Ji'Ayir Brown bids farewell to Penn State, eyes NFL Draft
Penn State captain Ji’Ayir Brown was determined to maximize his final season with the program ahead of the 2022 campaign. Named the Team MVP at the senior banquet, Brown did that and more in his last go-round.
Now, Brown is bidding adieu to Penn State as he turns to the next chapter in his football career.
Releasing a prepared graphic via Instagram jointly with the Penn State Football account, Brown offered his thanks to the people and places that helped propel him to new heights in the game and off the field.
Ji’Ayir Brown’s statement, in full:
“I am proud to be a kid from Trenton, New Jersey. Trenton has helped mold me into the man I am today and taught me that all things are possible if you believe. I thank GOD every day for giving me the strength and opportunity to play the game I love.
“To my family, I will forever appreciate the sacrifices and commitment you made to attend every game of my career and your unwavering support throughout my life.
“To my teammates, I will forever cherish our brotherhood on and off the field and how you guys embraced me with open arms. I will forever be proud to have been selected as a captain of such a great team and culture.
“Thank you to Coach Duda, Coach Reiss, the staff, and my teammates at Lackawanna College. Thank you for giving me the ability to showcase my talent to the world. My journey wouldn’t have been possible without you all.
“To Coach Franklin, thank you so much for giving me an opportunity to play at Penn State. You have taught me how to be a great leader on the field but an even better leader off the field. To Coach Dex, the last two years I spent in your position room and being coached by you were some of the best memories of my career and I’ll forever hold you and those memories close to my heart.
“To the Penn State community, I thank you all for your passion and s tinnort. It has been an amazing experience and I would not trade it for the world.
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“With that being said, I will be pursuing my childhood dream of playing In the NFL and declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft.
“Thank you. -Tig”
Next steps
The question for Brown ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft is whether his performance this season shaped new perceptions.
Finishing with a team-high 74 tackles, Brown also added a team-high four interceptions, three pass breakups, five quarterback hurries, a pair of forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Making the recovery against Rutgers in November, he made it count. That meant a game-upending 70-yard touchdown return to open the second half.
Just before performance, head coach James Franklin insisted that Brown was deserving of more accolades.
“I don’t think he’s getting enough attention. I don’t think enough people are talking about him when it comes to college football awards when it comes to the NFL. His name should be all over the place,” Franklin told reporters on Nov. 15. “He’s playing his tail off. He makes his teammates better. And he’s able to impact the game, both in the run game and in the passing game. (He’s a) very well-rounded football player.”
According to Pro Football Focus, Brown is slotted as the seventh-best safety in the draft class. His PFF grade is 76.2 and the service projects him as a second- or third-round pick.
