Maurice Brown II seeing role on South Carolina football team expand before 2024 campaign

Maurice Brown II took a unique path to join the South Carolina football team.

The Upper Marlboro (MD) native graduated from C.H. Flowers High School in the spring of 2022. There, he played three positions — quarterback, running back and wide receiver — and caught 18 passes for 300 yards, scoring 11 touchdowns in the air and on the ground in the process.

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But before playing for the Gamecocks, Brown spent the 2022 football season at the United States Military Preparatory Academy in West Point, N.Y. He said he did not stay there long, though, because the team did not take advantage of his pass-catching abilities.

“It was a lot of early mornings (and) late nights,” Brown said. “The football side of it, that’s why I pretty much left. It was more blocking towards receiving, so I thought I had a better chance coming here, using my abilities to play and catch and run.”

Brown has since carved out a role on the Gamecocks’ special teams unit over the past two years. During South Carolina’s preparations for the upcoming 2024 season, he has also been given an opportunity to potentially play on offense, as he has gotten increased looks at the tight end position.

During his freshman year, Brown dressed for all 12 of South Carolina’s games. He played in 11 of those contests on special teams and was credited for making a tackle against Texas A&M on Oct. 28.

Brown continued to shine on special teams earlier this year, as he was named the unit’s Most Improved Player of the Spring. But Juju McDowell said Brown has a lot more to offer with his skillset.

“He’s an animal — not even just on special teams. If you could just walk out of the locker room with that guy one day, when he hits the field, it’s a switch. He’s out of there. Anybody that stands in front of him is going to have a long day,” McDowell said. “I like his demeanor. He accepted his role last year. (He) wasn’t getting as much playing time at the tight end position, embraced his role on special teams and it’s working out.”

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Brown described himself as “a fast tight end” who has clocked in at 21.9 mph during this preseason. He listed route running as one of his strengths, adding that he’s gradually adjusted to playing tight end over time.

“(I) definitely learned a lot because the tight end position is really new to me,” Brown said. “In 11th grade, I used to play quarterback and didn’t start playing tight end until my senior year. So, I’m definitely learning a lot at this position.”

He also said the area of his game that he is currently working on the most is blocking. This preseason, two of the Gamecocks’ edge rushers, Dylan Stewart and Desmond Umeozulu, have helped him in this regard.

Both Stewart and Umeozulu have geographic ties to Brown, as all three hail from the DMV region.

“We go against each other a lot. It’s a lot of competition, a lot of good reps,” Brown said. “We get a lot of work in.”

Shane Beamer said after South Carolina’s first preseason game that Brown, like fellow tight end Michael Smith, could see a lot of playing time this year. This increased playing time will stem from the tight end room’s overall growth, Brown said.

“Our room has grown a lot. I believe he said that, just because we’re a bigger body, we can get on the outside and block these smaller cornerbacks and DBs,” Brown said. ”Just getting us out there, helping in the run game, we’ll work a lot in our offense.”

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