Brown makes up for lack of size with heart

This season has been a challenge for Eisenhower’s football team with injuries and the lack of depth forcing younger players to fill critical roles for the Eagles, especially on defense.

One of those thrown into the mix is sophomore safety Adrian Brown, a 5-5, 130-pounder who is mixing it up with players who are most often much larger.

“Both of us (safeties) are undersized but in my case, I just go out there and play with my heart and be aggressive,” he said. “I gained 15 to 20 pounds last summer and I’m hoping I get bigger as I grow older.”

He says the coaches have taught him a great deal but admits playing at the 6AII level isn’t easy.

“There is a good deal of pressure and it is a challenge to play at this level,” he said. “I just want to go out there and do my best and put it on the line for his teammates.”

Brown, who was born in Germany where his father was serving in the United States Army, came to Lawton as a 1-year-old and the family has dropped roots here.

“I have not thought about going into the military like my dad, but I have already been thinking about some majors that seem like they might be a good thing for a career.”

In his spare time, he loves to pick up a basketball and drain shots since when the Ike football season winds down, he will hit the Ike gym and play shooting guard for Coach Brandon Kephart’s basketball team.

“I love basketball a great deal,” he said. “I’ve been playing both football and basketball since the third grade and love them both a great deal. We are going to be undersized in basketball but I like my coaches and we should be decent. Coach Kephart is trying to build a good program and I want to do my part.”

In the classroom the sophomore enjoys his English class where he loves to write themes when he gets “a topic that is really interesting to him.”

When it comes to his preference of food, his favorite is a bit different than most of the players we’ve interview this year.

“I love Mexican food, especially quesadillas,” Brown said. “The place that has really good ones is El Torro which I love.”

This week the Eagles are in a good situation with a playoff berth already clinched heading into their regular-season finale against U.S. Grant which is winless at 0-6 in District 6AII-1 and 0-9 overall.

“Our attitude has been great because we know that we are going to the playoffs,” Brown said. “We should be able to win but we have to prepare like anyone and not overlook them. They do have a couple of good athletes.

“They will run more than they pass and since we’ve given up a lot of rushing yards, that’s what we are expecting them to do against us.”

While the Eagles have had to scramble to fill a starting lineup at times, it may pay off in the future.

“It has been difficult at times with a not a lot of depth or size,” Brown said. “We’ve moved a corner to safety and done some other things to try and improve. We have some guys who are good leaders. Rheem (Ellzey) is a sophomore as well at linebacker and Brandon Goldsmith and Chase Beadle are also underclassmen so we are all getting a good deal of experience that should help us in the future.”