Brown overcomes injury, adversity, signs with Houston Baptist

By Tyler Tyre, Sports Editor
Posted 2/6/22

“The work was every day,” Brown said. “Not only physically but mentally, it’s wear and tear on your body. Day in and day out I just had to stay focused and determined. It paid off.”

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Brown overcomes injury, adversity, signs with Houston Baptist

Posted

Jacob Brown had to work to get himself an opportunity at the collegiate level.

The Paetow senior came into the season as a relative unknown to recruiters after backing up Damon Blankston his junior year. Brown knew he would have to show Universities what he was capable of and he did just that in his senior season, spearheading a rushing attack that helped lead Paetow to a state championship.

His effort started to pay off late in the season when teams took notice and after the state championship, Brown received a number of scholarship opportunities from schools.

The senior running back took his time finding the right place for him and signed his national letter of intent to play at Houston Baptist University on Wednesday.

“The education was the biggest thing for me,” Brown said. “It’s a great education and environment. As soon as I got there the coaches and the players were so great and it felt like home. I knew it was exactly where I wanted to be.”

Brown didn’t have the normal recruitment experience for a most athletes. Many of his offers came pouring in after the state final, and it made for a difficult month of decision making for Brown.

“It was crazy, it wasn’t the normal recruitment experience wher you kind of get your junior and senior year to think about it,” Brown said. “It was really only the last few months of my senior season. With it being such a long season it kind of was the short end of the stick on trying to figure out where you want to go. But I found a place that’s home and I’m excited for what’s next.”

Brown was dominant in his senior season despite suffering an injury shortly before district play, he ended the season with 1558 yards rushing and 27 touchdowns, averaging over nine yards per carry and over 155 yards per game.

“The work was every day,” Brown said. “Not only physically but mentally, it’s wear and tear on your body. Day in and day out I just had to stay focused and determined. It paid off.”

Paetow head coach B.J. Gotte was extremely proud of what Brown did to accomplish his goals.

“His personal story is one that is unbelievable,” Gotte said. “The things that he has had to overcome over the last five years, you could probably make a movie about it. For him to be able to persevere through the different challenges that he and his family have had over the years is just a credit to his family, to his teammates and it’s a credit to his belief in himself. I’m so happy for him.”

It wasn’t just about football for Brown, the education he will be getting at Houston Baptist is the most important thing to him and he can’t wait for the opportunity.

“It just feels great,” Brown said. “It’s crazy, the last four years the stuff we’ve gone through, on and off the field. But I was able to do my part and the team did its part too. We won state, I get to go to college and I get a great education for free. It just feels amazing.”

Jacob Brown, Paetow, signing, football, Houston Baptist, Katy ISD