BY TRISTAN SASSE<\/p>\n
PHOTO COURTESY OF FHSU ATHLETICS<\/p>\n
Straight out of the Bay Area in San Ramon, California, senior kicker on the Fort Hays State University football team, Brandon Brown<\/a>, has his eyes beyond collegiate football. Brown will graduate next December from FHSU with his Bachelor\u2019s degree in Information Networking and Telecommunications while continuing to focus on his ultimate goal, the NFL.<\/p>\n Before Brown decided football was the best fit for him, he focused on soccer. He started playing at a young age, and it was only during his senior year of high school that he was the kicker for a football team.<\/p>\n \u201cGrowing up, the only football I focused on was supporting my little brother’s games in high school,\u201d said Brown.<\/p>\n Soon after, those around Brown realized his potential in other sports, especially football.<\/p>\n \u201cAn old soccer friend approached me at the end of my soccer season and told me how successful he was because of his strong leg,\u201d said Brown. \u201cHe told me my leg was even stronger and really pushed me to just go try out for football.\u201d<\/p>\n Even though Brown played football during his senior year of high school, the sport did not become his main focus until attending Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, California. According to the DVC Vikings<\/a>, Brown would even attempt difficult field goals after practice with his superb athletic ability.<\/p>\n After two years at Diablo Valley College, Brown had many options as a kicker\u00a0and decided to look elsewhere. It was difficult for Brown to leave his stomping grounds though.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Bay taught me to strive for success every day. Not only in football but in every aspect of life,\u201d said Brown. \u201cThe vibe in the Bay cannot be compared to anywhere else I have been. Everyone is family out there and everyone wants to help you succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n A few factors helped Brown finally decide where he wanted to continue his playing career though. While Brown loves the Bay Area, he soon noticed that he would be fine with a temporary home elsewhere.<\/p>\n \u201cThere were a few schools scouting me while at DVC. I had a starting kickoff position offered at Cal Berkeley, but because it was offered so late in the summer before the season, I ended up not going,\u201d said Brown.<\/p>\n Once FHSU gave Brown an offer, he knew it was the best fit for him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat made me come to Hays was the coaching staff and the friends I made on my recruiting visit. The seriousness of everyone’s attitude towards the game made it an easy decision,\u201d said Brown.<\/p>\n In two seasons with the Tigers, it was apparent that Brown made the right choice by heading to Kansas. During his first year at Fort Hays, Brown made 16 field goals to set the single-season record at FHSU.<\/p>\n Fort Hays State University Head Football Coach Chris Brown noticed the impact Brandon had as a player.<\/p>\n \u201cWe watched film and saw the strength in his leg, and that was the kind of kicker we wanted on the football team,\u201d said Coach Brown. \u201cHe is a tremendous kicker with an incredible work ethic and a true competitor that wants to win.\u201d<\/p>\n He also set the record for points by a kicker in a season at Fort Hays, with 88. Additionally, Brown handled duties as a punter\u00a0and booted one 78 yards, good enough for the second longest punt in school history. At the end of the season, Brown was selected to the All-MIAA Third Team as a kicker.<\/p>\n Honors continued to be in Brown\u2019s favor during his final year of college. He led the Tigers in points with 94 total to break his single-season scoring record from the 2016 season. Brown showcased the strength in his leg by making a career-long 54-yard field goal and kicking 36 touchbacks on 75 attempts.<\/p>\n During his senior year, the Tigers finished with their best record in school history at 11-1<\/a>\u00a0and won the 2017 MIAA Championship. Four of their wins were decided by seven points or less, where kicking proved to be crucial.<\/p>\n