By STEPHANIE GARCIA
The stadium comes alive with screaming fans and drum lines. The anxiety slowly settles and the nervous football player steps onto the field, admiring the atmosphere; he has been waiting for this day for two years, his first game.
Two years of back pain are now in the past for Jeremy Brown, a University of Florida junior. The Central Florida native and graduate of Boone has gained a starting corner back position his third year as a UF Gator.
The season opener against Miami (OH) Redhawks was Brown’s first official taste of the Gator experience. With an impressive interception from Brown to close the game, the team won 34-12. His first start came a week later at the University of Southern Florida, but the win against Tennessee would allow Brown to truly leave his mark. Besides achieving a second interception, he had two-pass breakups and two tackles.
“Just being able to do what I did in high school at this level is a great feeling. It’s been a long journey and I’ve struggled through a lot of adversity. I am just so grateful for the opportunity to play now,” Brown said.
Brown has missed the past two seasons after pulling his back during a weightlifting session. Still through inflamed facet joints and nerve damage, he bounced back this fall and went head to head with junior Janoris Jenkins for the starting position. Brown got a medical redshirt for the 2008 season and a regular redshirt for the 2009 season, giving him four years of eligibility with the team.
“It’s crazy that Jeremy is finally able to play this season. It shows that through injury he could persevere and win out the top spot as corner back; its very impressive,” senior Joseph Martinson, who played with Brown his freshman year, said.
On his time away from the field, Brown sat on the sidelines never doubting his ability to play the game. Though doctors continued to say Brown’s injuries were too severe to ever let him play again, he continued to stay positive, relying on his support system to overcome his injury.
“Knowing my story was encouraging people and touching their lives year after year was very rewarding. I don’t regret the injury; it has made me a better person and this season more special. It’s made me grow up and appreciate things a lot more,” Brown said.
Brown went to the University of Florida as one of the top defensive backs in the country. Before signing with the Gators, Brown finished his junior year of high school with 13 catches for 213 yards, six scores on offense, and seven picks on defense. In January of his senior year, Brown graduated from Boone and was recruited by coach Urban Meyer for the 2008 Gator season.
“He was an exciting player to watch. His motivation and work ethic is the reason he is where he is today,” athletic director Douglas Patterson said.
Coach Ziglar describes Brown as a fine athlete that was a major threat to opposing teams on both offense and defense. Brown stood out, taking control of the field and acting as a leader for all players on the team.
“Like all my players, it was a pleasure to be around someone like Jeremy who was a good person first and an athlete second. We’re all very proud of him,” Ziglar said.