The Brown Risk

By on March 18, 2009 in General CFB

So now Tennessee has landed the nation’s No. 1-rated recruit, running back Bryce Brown.

I think Brown is a talent who could one day contend for the Heisman.

HOWEVER.

The baggage this kid brings with him to Knoxville is tremendous and his presence would have been treacherous to any program–hence the fact that most schools wanted nothing to do with him by the time signing day rolled around.

Furthermore, let’s keep it real.  This kid is NOT an Adrian Peterson-type of talent.  I’d be shocked if he had a huge freshman season.  Remember, he played high school in Kansas, against a very low level of competition.  He will take time to adjust.  Let’s also not forget that the sole reason he was ranked the top player in the country by Rivals was his performance in an All-Star game. 

So, color me skeptical about his immediate impact, though I do think he will eventually be very good. 

And finally, I think this is another bad move by the King of the Offseason, Lane Kiffin.  The short term prestige of landing the nation’s top recruit could result in some long-term pain for the program down the road.  But Kiffin seems to have no problem pushing the envelope when it comes to NCAA regulations.  Luckily, Kiffin does have a veteran staff around him to help keep Brown and his entourage in order.  But make no mistake, it’s a gamble that could come back to haunt the Vols.

About Heismanpundit

Chris Huston, A.K.A. ‘The Heisman Pundit‘, is a Heisman voter and the creator and publisher of Heismanpundit.com, a site dedicated to analysis of the Heisman Trophy and college football. Dubbed “the foremost authority on the Heisman” by Sports Illustrated, HP is regularly quoted or cited during football season in newspapers across the country. He is also a regular contributor on sports talk radio and television.
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9 Responses to The Brown Risk

  1. FredBoone March 18, 2009 at 5:03 pm #

    TRUE or FALSE

    Lane Kiffin has a part, possibly even a large part, in you having the reputation to have a blog about and be an expert, pundit as you call it, on the Heisman?

    Reply
  2. Heismanpundit March 19, 2009 at 9:17 am #

    False.

    Reply
  3. FredBoone March 19, 2009 at 5:18 pm #

    Yep, keep on telling yourself that.

    Reply
  4. Orange James March 21, 2009 at 9:42 am #

    Heisman-D***head:

    I hope you keep bagging on Kiffin. That ensures TN will be sucessful.

    National Championship within 3 years.

    Orange James

    Reply
  5. FredBoone March 21, 2009 at 2:25 pm #

    Who had a bigger hand in Palmer and Leinart winning the Heisman:

    An Assistant Sports Information Director or an actual football coach at USC?

    Reply
  6. Old Ducker March 22, 2009 at 5:26 pm #

    Kiffin deserves credit for Palmer’s heisman because he was a rookie wide receiver’s coach in ’02?

    He also invented the internet.

    Reply
  7. FredBoone March 22, 2009 at 5:51 pm #

    Hmmmm….

    Rookie WR Coach/ ASSISTANT Sports Information director?

    Reply
  8. Robb in TN March 24, 2009 at 1:19 pm #

    Furthermore, let’s keep it real. This kid is NOT an Adrian Peterson-type of talent. I’d be shocked if he had a huge freshman season. Remember, he played high school in Kansas, against a very low level of competition. He will take time to adjust. Let’s also not forget that the sole reason he was ranked the top player in the country by Rivals was his performance in an All-Star game.

    So the kid isn’t that good cause he played against no talent.

    Then he doesn’t deserve the ranking because he only got it with how he performed against the nation’s most talented HS recruits?

    Reply
  9. Pete March 24, 2009 at 5:51 pm #

    Maybe he can store his “baggage at Reggie’s house.

    Reply

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