(Above, Dontrez Brown committed Wednesday to continue his football career at Bowling Green State University.)
FREMONT – Through an annals of football history at Fremont Ross there are athletes whose career resumes can go toe-to-toe with Dontrez Brown.
But not many.
For four years he was the anchor of a defense that, more often than not, kept the Little Giants in games while the offense struggled for consistent production. He holds the career and single-season records for sacks. And the four-year starter is believed to be the first lineman in program history, on either side of the ball, to be named first-team all-state twice.
Dontrez Brown (60) makes a tackle against Oregon Clay. Photo courtesy of Michelle White.
And Wednesday Brown officially extended his career to the collegiate level as he signed his National Letter of Intent to play football at Bowling Green State University, becoming the first Little Giant in at least eight years to sign a letter to a Division I school.
“It’s really exciting. I’ve been ready for a few months to go there and help turn the program around,” Brown said. “Waking up this morning and knowing I was one step closer to being there, I’m really excited about it.”
Unlike most high school athletes who sign in their senior years, Brown won’t have to wait long to arrive on campus.
Brown is taking his final exams this week at Ross, is graduating early and will be taking classes at BGSU when the spring semester begins in January. The early start gives Brown a jump on transitioning to college life, as well as a head start on preparing to play on Saturdays in the fall.
“No. 1, enrolling early, he gets to go through spring practice, be able get used to the lifting and everything else,” Ross head football coach Chad Long said. “Right now, he’s 270 pounds and athletic. He will be a 3-technique, defensive tackle in college, so he’s going to have to be able to use his hands a little more. And because he’s enrolling early he’s going to be able to get that technique and all that stuff, the size and the weight.”
Long and Brown’s position coach, defensive line coach Bill Schell, are both alumni of BGSU and say the fit for Brown and the Falcons is an ideal match.
“This is a special (signing),” Long said. “Because I know Dontrez so well, and I know the college campus so well, it’s just a perfect fit. I don’t think he understands how perfect Bowling Green will be for him. It’s a homey feeling. He’s a quiet kid. It’s not like a big, Ohio State where it’s all crazy and stuff, it’s a nice, homey town. I know the coaches that are there, it’s a great coaching staff.”
Long and Brown both said the BGSU coaching staff is expecting him to play as a true freshman – if not start.
Brown, who totaled, 89 solo tackles, 113 assists, with 31.5 sacks, in his career, knows he has a big challenge ahead of him to go straight from Ross to the BGSU starting lineup.
“As of right now I’ll be coming in and playing,” said Brown, who is undecided on a major. “This offseason I have to work hard and be ready to go in there, but I should be playing a lot next year.
“They were recruiting me very, very hard and it showed that they wanted me,” Brown said of why he chose Bowling Green. “And it was close to home, so I won’t be far away from family and friends. And also the program itself. I felt like it needs to be turned around and I can be one of the guys to help turn it around. It’s a great opportunity. I’m ecstatic to go.”
But if anyone is capable of becoming a true freshman starter in Division I, Long said it’s Brown – and not just because of his physical talent. His off-the-field character will make the difference.
“It’s hard to be a D-1 starter right away,” Long said. “You’re playing with the big boys. It’s different because he has to be a man. Now. He’s going to have his lumps along the way, but you’re never going to deny his effort. His willingness to put in the extra work is going to make the difference.”
Dontrez Brown
DONTREZ BROWN
Height: 6’2
Weight: 275
Position: Defensive End
Senior Season: 24 solo tackles, 32 asst., 13 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recoveries, 5 blocked punts
Career: 89 solo tackles, 113 asst., 40 tackles for loss, 31.5 sacks, 8 forced fumbles, 7 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions, 7 blocked punts
Program Records: Season sacks (15.5), career sacks (31.5)
Honors: 2-time first-team all-state, 2-time first-team all-TRAC, 3-time, All-TRAC Academic