James Brown’s complete transition to tight end has been slowed a bit since recovering from offseason labrum surgery, but the former Jones High (Fla.) quarterback hasn’t had any second thoughts about his collegiate position change since visiting Rocky Top for Tennessee’s spring game last month.
The Vols’ 2017 tight end signee walked away super impressed with new offensive coordinator Larry Scott — the very assistant who believed in Brown’s potential from the beginning last October.
Last fall, Brown’s recruitment blew up seemingly overnight, as the now 6-foot-4, 225-pound Orlando native switched from quarterback to tight end midway through his senior season. He played just a handful of games at the position, recording 10 catches for 176 yards and four touchdowns. Following the release of a mini-highlight tape, Brown immediately heard from several SEC schools, including Tennessee, which ultimately offered him a scholarship late one Sunday night.
About half an hour later, Brown called Scott back and committed on the spot.
“We talk all the time,” Brown said. “He keeps me up to date on what’s going on. I was there for the spring game, so we met up. I’m just excited to get up there. I don’t even really know what to expect until I’m really there.”
Brown, who said he’s “pretty much back” from his shoulder surgery, was encouraged by how much Tennessee targeted the tight ends during the spring game. In the Orange & White Game, the unit combined for 5 catches for 53 yards and a touchdown in a weather-shortened game.
“Before we got there, (Scott) kept on stressing to me, ‘We throw it to them. We throw it to the tight ends,’” Brown said.
“Then when we got to the spring game, the tight ends caught touchdowns, so I was like, ‘Let’s go.’ I know how to catch. They’re not blocking. They’re receivers. They’re catching the football.”
Brown graduates from Jones High later this month and will report to Tennessee on May 28.
CATCHING UP WITH BROWN...
How’s your shoulder recovering?
“I’m full-range of motion. I’m following the doctors orders up at Tennessee. They’re running my rehab right now down here. I’m doing everything I was before the season. You could pretty much say I’m back.
Who is your favorite NFL tight end?
“Delanie Walker. Just the stuff he does after the catch. He’s a big guy. He’s a wide guy. He’s not that tall, but he’s a playmaker. He’s a bowling ball. He gets the ball and you can’t bring him down.”
What’s your funniest recruiting story?
“So on my second home visit, the one with coach (Butch) Jones, we had all my family there. My grandmas came down to cook, both of them on both sides of the family, and then after dinner coach Jones fell asleep on the couch. It was so funny. They left real late. We just let him sleep. We were just chilling. We were watching the college football awards. They were supposed to leave a lot earlier but they just went to sleep. It was about 12:30 (when they) left. … So when I came up to the spring game, I brought my whole family up there, my grandmas, too, and coach Jones said, 'I don’t know what you put in that food, but you had me knocked out!’”
Do you have a hidden talent or hobby?
“I’ve been playing an instrument since I was in the fifth grade. I was in the band. I played the saxophone.”
