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The catch? Brown awed by recruiting attention
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Reading college football prospects is far more challenging than tea leaves or tarot cards.
That being said, a pattern seems to be developing with Marlon Brown, a pattern that Tennessee coaches can't help but be encouraged by.
For instance, the 6-foot-5 205-pound receiver from Harding Academy in Memphis has only taken one trip to inspect one of the many colleges that have offered him a scholarship. That trip was to Knoxville late last month. No other trips are scheduled.
After meeting with UT's coaches and seeing its campus, Brown even goes so far as to say he could see himself playing for the Vols.
But just when it seems like the clouds in the crystal ball are parting, Brown is quick to point out that UT isn't leading for his services. No one is.
"Right now, I'm just wide open," said Brown, who many believe is the top prospect in the state.
And just when it seems like Brown might be a candidate for an early, in-state commitment, he says he might not even have his decision by National Signing Day 2009 in February.
"I'm going to try and make it by Signing Day," Brown said, "but I don't think that will happen."
Talk to Brown a bit longer and you realize just why he has no plan for his college recruitment. See, Brown is still a bit shocked to be such a sought-after prospect, calling all the attention "crazy" and his stature as a highly-touted prospect a "big surprise".
Brown isn't even sure how many scholarship offers he's received.
"A lot," he said. "I don't even have a number."
Most think it's at least 15. Probably more. Maybe many more.
Ole Miss was the first to extend an official invitation. Alabama, Miami, Notre Dame and just about anybody else you can think of quickly followed suit.
What school wouldn't be interested in Brown? When asked to compare himself to another receiver, Brown offers up one of the most dominant pass catchers in recent college football history.
"Maybe, Calvin Johnson," Brown said referring to the former Georgia Tech star who just completed his rookie year with the NFL's Detroit Lions.
Like Johnson, Brown excels after the catch when he can use his frame and athleticism against smaller, and often slower, defensive backs.
"It's fun scoring touchdowns," Brown said.
Dave Hooker covers recruiting. He may be reached at hookerd@knews.com.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by BallantyneVol on March 16, 2008 at 12:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Marlon, we'd love to see you in orange. But make the best decision for you.
Posted by nicksjuzunk on March 16, 2008 at 6:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope he doesn't turn into a Terrelle Pryor and milk it.
Sounds like a beastly player. Hope he comes here.
Posted by camoman270 on March 16, 2008 at 8:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Marlon.....we love you Maaaaaaaaaaaaaan!!!!
Go Vols!!!!
Posted by tvol40 on March 16, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wouldn't you just like one time to see a Tennessee kid say, "Hey, there's no question about it. I'm a Volunteer."
Posted by General_Watermelon on March 16, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We need you man. Come help your home state school win another National Championship! Tennessee by birth, Volunteer by the Grace of God!
Posted by thesavageorange on March 16, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen, Fritter, AMEN!
Posted by IPOrange on March 16, 2008 at 2:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
6'5", 205 lbs! You da man, Marlon! I hope you come and wear the Big Orange colors proudly. Come play in front of 105,000+ fans screaming loudly for you after every catch. Come run through the T and aim for those orange/white checkerboard endzones. It doesn't get any better than that!
Posted by pdhuff on March 16, 2008 at 2:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Marlon, you come, we cheer.
Make us geezers proud. Not many of your ilk get to wear the orange and bring 100,000+ to their feet.
Beat somebody.
Posted by murrayvol on March 16, 2008 at 7:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
pdhuff: Wikipedia - geezer: n. Slang An old person, especially an eccentric old man. Say it ain't so.
Come on down, over, or up Marlon. You too can have a highway named in your honor.
Posted by yemmusdarb on March 16, 2008 at 8:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is ridiculous..... why could you not make a decision by signing day? I think Terrell Pryor is having a bad influence on these kids who want to stay in the spotlight of the recruiting whirlwind for as long as they can. I don't know this kid from a can of tomato soup, but it seems to me that making a choice on where you want to go to college isn't a decision that should take over a year to decide. Is he just waiting to see who will pay him the most money on the DL??? Because no matter how good a player is, if all he's concerned about is the spotlight, I'd rather see them go to a place like Miami or USC. Maybe then he'd realize he wasn't as good as he thinks he is and gets buried under the depth chart behind all the other guys who thought they were the next "Calvin Johnson".
PICK A SCHOOL!!! If you can't make up your mind by Signing Day, then I could care less where you go. I keep up with recruiting, but not with recruits like this. If he wants to go to UT, he should go there. If he wants to visit some other schools, fine. But to sit here in March and say:
"I'm going to try and make it by Signing Day," Brown said, "but I don't think that will happen."
That's an obvious sign that he wants to stretch all this attention out as long as he can. GET OVER YOURSELF AND PICK A SCHOOL!
Posted by pdhuff on March 16, 2008 at 9:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
murrayvol 7:29 - yep >wikipedia- geezer - correct -present and accounted for
Used to be >Funk & Wagnalls circa 1941 - page 422
i.e. fanatic -one who is actuated by intemperate zeal - a zealot.
Learned lesson - now just a geezer. Saw the realistic cold light. Eyes open.
We could use ol' Marlon.
Posted by utchris2003 on March 16, 2008 at 10:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Seen him play. He is legit. His vertical is out of this world. Wants to play basketball as well and Fulmer and Pearl have given him the green light. Does not get the recognition that he deserves for basketball. He already looks like he has been in a D1 weight room for 2 years. Maybe the best part is that he a really good kid and does really well in the classroom.
Posted by Brama on March 17, 2008 at 9:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
IF he can't make a decision about where he will go to school in 11 months. We need to take back our schlorship offer because he will never be able to learn our offense.
Posted by GoVol on March 17, 2008 at 10:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
word is he was coming to TN until he met Fulmer. Fulmer gave him one of his inspiring 'pep' talks and now the kid is looking at other options.
Just kidding of course....but seems to be on par with Fulmer's latest recruiting success/failures.
As much as TN has incorporated the tight end into the mix over the past several years one would think TN should be appealing to him. However, not sure where the TE fits into the scheme for Clawson's offense yet? So, I'm sure this could be a concern for Brown. If Brown is as good as he appears, I sure hope we land him!
Posted by wkb12 on March 17, 2008 at 1:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Please don't be a Patrick Turner.
Posted by sjt18 on March 17, 2008 at 2:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'll be honest. If I were a recruit considering UT, I'd wait until I saw what Clawson actually did with the O especially if I were an offensive player.
I am mystified that T Boyd and the WR from VA gave verbals to WVU though. IMO they are jumping on a sinking ship.
Posted by sjt18 on March 17, 2008 at 2:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Heastie was the name I was looking for. It sounds like they came as a pair but it is still an odd choice.
Posted by GoVol on March 18, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
sjt18 - I agree that WVU will sink rapidly. They'll be fine this year, but after that...they're program has already seen its best days. I think they picked the wrong coach.
Posted by sjt18 on March 18, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah, that was a great feel good story... he just doesn't come across as competent. With the rest of the BE rising, I just don't see them continuing to be a factor.
Pitt or Cincy could become the beneficiaries. They seem to recruit the same areas as WVU.
Posted by DadwasaVol on March 19, 2008 at 11:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Still waiting/looking for DTs.
Posted by sjt18 on March 20, 2008 at 10:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Cory Hall is a DT and all Vol.
Posted by jdcdjc on March 24, 2008 at 12:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't care when you make your decision, just be a VOL.
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