-high 95 percent.
In the third quarter of that game, with Virginia facing third-and-21, Brown threw two key blocks to help spring Wali Lundy into the end zone on a 24-yard touchdown pass play. Lundy finished with three touchdowns on the day and was named ACC Rookie of the Week.
“His attitude that ‘no one is going to get through me’ is what other offensive linemen look up to,” said Lundy of his teammate. “He is a very physical player and he adds character to the team. He plays big in all aspects of the word.”
That Brown makes key plays at crucial times is no surprise to 2002 ACC Player of the Year and Virginia quarterback Matt Schaub. “He brings an air of confidence to the team” said Schaub of his teammate. “He finishes every play, and his presence adds a lot to his team. His attitude is contagious and is a big factor for us.”
“I’m serious about playing,” said Brown. “It’s a fun game, but a serious business. My personality is such that I can have a fun time playing, but I work hard and have a mean attitude out on the field.”
Named a third-team preseason All-American and the sixth-best guard in the nation in 2003 by Phil Steele’s College Football Preview, Brown possesses outstanding speed for a man his size. An anthropology major, Brown nonetheless shows great understanding of physics when he says “My 300 pounds moving against their 200 pounds is simple science.” There’s no question the force he generates when blocking is a punishing one.
Thus, it seems that mother does know best. Brown has learned to hit harder, something his mother sees at every game as she makes the trip from Hampton. Brown is no longer scared but rather exudes an attitude from which his teammates feed, helping the Cavaliers as they continue their drive toward gridiron greatness.