Brown excels in spring game, camps up next

D.J. Brown

North Little Rock athlete D.J. Brown had an outstanding performance during the Charging Wildcats’ spring game on Friday with Arkansas’ offensive staff on hand.

"It was fun," Brown said. "We knew we were going to do good. We've been working hard and learning the plays. We went out there with confidence, just ran the ball and hit the hole and everything just opened up.”

Brown, 5-10, 181, 4.44 seconds in the 40 yard dash, rushed 7 times for 180 yards and 3 touchdowns while also having a 66 yard run for a score called back due to a penalty.

He appreciated offensive coordinator Jim Chaney, offensive line coach Sam Pittman, running backs coach Joe Thomas, tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. and wide receivers coach Michael Smith to War Memorial Stadium for the game.

"It means a lot,” Brown said. “I don't know if they ever came to a game when I was at Catholic. Me and K.J. thought that was pretty cool. We talked about it. We wanted to come out and have a good day so we could impress them, or so I could impress them.”

The Charging Wildcats scrimmaged the first teams against the second teams. Coach Brad Bolding was pleased with Brown’s outing and excited about the upcoming season.

I thought he played well,” Bolding said. ”His change of direction, his speed, he can catch, he's going to be a huge asset. Then we've got Fabian (Lewis), who we didn't practice at all during the two week dead period, so it's going to be a deadly combination back there with K.J. outside. I'm excited about that.”

Brown, who has offers from Illinois, Northern Illinois, Southern Miss, Arkansas State, Memphis and others, will attend Missouri’s camp this weekend and has plans to camp at Arkansas and Memphis.

He had 157 carries for 871 yards and 11 touchdown while also having 61 receptions for 688 yards and 4 touchdowns as a junior at Little Rock Catholic. He has made strides since arriving at North Little Rock in early April.

"I think you'll see a different one in August, because we only had him for about a month in the weight room and he had huge gains,” Bolding said. “We figured that would happen, but this summer will be huge, huge gains. We're going to try and get him close to 200 on his weight.”

Brown said Arizona State and Tennessee have been showing interest.

“I've been talking to them, so hopefully that goes well and I'll go to their camp,” he said.