How former Ole Miss star AJ Brown helped current Rebel receiver Bralon Brown trust the process and grow into key role
OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin’s tempo offense is fun to watch — but it’s not quite as easy if you’re a player in the system.
This style of offense presents quite a few challenges such as being in shape to move so quickly, learning play calls, and communicating, all while trying to get points on the board as fast as you can.
Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Bralon Brown can attest to the work that has to be put in to excel in Kiffin’s offense.
He can also attest to the times in life you have to just put your head down, grind through the work and trust the process — and to the importance of having mentors who keep you on the right path.
The 6-foot-2 Brown talked with media after practice Friday and explained what former Rebel star AJ Brown has meant to him.
But first, a look back.
In fall camp of 2021 Bralon looked great, but he suffered an injury and missed a few weeks. Upon his return, he found himself mainly on special teams as he played in just six games.
Then, last season the Miramar, Florida native found himself in the lineup for only four games with a final line for the season of just one catch for 11 yards. He was able to redshirt last season and preserve that year of eligibility.
At that point, after seeing such minimal time, many players would have taken advantage of the portal and left.
But fortunately for Bralon, he had a talk with AJ, currently a star receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles.
“Nowadays everyone is quick to leave, but we had AJ Brown come in over the summer. He was talking to us about how he dislikes the portal and how it’s all about staying down and staying true to the people who recruited you and just trust in the process. That’s what he preached to me — trust the process. I’m trusting it. I’m going to keep trusting it.”
Bralon Brown on AJ Brown’s advice
That visit with AJ really made an impression on Bralon.
“I felt like God wanted me to hear that message,” Bralon said.
“At the time, I was overthinking. I was thinking, ‘Man, what’s it going to be?’ He (AJ Brown) came in and said, ‘Trust it. It’s a slow grind but nothing good comes fast. Nothing that is substantial that lasts for a long period of time comes fast. You have to grind for everything.’”
Bralon Brown
His current teammates at the time were also supportive.
“Every time I got down on myself, from (Jonathan) Mingo to Malik (Heath) to (Dayton) Wade to (Dontario) Drummond to Braylon Sanders, they were always there to pick me up,” Brown explained.
“That’s what I love about this team and that’s what I love about this group. They see somebody down, they’re not going to let you stay down. They’re going to pull you right back up. They’re going to tell you what you need to work on. They’re going to keep it real with you. They’re going to help you.”
Bralon Brown on how his teammates have helped him
Learning the offense
Brown went on to talk about how in order to be the contributor he wanted, he needed to be able to play faster — and the way to do that was to know Kiffin’s offense backward and forward.
“The last two years, especially my sophomore year, I had to sit behind a bunch of guys. …(Head coach Lane) Kiffin’s offense, as you guys know, is one of the top. It’s really difficult and it took me a minute to get really adjusted and to really learn. The talent was there, but now the coaches are starting to develop trust.”
Bralon Brown
A breakout year could be coming
This season could be Brown’s breakout year. He’s been playing with the starting group and he’s taking full advantage of where he is now.
“I’ve been blessed with the chance to start running with the one’s,” Brown said.
“Toward the end of the season last year, it was my first chance to get real reps with the 1s and I was grateful for the opportunity. I just have my head down, steady. I stayed down for two years and everything’s finally starting to play off.”
Bralon Brown
Brown says he now feels similar to how he did back when his confidence was at an all-time high.
“Right now I feel like I felt my senior year in high school,” Brown said.
“I’m as comfortable as can be. My first two years, it wasn’t that. It was never a problem of making a play it was just go out there and thinking. You know, we’re a fast tempo offense. So, you got to see the signal. You got to know what you got and you got to go. That’s what (Lane) Kiffin, that’s coach (Charlie) Weis wants. Now I’m playing fast and I’m real comfortable. I’m at an all-time high in comfort right now and just ready to go.”
Bralon Brown
Furthermore, Brown’s improvements and tenacity have not gone unnoticed by his teammates.
“Play-making ability and everything you need when it comes to playing ball, he had it,” fellow receiver Wade said Friday.
“It was just the small things — beating yourself up, knowing what to do, too much thinking. Game speed and real speed are totally different. …His game-speed had to increase and that comes with knowing what to do. Being able to play multiple positions, that made it even better.”
Dayton Wade on Bralon Brown’s improvement
Brown’s growth throughout college has made one thing clear: Rebel fans can expect him to play a much larger role this season!
Ole Miss kicks off the 2023 season on September 2 at Vaught-Hemingway when the Rebels host Mercer.
