Bralon Brown was frustrated and nearly left Ole Miss but a former Rebel changed his mindset
When a career is not going well for a player at a specific school the usual reaction is to hit the transfer portal and look for greener grass. Ole Miss wide receiver Bralon Brown was at that crossroad.
Following the 2022 season Brown entered the transfer portal after two underwhelming seasons with Ole Miss. Stuck behind the likes of Jonathan Mingo, Dontario Drummond, Malik Heath and others it was frustrating for Brown to see his opportunity coming any time soon.
But Brown opted to withdraw from the transfer portal on March 21, the opening day of spring practices.
Then there was a moment this summer that put everything into perspective for Brown. Former Ole Miss standout A.J. Brown spoke to the team and it was the words by the Philadelphia Eagles receiver that resonated.
“He was talking to us about how he dislikes the portal,” Brown said after Friday’s practice. “How it’s all about staying down, staying true to the people that recruited you. Trusting the process, trusting the process. That’s what he preached to me and that’s what he kept preaching to me. …So I’m trusting it.”
After a 2021 season without a catch Brown managed only one catch for 11 yards last season in four games played.
With two years at Ole Miss and not much to show for it Brown did start letting thoughts of looking elsewhere seep in.
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“You’re always going to have those thoughts in your mind,” Brown said. “‘Man, I should be out there. I should be doing this, man.’ Getting down on yourself but every time I got down on myself the guys, from Mingo to Malik to (Dayton) Wade, to Drummond to Braylon Sanders, they were always there to pick me up. That’s what I love about this team, that’s what I love about my group. They see somebody down they’re not going to let you stay down.”
Brown stuck around at Ole Miss and patience is starting to pay off as he enters his junior season.
A deep wide receivers room is being utilized with Brown getting significant reps with the starters along with JJ Henry and Jalen Knox getting increased reps.
This due to an injury suffered to Jordan Watkins.
Now that Brown is getting his turn the past two seasons of trying to grasp a playbook has him at a comfort level he is happy with.
“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.
“No 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.”
