Journey Brown

[Marylovesthelions]

I can't think of a more under rated RB signed by State since my freshman year in 1963. With the road graders we are developing on the OL, this kid could be unstoppable. IMHO, we could have the best overall talent in the backfield in college sports. Our second string would be starters on most teams. Yes, the offensive scheme makes this talent better.

 

[psuro]

Slow down sparky. All they did was report to camp. Let's just see how the season unfolds.

 

[BobPSU92]

Slow down sparky. All they did was report to camp. Let's just see how the season unfolds.

 

[jim cummings]

I can't think of a more under rated RB signed by State since my freshman year in 1963. With the road graders we are developing on the OL, this kid could be unstoppable. IMHO, we could have the best overall talent in the backfield in college sports. Our second string would be starters on most teams. Yes, the offensive scheme makes this talent better.

 

[psu2016]

I can't think of a more under rated RB signed by State since my freshman year in 1963. With the road graders we are developing on the OL, this kid could be unstoppable. IMHO, we could have the best overall talent in the backfield in college sports. Our second string would be starters on most teams. Yes, the offensive scheme makes this talent better.

Well I mean, there were 13 running backs ranked ahead of Saquon...

 

[BobPSU92]

Well I mean, there were 13 running backs ranked ahead of Saquan...

Saquon.

 

[hereforthebeer]

You can't teach speed.

The best teams have it. So does Journey Brown. So do we. Finally. It's good to be a Nittany Lion.

 

[LionJim]

Saquon.

Saqun.

 

[BobPSU92]

Saqun.

Now we're talking. If Saquon combines intense OUTRAGE. with his athletic ability, he will be unstoppable this season.

 

[LionJim]

Now we're talking. If Saquon combines intense OUTRAGE. with his athletic ability, he will be unstoppable this season.

See you at the Downtown Athletic Club this coming December 9.

 

[BobPSU92]

See you at the Downtown Athletic Club this coming December 9.

Absolutely. Perhaps we will hear some OUTRAGE. in Saquon's acceptance speech.

"I gotta lot of problems with you people!"

 

[Cosmos]

I can't think of a more under rated RB signed by State since my freshman year in 1963. With the road graders we are developing on the OL, this kid could be unstoppable. IMHO, we could have the best overall talent in the backfield in college sports. Our second string would be starters on most teams. Yes, the offensive scheme makes this talent better.

I've never seen the term "road graders" associated with our offensive line. It is downright offensive.

 

[getmyjive11]

Stephon Greene had similar speed. Let's hope Brown is more like Saquon and less like Stephon.

 

[Raffycorn]

Stephon Greene had similar speed. Let's hope Brown is more like Saquon and less like Stephon.

Stephfon Green was a productive player - in three years as a backup to the school's career rushing leader and one year as a backup to Silas Redd (!), Green had 1600 career rushing yards and 15 touchdowns - and averaged over 5 yards per carry. If we can get that kind of career production out of Journey Brown, I'll be satisfied and it will have been absolutely worth the scholarship.

 

[JoeLion]

I am anxious to see how Journey develops. He has the speed, if he adds some muscle and quickness he could be an unbelievable under the radar recruit. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and wishing him the best.

 

[BisbeeMike]

According to Phil Steele, Penn State finished 10th in the Big Ten in kickoff return, and 11th in punt return last year. Journey Brown presents an option in the return game, should the coaching staff go that direction, that could improve those two facets of the 2017 team. Mac Hippenhammer and KJ Hamler are two other options, as well as the possible return of Miles Sanders who has a year of experience now. Penn State will need a "new" punt returner with the departure of Greg Garrity and John Reid being out for possibly the year, excluding the possible return of DeAndre Thompkins, who has returned punts for us before. The kind of speed that Brown possesses cannot be taught, he's a great addition to this team, whichever direction the staff decides to go this year.

 

[LaJolla Lion]

Stephfon Green was a productive player - in three years as a backup to the school's career rushing leader and one year as a backup to Silas Redd (!), Green had 1600 career rushing yards and 15 touchdowns - and averaged over 5 yards per carry. If we can get that kind of career production out of Journey Brown, I'll be satisfied and it will have been absolutely worth the scholarship.

Wait you mean it's not HOF or bust...go figure.

 

[LukeIamYourFather]

I am anxious to see how Journey develops. He has the speed, if he adds some muscle and quickness he could be an unbelievable under the radar recruit. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and wishing him the best.

It's obvious that the Journey has just begun.

 

[PSU_Nut]

I just hope he not the Brandon Ware or Josh Marks of running backs. Yes we have high hopes for him due to his speed. However their is far more than speed that goes into being a great back.

 

[tboyer]

According to Phil Steele, Penn State finished 10th in the Big Ten in kickoff return, and 11th in punt return last year.

Yeah Franklin indicates that's a big priority this year. They fixed punting and kicking, they fixed coverage. Returns is next on the list.

I thought Sanders showed the makings of a really good KO returner last year, but the blocking wasn't quite there. Maybe it will be this year.

PR is the toughest one to fill. Thompkins had trouble holding on to the ball but he may try again this season; Reid was reliable but is now out, Garrity is gone, so they really have to find someone. It's a very hard job -- field awareness, great athleticism and concentration.

They clearly have recruited some guys like Hamler and Hipp with PR in mind. Hopefully one of these guys works out. I was hopeful Wade would be in the mix, but maybe not now that he is needed in the corner rotation.

 

[PSUer1989]

What are the differences in attributes between a good KO vs punt returner? I read about needing two different guys, and am not knowledgeable enough to understand what/why it is so different.... TIA!

 

[Nittany1994]

Fielding punts is kind of like playing outfield (except with a bunch of huge dudes bearing down on you at full speed), while returning kicks is kind of like playing shortstop (except with a bunch of huge dudes bearing down on you at full speed).

 

[Rollin Stone]

It takes some brass ones to be a punt returner for one. Well more than a KR at least. The field awareness need to field a punt is completely different for a PR as well as the flight/ spin/ and trajectory for PR are a lot more varied than for a KR.

You need to be more quick than flat out speed as a PR because you may always have to make at least 1 guy miss from a dead stop or not at full speed. So the PR needs moves to help help get free so they can get to full speed. Whereas a KR will often have 10-15 yards to run before he has to make a move on someone.

Plus a PR, may not have "blockers" as it is possible that the Spl teams coach called for a "rush" as opposed to a set up a return. A KR always has a return set up.

Finally a PR needs to be smart and a good decision maker. Field it or let it drop, field it or signal a fair catch. Plus you are making that decision under quite a bit of pressure. If you ask spl teams coaches if they had a choice between a solid kid who may never take it to the house or a kid that can take it to the house but is shaky fielding the punt or decision making. It's a no brainer take the solid consistent kid. If a PR averages 10 yards per return that's great because coaches look at it as one less first down for the offense.

Catching a punt is one of the hardest individual skills that occurs on the football field.

 

[PearlSUJam]

It takes some brass ones to be a punt returner for one. Well more than a KR at least. The field awareness need to field a punt is completely different for a PR as well as the flight/ spin/ and trajectory for PR are a lot more varied than for a KR.

You need to be more quick than flat out speed as a PR because you may always have to make at least 1 guy miss from a dead stop or not at full speed. So the PR needs moves to help help get free so they can get to full speed. Whereas a KR will often have 10-15 yards to run before he has to make a move on someone.

Plus a PR, may not have "blockers" as it is possible that the Spl teams coach called for a "rush" as opposed to a set up a return. A KR always has a return set up.

Finally a PR needs to be smart and a good decision maker. Field it or let it drop, field it or signal a fair catch. Plus you are making that decision under quite a bit of pressure. If you ask spl teams coaches if they had a choice between a solid kid who may never take it to the house or a kid that can take it to the house but is shaky fielding the punt or decision making. It's a no brainer take the solid consistent kid. If a PR averages 10 yards per return that's great because coaches look at it as one less first down for the offense.

Catching a punt is one of the hardest individual skills that occurs on the football field.

I was just going to post that punt returners have a harder time running with those huge stones weighing them down.

 

[AWS1022]

I just hope he not the Brandon Ware or Josh Marks of running backs. Yes we have high hopes for him due to his speed. However their is far more than speed that goes into being a great back.

How many 700 yard games did those guys have in high school?

 

[PSUriseANDfire]

When people watch Journey Brown do what Journey Brown does they all go

 

[BisbeeMike]

It takes some brass ones to be a punt returner for one. Well more than a KR at least. The field awareness need to field a punt is completely different for a PR as well as the flight/ spin/ and trajectory for PR are a lot more varied than for a KR.

You need to be more quick than flat out speed as a PR because you may always have to make at least 1 guy miss from a dead stop or not at full speed. So the PR needs moves to help help get free so they can get to full speed. Whereas a KR will often have 10-15 yards to run before he has to make a move on someone.

Plus a PR, may not have "blockers" as it is possible that the Spl teams coach called for a "rush" as opposed to a set up a return. A KR always has a return set up.

Finally a PR needs to be smart and a good decision maker. Field it or let it drop, field it or signal a fair catch. Plus you are making that decision under quite a bit of pressure. If you ask spl teams coaches if they had a choice between a solid kid who may never take it to the house or a kid that can take it to the house but is shaky fielding the punt or decision making. It's a no brainer take the solid consistent kid. If a PR averages 10 yards per return that's great because coaches look at it as one less first down for the offense.

Catching a punt is one of the hardest individual skills that occurs on the football field.

An interesting and unique post. I liked it. It reminds me of something you might see in a textbook entitled "Football in 2017-Punt Returning".

 

[tboyer]

How many 700 yard games did those guys have in high school?

No guarantees. Anybody remember Austin Scott? Set every PA HS record imaginable, but when he got to PSU he wasn't quite fast enough or strong enough. Brown is fast enough but my guess would be he has to get a lot stronger before he can break tackles in the B1G. Assuming they have KO returns covered this year, I hope Brown redshirts because he has tremendous potential, just needs to put on 15 pounds or so.

 

[Rollin Stone]

An interesting and unique post. I liked it. It reminds me of something you might see in a textbook entitled "Football in 2017-Punt Returning".

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it. Thoughts? Special Teams is definitely a fun area for me and I pay particular close interest in watching.

 

[hereforthebeer]

No guarantees. Anybody remember Austin Scott? Set every PA HS record imaginable, but when he got to PSU he wasn't quite fast enough or strong enough. Brown is fast enough but my guess would be he has to get a lot stronger before he can break tackles in the B1G. Assuming they have KO returns covered this year, I hope Brown redshirts because he has tremendous potential, just needs to put on 15 pounds or so.

Those were not Austin Scott's problems.

 

[BisbeeMike]

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it. Thoughts? Special Teams is definitely a fun area for me and I pay particular close interest in watching.

I think we've got 4 weeks to make the decisions as to who goes at those spots this year. To me, there is no question that we now have the talent to pinpoint a man for each spot, or for both spots if we go that way. I think we upgrade our return games in both areas this year, as a result of that talent increase. We have the young guys coming in to compete with a few guys who have done the job also, in Sanders and Thompkins. I see this as a "win-win" in that we got guys who have been there and done that, and have learned some hard lessons as well as had a few good returns, so we pocket that and go from there.

 

[BisbeeMike]

No guarantees. Anybody remember Austin Scott? Set every PA HS record imaginable, but when he got to PSU he wasn't quite fast enough or strong enough. Brown is fast enough but my guess would be he has to get a lot stronger before he can break tackles in the B1G. Assuming they have KO returns covered this year, I hope Brown redshirts because he has tremendous potential, just needs to put on 15 pounds or so.

We might not be asking Brown to break tackles this year. We might simply ask him to find a crease, and hit top gear, and score 6 points for us on a kickoff return.

 

[steelhead52]

No guarantees. Anybody remember Austin Scott? Set every PA HS record imaginable, but when he got to PSU he wasn't quite fast enough or strong enough. Brown is fast enough but my guess would be he has to get a lot stronger before he can break tackles in the B1G. Assuming they have KO returns covered this year, I hope Brown redshirts because he has tremendous potential, just needs to put on 15 pounds or so.

You might be totally right. Most kids aren't ready physically their freshman year. But this kid may be an exception. He is really put together, and at nearly 200 pounds, is bigger than would be expected for the type of speed this kid has.

 

[BoulderFish]

It takes some brass ones to be a punt returner for one. Well more than a KR at least. The field awareness need to field a punt is completely different for a PR as well as the flight/ spin/ and trajectory for PR are a lot more varied than for a KR.

You need to be more quick than flat out speed as a PR because you may always have to make at least 1 guy miss from a dead stop or not at full speed. So the PR needs moves to help help get free so they can get to full speed. Whereas a KR will often have 10-15 yards to run before he has to make a move on someone.

Plus a PR, may not have "blockers" as it is possible that the Spl teams coach called for a "rush" as opposed to a set up a return. A KR always has a return set up.

Finally a PR needs to be smart and a good decision maker. Field it or let it drop, field it or signal a fair catch. Plus you are making that decision under quite a bit of pressure. If you ask spl teams coaches if they had a choice between a solid kid who may never take it to the house or a kid that can take it to the house but is shaky fielding the punt or decision making. It's a no brainer take the solid consistent kid. If a PR averages 10 yards per return that's great because coaches look at it as one less first down for the offense.

Catching a punt is one of the hardest individual skills that occurs on the football field.

I was both a punt returner and kickoff returner in HS and I agree with all of this. Returning kicks was an absolute blast - my favorite thing to do in the game. Returning punts - especially at night - was scary as hell. LOL

 

[PSU_is_Alumni_Students_NotBOT]

I am anxious to see how Journey develops. He has the speed, if he adds some muscle and quickness he could be an unbelievable under the radar recruit. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and wishing him the best.

Adds muscle? Clearly you didn't see pictures of him setting the PIAA 100m record that Two-time World Record Holder Leroy Burrell set 35 years ago in 1985 while running for Penn Wood HS. The kid is completely jacked! Where you're getting that he needs to "add muscle" (i.e., implying he's small) is a complete mystery and entirely untrue.

 

[PSU_Nut]

Adds muscle? Clearly you didn't see pictures of him setting the PIAA 100m record that Two-time World Record Holder Leroy Burrell set 35 years ago in 1985 while running for Penn Wood HS. The kid is completely jacked! Where you're getting that he needs to "add muscle" (i.e., implying he's small) is a complete mystery and entirely untrue.

It wasn't the PIAA 100m record. It was the PIAA championship meet record.

 

[AWS1022]

No guarantees. Anybody remember Austin Scott? Set every PA HS record imaginable, but when he got to PSU he wasn't quite fast enough or strong enough. Brown is fast enough but my guess would be he has to get a lot stronger before he can break tackles in the B1G. Assuming they have KO returns covered this year, I hope Brown redshirts because he has tremendous potential, just needs to put on 15 pounds or so.

Obviously work ethic has a lot to do with it, but the kid has the tools.

 

[djr4rebs]

Adds muscle? Clearly you didn't see pictures of him setting the PIAA 100m record that Two-time World Record Holder Leroy Burrell set 35 years ago in 1985 while running for Penn Wood HS. The kid is completely jacked! Where you're getting that he needs to "add muscle" (i.e., implying he's small) is a complete mystery and entirely untrue.

It's his lack of offers. Plain and simple.

 

[NittanyLionRoar]

 

[T J]

"Jacked" Journey Brown

Yup, that works! ​