2019 Rivals250 RB Derrian Brown Impressed With Autry Denson
Notre Dame is off to a good start in the 2019 class with the commitments of Rivals250 quarterback Cade McNamara of Reno (Nev.) Damonte Ranch and four-star Bowling Green (Ky.) South Warren defensive tackle Jacob Lacey, who ranks as the nation’s No. 10 player at the position.
The Irish staff, once the 2018 class is completed, will turn their full attention to the current junior class looking to add playmakers at all levels on each side of the ball.
On Nov. 27, Notre Dame offered one of 2019’s best at running back in Buford (Ga.) High product Derrian Brown. Running backs coach Autry Denson and Brown have been in contact for the past several months.
“It was big because I’ve heard highly of the program,” the 5-foot-10, 180-pounder said of the Irish offer. “Coach Denson is really a great coach and I have a friend that goes there. He is the holder (Montgomery VanGorder).
“It was much a surprise.”
Brown, who ranks as the No. 15 running back and No. 208 player nationally, shares the backfield with two talented seniors in three-star Christian Turner, who is committed to Michigan, and four-star athlete Anthony Grant, who is committed to Tennessee.
The Rivals250 prospect talked with Denson following the offer, and the Irish assistant made quite the impression Brown and his parents.
“He said before he offered me was that he was not here just to recruit,” Brown explained. “He was here to also build a relationship with me and my family. He asked my parents for their permission if he could recruit me.
“Both me and my parents really thought that was respectful and nice of him and that’s when we knew he was a good guy and really meant every word he spoke.”
Getting to South Bend is something Brown hopes to do in order to learn about a Notre Dame program he admits he isn’t too familiar with.
“I would have to talk with me parents about when coming down and stuff, but the things important to me [to see would be] the academics centers and the football facilities.”
Despite sharing the backfield with two other highly-touted players, Brown has quite the offer list which includes the likes of Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan State, Ohio State, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin, among others.
“I never thought it would be like this,” Brown stated of the recruitment process. “It’s great and fun.”
Brown will be a name to keep an eye on in the coming months as he takes visits and builds relationships with Denson and other coaches across the country.
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