Jarrett Brown
Encyclopedia
Jarrett Brown is an American football
quarterback
who is currently with the Indianapolis Colts
of the National Football League
. He played college football
at West Virginia
, and was signed by the San Francisco 49ers
as an undrafted free agent following the 2010 NFL Draft
. He served as the starting quarterback for the West Virginia Mountaineers
at West Virginia University
during the 2009 season
after three seasons as the backup to Pat White.
, Florida
to trucking company owner James and mother Sherry Brown. He attended Palm Beach Lakes High School where he played football
and basketball. Brown received a letter in basketball all four years. Over the course of his high school football career, Brown compiled more than 7,100 passing
yards and 73 touchdown
s. As a senior, he recorded 1,800 passing yards for 18 touchdowns, and 485 rushing
yards. The Sun-Sentinel named him the player of the year and he was also named the all-state quarterback at the 6-A level. Rivals.com
rated him a three-star prospect and the 12th-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the 2005 recruiting class. Brown received scholarship offers
from Central Florida
, Iowa
, Minnesota
, NC State
, and West Virginia
.
, Brown enrolled at West Virginia University
where he studied athletic coaching education. He sat out his true freshman season on redshirt
status after losing the competition for starting quarterback to Pat White. Brown said that he first found out about the decision by reading the team's website. He discussed transferring to another college with his family once but felt loyal to West Virginia, which was the first school to offer him an athletic scholarship and countenance his playing both football and basketball. Brown spent the offseason working out with the linebacker
s in the weight room and studying head coach Rich Rodriguez
's playbook.
, Brown played in six games as a backup behind starting
quarterback Pat White. Against , he scored a touchdown on a seven–yard quarterback keeper
. Against , he threw 11 completion
s on 15 attempts for 129 yards. Brown also saw some action in garbage time
against , Connecticut, and . Pat White was injured before the regular season finale, so Brown started against Rutgers
. Brown completed 14 of 29 passes for 244 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also made 17 rushing attempts for 73 yards and one touchdown, and he was sacked
twice. Brown threw the game-winning touchdown pass to win the game in triple overtime
.
, Brown played in ten games as a reserve. He recorded 31 completions on 48 attempts for 341 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Brown also rushed 49 times for 327 yards and three touchdowns. Against South Florida
, Brown was substituted for an injured White, and passed for 149 yards and a touchdown. After the football season, he played basketball for the Mountaineers
and scored 13 points in as many games.
, Brown played in nine games, starting once. He recorded 22 completions on 30 attempts for 114 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Brown and White alternated as the quarterback during the Rutgers
game, with Brown being utilized often in short-yardage situations. He said, "Whatever gets me on the field and whatever helps this team, I enjoy it, I'm just playing my role." White was eventually knocked out of that game by injury, and Brown replaced him for the remainder and led West Virginia to win, 24–17. After the season, Brown joined the basketball team, but eventually re-dedicated his focus on football.
. Against East Carolina
, Brown led the Mountaineers to a 35–20 victory and completed 24 of 31 pass attempts for 334 yards and four touchdowns. For his performance, the Big East Conference
named him the Offensive Player of the Week. The following week, West Virginia lost to Auburn
, 41–30. Brown completed 18 of 32 passes for 221 yards and one touchdown, but also threw four interceptions and lost one fumble. After the game, head coach Bill Stewart defended Brown and said, "He's learning, and we've got a lot of football to play. And I'm glad Jarrett Brown is my quarterback." The Charleston Gazette
wrote, "Did he take some chances? Yes, and a bunch of them paid off, which is why West Virginia led most of the game." Against Colorado
, West Virginia overcame a string of four consecutive fumbles in the first quarter, including one by Brown, to win 35–24. Head coach Stewart credited Brown and running back Noel Devine
with keeping the offense's composure.
Brown was injured early in the Marshall
game, and replaced by true freshman quarterback Eugene "Geno" Smith
. Brown suffered a mild concussion from a helmet-to-helmet hit from two defensive backs, but returned for the next game against Connecticut
. Brown completed 19 of 32 passes for 205 yards and one interception in the loss to South Florida
, which snapped West Virginia's four-game winning streak. He threw one touchdown pass against Louisville
, but the Mountaineers offense struggled to a 17–9 win. Offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen
attributed a drop-off in Brown's performance from earlier in the season to a string of minor injuries. Brown scored touchdowns on a three-yard pass and an eight-yard run in a losing 24–21 effort against fifth-ranked Cincinnati
. Late in the game against ninth-ranked Pittsburgh
, Brown led a 42-yard drive to set up the game-winning field goal. In the regular season finale, Brown ran for a first down on a naked bootleg
to clinch a 24–21 victory over Rutgers
. West Virginia earned an invitation to the 2010 Gator Bowl
, where it faced Florida State
, but Brown was replaced by Smith after suffering an ankle injury in the first half.
, in which he was a reserve behind Florida
quarterback Tim Tebow
; the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
considered him the most impressive quarterback of the game. As an NFL Draft
prospect, The Sporting News
praised his "strong arm and quick release". At the NFL Scouting Combine, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.54 seconds and recorded a 34.5-inch vertical jump and nine-foot, six-inch broad jump. NBC Sports
considered him a viable scrambling quarterback in the league. He earned a 15 on the Wonderlic
intelligence test. ESPN considered Brown as the best performing in a mediocre crop of quarterbacks during the combine.
, the San Francisco 49ers
signed Brown to a free agent
contract. He was re-signed to the practice squad, but the franchise released him on September 8 when it signed quarterback Troy Smith
and moved Nate Davis
to the practice squad. Later in September, Brown tried out with the Pittsburgh Steelers
alongside quarterbacks Levi Brown
and John David Booty
in search of a replacement for the injured Dennis Dixon
.
.
On January 6, 2011, he was signed by the Cleveland Browns. He competed for the third string quarterback job in the preseason.
Brown was released by the Cleveland Browns on September 2, 2011, during final cuts. He was then signed to the Indianapolis Colts
practice squad on November 29th.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
who is currently with the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at West Virginia
West Virginia Mountaineers
The West Virginia Mountaineers are the athletic teams of West Virginia University. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference. On July 1, 2012 the Mountaineers will switch conferences, moving from the Big East to the Big 12, becoming...
, and was signed by the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
as an undrafted free agent following the 2010 NFL Draft
2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
. He served as the starting quarterback for the West Virginia Mountaineers
West Virginia Mountaineers football
The West Virginia Mountaineers football team represents West Virginia University in the NCAA FBS division of college football. Dana Holgorsen is the team's 33rd head coach. He has held the position since he was promoted in June 2011 after the resignation of Bill Stewart. The Mountaineers play their...
at West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
during the 2009 season
2009 West Virginia Mountaineers football team
The 2009 West Virginia Mountaineer football team represented West Virginia University in the college football season of 2009. The Mountaineers were led by head coach Bill Stewart and played their home games at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia...
after three seasons as the backup to Pat White.
Early life
Brown was born in West Palm BeachWest Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
to trucking company owner James and mother Sherry Brown. He attended Palm Beach Lakes High School where he played football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
and basketball. Brown received a letter in basketball all four years. Over the course of his high school football career, Brown compiled more than 7,100 passing
Forward pass
In several forms of football a forward pass is when the ball is thrown in the direction that the offensive team is trying to move, towards the defensive team's goal line...
yards and 73 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s. As a senior, he recorded 1,800 passing yards for 18 touchdowns, and 485 rushing
Rush (American football)
Rushing has two different meanings in gridiron football .-Offense:The first is an action taken by the offensive team that means to advance the ball by running, as opposed to passing. A run is technically any play that does not involve a forward pass...
yards. The Sun-Sentinel named him the player of the year and he was also named the all-state quarterback at the 6-A level. Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
rated him a three-star prospect and the 12th-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the 2005 recruiting class. Brown received scholarship offers
Athletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
from Central Florida
UCF Golden Knights football
The University of Central Florida Knights football program, commonly referred to as the UCF Knights, represents the University of Central Florida in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. The Knights are a member of Conference USA and the current head coach is George O'Leary, who has led...
, Iowa
Iowa Hawkeyes football
The Iowa Hawkeyes football team is the interscholastic football team at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hawkeyes have competed in the Big Ten Conference since 1900, and are currently a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
, Minnesota
Minnesota Golden Gophers football
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as...
, NC State
NC State Wolfpack football
The NC State Wolfpack football team represents North Carolina State University in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Wolfpack currently compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference....
, and West Virginia
West Virginia Mountaineers football
The West Virginia Mountaineers football team represents West Virginia University in the NCAA FBS division of college football. Dana Holgorsen is the team's 33rd head coach. He has held the position since he was promoted in June 2011 after the resignation of Bill Stewart. The Mountaineers play their...
.
2005 season
In 20052005 West Virginia Mountaineers football team
The 2005 West Virginia Mountaineers football team completed the season with an 11–1 record. The Mountaineers won their third consecutive Big East Title with a conference record of 7–0...
, Brown enrolled at West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
where he studied athletic coaching education. He sat out his true freshman season on redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
status after losing the competition for starting quarterback to Pat White. Brown said that he first found out about the decision by reading the team's website. He discussed transferring to another college with his family once but felt loyal to West Virginia, which was the first school to offer him an athletic scholarship and countenance his playing both football and basketball. Brown spent the offseason working out with the linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
s in the weight room and studying head coach Rich Rodriguez
Rich Rodriguez
Richard A. "Rich" Rodriguez is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Arizona. Rodriguez previously served as the head football coach at Salem University , Glenville State College , West Virginia University , and the University...
's playbook.
2006 season
In 20062006 West Virginia Mountaineers football team
The 2006 West Virginia Mountaineers football team completed the season with a 11–2 record. The Mountaineers had a regular season Big East record of 5–2.-2006 Schedule:-Rankings:- References :...
, Brown played in six games as a backup behind starting
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
quarterback Pat White. Against , he scored a touchdown on a seven–yard quarterback keeper
Quarterback keeper
A quarterback keeper or keeper in American football is a designed play in which the quarterback does not pass or hand off the ball to another player and instead rushes forward with it in an effort to gain yardage...
. Against , he threw 11 completion
Completion (American football)
A completion is a term used in American football when a receiver successfully catches a pass. The three possible outcomes of a pass thrown are completion, incompletion, and interception, respectively....
s on 15 attempts for 129 yards. Brown also saw some action in garbage time
Garbage time
Garbage time, also known as "junk time", is a term used to refer to the period at the end of a timed sporting event that has become a blowout when the outcome of the game has already been decided, and the coaches of one or both teams will decide to replace their best players with substitutes...
against , Connecticut, and . Pat White was injured before the regular season finale, so Brown started against Rutgers
2006 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team
The 2006 Rutgers Scarlet Knights campaign was considered by many to be the breakout season for the Rutgers football team. Led by Draddy Trophy winning senior fullback Brian Leonard, sophomore quarterback Mike Teel, sophomore halfback Ray Rice, sophomore wide receiver Tiquan Underwood, junior...
. Brown completed 14 of 29 passes for 244 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also made 17 rushing attempts for 73 yards and one touchdown, and he was sacked
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
twice. Brown threw the game-winning touchdown pass to win the game in triple overtime
Overtime (sports)
Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw. In most sports, this extra period is only played if the game is required to have a clear winner, as in single-elimination...
.
2007 season
In 20072007 West Virginia Mountaineers football team
The 2007 West Virginia Mountaineers football team began play on September 1, 2007. The team was coached by Rich Rodriguez until he announced on December 16, 2007 that he was leaving West Virginia to coach the Michigan Wolverines. The head coaching position remained vacant after his announcement,...
, Brown played in ten games as a reserve. He recorded 31 completions on 48 attempts for 341 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Brown also rushed 49 times for 327 yards and three touchdowns. Against South Florida
2007 South Florida Bulls football team
The 2007 University of South Florida Bulls football team represented the University of South Florida in the 2007 college football season. Their head coach was Jim Leavitt, and the USF Bulls will played all of their home games at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL...
, Brown was substituted for an injured White, and passed for 149 yards and a touchdown. After the football season, he played basketball for the Mountaineers
West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball
The West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team represents West Virginia University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. It is a member of the Big East Conference. West Virginia most recently reached the Final Four of the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, led by...
and scored 13 points in as many games.
2008 season
In 20082008 West Virginia Mountaineers football team
The 2008 West Virginia Mountaineers football team competed on behalf of West Virginia University during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Bill Stewart, who took over after he led the Mountaineers to a 2008 Fiesta Bowl victory over the #3 Oklahoma Sooners as the...
, Brown played in nine games, starting once. He recorded 22 completions on 30 attempts for 114 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Brown and White alternated as the quarterback during the Rutgers
2008 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team
After losing star halfback Ray Rice to the NFL Draft, Rutgers faced a rebuilding season. Senior Mike Teel was forced to step up his game at quarterback without being able to rely on Rice so frequently. Rutgers started off very slowly, dropping 5 of the first 6 games, including two to Big East...
game, with Brown being utilized often in short-yardage situations. He said, "Whatever gets me on the field and whatever helps this team, I enjoy it, I'm just playing my role." White was eventually knocked out of that game by injury, and Brown replaced him for the remainder and led West Virginia to win, 24–17. After the season, Brown joined the basketball team, but eventually re-dedicated his focus on football.
2009 season
With the graduation of Pat White, Brown was promoted to the starting position for the 2009 season2009 West Virginia Mountaineers football team
The 2009 West Virginia Mountaineer football team represented West Virginia University in the college football season of 2009. The Mountaineers were led by head coach Bill Stewart and played their home games at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia...
. Against East Carolina
2009 East Carolina Pirates football team
The 2009 East Carolina Pirates football team represented East Carolina University in the college football season of 2009-10 and played their home games in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The team was coached by Skip Holtz, who was in his fifth and final year with the program...
, Brown led the Mountaineers to a 35–20 victory and completed 24 of 31 pass attempts for 334 yards and four touchdowns. For his performance, the Big East Conference
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
named him the Offensive Player of the Week. The following week, West Virginia lost to Auburn
2009 Auburn Tigers football team
The 2009 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers were led by first year head coach Gene Chizik...
, 41–30. Brown completed 18 of 32 passes for 221 yards and one touchdown, but also threw four interceptions and lost one fumble. After the game, head coach Bill Stewart defended Brown and said, "He's learning, and we've got a lot of football to play. And I'm glad Jarrett Brown is my quarterback." The Charleston Gazette
The Charleston Gazette
The Charleston Gazette is a five-day morning newspaper in Charleston, West Virginia. It is published Monday through Friday mornings. On Saturday and Sunday mornings the combined Charleston Gazette-Mail is published, which is, more or less, similar to the Gazette.The Gazette was established in...
wrote, "Did he take some chances? Yes, and a bunch of them paid off, which is why West Virginia led most of the game." Against Colorado
2009 Colorado Buffaloes football team
The 2009 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS college football season. The Buffaloes were led by fourth year head coach Dan Hawkins and played their home games at Folsom Field. The Buffaloes finished the season with a record of 3–9...
, West Virginia overcame a string of four consecutive fumbles in the first quarter, including one by Brown, to win 35–24. Head coach Stewart credited Brown and running back Noel Devine
Noel Devine
Noel Devine is an American football running back for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2011 and was released four days later after leaving the squad. He played college football at West Virginia.He had a...
with keeping the offense's composure.
Brown was injured early in the Marshall
2009 Marshall Thundering Herd football team
The 2009 Marshall Thundering Herd football team represented Marshall University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football during the 2009 season. Marshall competed as a member of the East Division of Conference USA, and played their home...
game, and replaced by true freshman quarterback Eugene "Geno" Smith
Geno Smith
Eugene "Geno" Smith is an American football quarterback. He currently plays for the West Virginia Mountaineers in his junior year...
. Brown suffered a mild concussion from a helmet-to-helmet hit from two defensive backs, but returned for the next game against Connecticut
2009 Connecticut Huskies football team
The 2009 Connecticut Huskies football team represented the University of Connecticut in the 2009 college football season as a member of the Big East Conference. The team was coached by Randy Edsall and played its home games at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut...
. Brown completed 19 of 32 passes for 205 yards and one interception in the loss to South Florida
2009 South Florida Bulls football team
The 2009 South Florida Bulls football team represented the University of South Florida in the 2009 college football season. Their head coach was Jim Leavitt, and they played their home games at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. The 2009 college football season was only the 13th season overall...
, which snapped West Virginia's four-game winning streak. He threw one touchdown pass against Louisville
2009 Louisville Cardinals football team
The 2009 Louisville Cardinals football team represented the University of Louisville in the college football season of 2009–2010. The Cardinals were coached by Steve Kragthorpe, who was in his third season at Louisville. The Cardinals played their home games at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. The...
, but the Mountaineers offense struggled to a 17–9 win. Offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen
Jeff Mullen
Jeff Mullen is an American football offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach and the current offensive coordinator of the Charlotte 49ers. Mullen was previously an assistant coach at Ohio University, Wake Forest, and West Virginia University.-Early life:...
attributed a drop-off in Brown's performance from earlier in the season to a string of minor injuries. Brown scored touchdowns on a three-yard pass and an eight-yard run in a losing 24–21 effort against fifth-ranked Cincinnati
2009 Cincinnati Bearcats football team
The 2009 Cincinnati Bearcats football team represented the University of Cincinnati in the college football season of 2009–2010. The team, coached by Brian Kelly, played its home games in Nippert Stadium....
. Late in the game against ninth-ranked Pittsburgh
2009 Pittsburgh Panthers football team
The 2009 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season was the fifth under head coach Dave Wannstedt. The 2009 season marked the team's ninth at Heinz Field and the University's 120th season overall. The 2009...
, Brown led a 42-yard drive to set up the game-winning field goal. In the regular season finale, Brown ran for a first down on a naked bootleg
Bootleg play
In American football, a bootleg play is a play in which the quarterback runs with the ball in the direction of either sideline behind the line of scrimmage...
to clinch a 24–21 victory over Rutgers
2009 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team
The 2009 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University in the 2009 college football season. Their head coach was Greg Schiano and they played their home games at Rutgers Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. The Scarlet Knights finished the season 9–4, 3–4 in Big East play and...
. West Virginia earned an invitation to the 2010 Gator Bowl
2010 Gator Bowl
The 2010 Gator Bowl game was a post-season college football bowl game between the Florida State University Seminoles from the ACC, and the West Virginia University Mountaineers representing the Big East, and was played on Friday, January 1, 2010, at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium in Jacksonville,...
, where it faced Florida State
2009 Florida State Seminoles football team
The 2009 Florida State Seminoles football team represented Florida State University during the 2009 college football season. The Seminoles were led by 34th year head coach Bobby Bowden...
, but Brown was replaced by Smith after suffering an ankle injury in the first half.
Pre-draft
Brown played in the 2010 Senior Bowl2010 Senior Bowl
The 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl was an all-star college football exhibition game featuring players from the 2009 college football season, and prospects for the 2010 Draft of the professional National Football League , as well as for the United Football League's inaugural draft.The game was played...
, in which he was a reserve behind Florida
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
quarterback Tim Tebow
Tim Tebow
Timothy Richard "Tim" Tebow is an American football player who is currently the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Broncos as the 25th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft...
; the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is the major city-wide newspaper in St. Louis, Missouri. Although written to serve Greater St. Louis, the Post-Dispatch is one of the largest newspapers in the Midwestern United States, and is available and read as far west as Kansas City, Missouri, as far south as...
considered him the most impressive quarterback of the game. As an NFL Draft
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
prospect, The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
praised his "strong arm and quick release". At the NFL Scouting Combine, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.54 seconds and recorded a 34.5-inch vertical jump and nine-foot, six-inch broad jump. NBC Sports
NBC Sports
NBC Sports is the sports division of the NBC television network. Formerly "a service of NBC News," it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games, the NFL, the NHL, MLS, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Triple Crown, and the French Open, among others...
considered him a viable scrambling quarterback in the league. He earned a 15 on the Wonderlic
Wonderlic Test
The Wonderlic Cognitive Ability Test is a twelve-minute, fifty-question test used to assess the aptitude of prospective employees for learning and problem-solving in a range of occupations. The test was developed by industrial psychologist Eldon F. Wonderlic...
intelligence test. ESPN considered Brown as the best performing in a mediocre crop of quarterbacks during the combine.
San Francisco 49ers
After going undrafted in the 2010 NFL Draft2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
, the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
signed Brown to a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
contract. He was re-signed to the practice squad, but the franchise released him on September 8 when it signed quarterback Troy Smith
Troy Smith
Troy James Smith is an American football quarterback for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Ohio State.Smith has also played for the San Francisco 49ers. He...
and moved Nate Davis
Nate Davis (quarterback)
Nate Charles Davis is an American football quarterback with the Kansas City Command of the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL draft...
to the practice squad. Later in September, Brown tried out with the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
alongside quarterbacks Levi Brown
Levi Brown (quarterback)
Jacob Levi Brown is an American football quarterback formerly with the Buffalo Bills. He was drafted by the Bills in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Troy.-College career:...
and John David Booty
John David Booty
John David Booty is an American football quarterback. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He last played for the Houston Texans until being cut on September 4, 2010. He played college football at USC.Booty has also been a member of the Tennessee Titans...
in search of a replacement for the injured Dennis Dixon
Dennis Dixon
Dennis Lee Dixon, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Steelers in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
.
Cleveland Browns
On December 21, 2010, Brown tried out for the Cleveland BrownsCleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
On January 6, 2011, he was signed by the Cleveland Browns. He competed for the third string quarterback job in the preseason.
Brown was released by the Cleveland Browns on September 2, 2011, during final cuts. He was then signed to the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
practice squad on November 29th.