Buckeye1980
07-21-2010, 09:19 AM
By Rick Kretzschmar rickk@news-journal.com | 0 comments
SAN ANTONIO — Mack Brown isn't sure what round Curtis Brown might be selected in the 2011 NFL Draft. The University of Texas head football coach just knows that if the Gilmer product stays on the path he forged last season, he will be drafted.
Mack Brown said all the work Curtis Brown has put into his game in the past year has put him in position to play at the next level. The coach made the comments in a press conference on Monday at the Grand Hyatt at the 78th Annual Texas High School Coaches Association's Coaching School and Convention.
Curtis Brown — a 2007 Gilmer High School graduate — is coming off a junior year in which he had 53 tackles, a 77-yard interception return for a touchdown and 15 pass breakups. Mack Brown said fellow cornerback Chykie Brown could also be in the NFL next fall.
"They have come on so strong in the last year," the coach said. "If they keep up their work and stay healthy, they will be chosen."
Curtis Brown is one of nine area products hoping to help Texas make one more step, after the Longhorns went 13-1 in 2009 and advanced to the BCS national championship game before dropping a 37-21 decision to Alabama.
Mack Brown said one area which needs to be addressed is the running game. He said his Longhorns haven't run the ball particularly well and a player needs to stand up.
The player could be Longview High School product Vondrell McGee, who enters his senior season. McGee is coming off a 2009 season in which he rushed for 300 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games. McGee, a 2006 Lobo graduate, has been hampered by injuries throughout his time at Texas. Mack Brown said McGee will be competing with fellow running backs Fozzy Whittaker and Tre Newton.
"In the spring, Vondrell appeared to be healthy," Mack Brown said. "Vondrell, Fozzy and Tre will have chances to step up."
The Longhorns will also have four players from Kilgore this season.
Two of the four are offensive lineman — seniors Michael Huey and Britt Mitchell. The coach said Huey is the most improved offensive lineman after the spring while Mitchell could be the starting right tackle.
The Texas coach he is also impressed with how senior defensive end Eddie Jones did in the spring, especially after an injury-hampered junior season. After weighing options at defensive end, Brown said Dominique Jones should play tight end this year, and he is anxious to see how he does after a shoulder injury forced him to redshirt his 2009 season.
Brown, entering his 13th season at Texas, said it's been over a decade since one school around Kilgore's size has had this much impact with the Longhorns.
"We had four players from Texas City my first year ... and they all graduated," he said.
Other area players expected to play for the Longhorns this fall are junior offensive lineman David Snow of Gilmer, redshirt freshman defensive tackle Kyle Kriegel of Elysian Fields and sophomore defensive back Sam Walker of Mount Pleasant.
SAN ANTONIO — Mack Brown isn't sure what round Curtis Brown might be selected in the 2011 NFL Draft. The University of Texas head football coach just knows that if the Gilmer product stays on the path he forged last season, he will be drafted.
Mack Brown said all the work Curtis Brown has put into his game in the past year has put him in position to play at the next level. The coach made the comments in a press conference on Monday at the Grand Hyatt at the 78th Annual Texas High School Coaches Association's Coaching School and Convention.
Curtis Brown — a 2007 Gilmer High School graduate — is coming off a junior year in which he had 53 tackles, a 77-yard interception return for a touchdown and 15 pass breakups. Mack Brown said fellow cornerback Chykie Brown could also be in the NFL next fall.
"They have come on so strong in the last year," the coach said. "If they keep up their work and stay healthy, they will be chosen."
Curtis Brown is one of nine area products hoping to help Texas make one more step, after the Longhorns went 13-1 in 2009 and advanced to the BCS national championship game before dropping a 37-21 decision to Alabama.
Mack Brown said one area which needs to be addressed is the running game. He said his Longhorns haven't run the ball particularly well and a player needs to stand up.
The player could be Longview High School product Vondrell McGee, who enters his senior season. McGee is coming off a 2009 season in which he rushed for 300 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games. McGee, a 2006 Lobo graduate, has been hampered by injuries throughout his time at Texas. Mack Brown said McGee will be competing with fellow running backs Fozzy Whittaker and Tre Newton.
"In the spring, Vondrell appeared to be healthy," Mack Brown said. "Vondrell, Fozzy and Tre will have chances to step up."
The Longhorns will also have four players from Kilgore this season.
Two of the four are offensive lineman — seniors Michael Huey and Britt Mitchell. The coach said Huey is the most improved offensive lineman after the spring while Mitchell could be the starting right tackle.
The Texas coach he is also impressed with how senior defensive end Eddie Jones did in the spring, especially after an injury-hampered junior season. After weighing options at defensive end, Brown said Dominique Jones should play tight end this year, and he is anxious to see how he does after a shoulder injury forced him to redshirt his 2009 season.
Brown, entering his 13th season at Texas, said it's been over a decade since one school around Kilgore's size has had this much impact with the Longhorns.
"We had four players from Texas City my first year ... and they all graduated," he said.
Other area players expected to play for the Longhorns this fall are junior offensive lineman David Snow of Gilmer, redshirt freshman defensive tackle Kyle Kriegel of Elysian Fields and sophomore defensive back Sam Walker of Mount Pleasant.