ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ junior linebacker Taye Brown was named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy preseason watch list.
The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation announced the 42-player watch list on Wednesday. The Lott IMPACT Trophy is awarded to a college football defensive player who excels on and off the field.
Brown is entering his second season as ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥â€™s starting linebacker, after starting 11 games last season. As a sophomore, Brown had 68 tackles, four stops for loss, 2.5 sacks, two pass deflections, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ linebacker Taye Brown against West Virginia in the first half on Oct. 26, 2024, in Tucson
First-year ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ linebackers coach Josh Bringuel said Brown is “a phenomenal example of putting time in the classroom and that allows you to play fast on the field.â€
“You’ll see him breaking on passes before the ball is even thrown,†ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥â€™s linebackers coach said in April. “He has an elite sense, because he puts the work in.â€
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The next step for the 6-2, 231-pound Brown as the leader of ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥â€™s defense is “playing with consistent dominant contact, because he’s a big, strong and physical guy,†Bringuel said.
“Now it’s just letting him come out of himself and play with dominant contact and be that dude out on the grass, because he’s a great leader and everyone respects him for how hard he works and the work he puts in day in and day out,†Bringuel said.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ kicks off the season against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors on Saturday, Aug. 30, at 7:30 p.m. on TNT and HBO Max.
Contact Justin Spears, the Star’s ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ football beat reporter, at jspears@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @JustinESports
Justin Spears
Sports Reporter
