ESPN "sleepers" - Kerry Brown

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GopherTheJugular

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Kerry Brown, safety, Minnesota Golden Gophers​

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Class: Sophomore

Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 190 pounds

2024 stats: 12 games (9 starts), 63 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 4 pass breakups

ESPN recruiting snapshot: Three stars, No. 68 safety, No. 133 in Florida


Big Ten fans and others probably know about Minnesota's other safety, Koi Perich, the first-team All-Big Ten defensive back who might be the closest thing to Travis Hunter in 2025 as he takes on a significant role for the offense. But Minnesota also is excited about Brown, who performed well during his first season as a starter, finishing third on the team in tackles and showing active hands in pass coverage. He had pass breakups in each of his last two games, and made several of his biggest tackles on fourth down, where Minnesota thrived (15th nationally in fourth down defense).

Coach's take: "Kerry Brown is a very special football player," Minnesota defensive coordinator Danny Collins told ESPN. "He is a star on our team, and he's ready to take that next step. He can do everything. We put him at nickel, we put him at strong [safety], we put him at free [safety], he plays dime on third down. He can do everything. His coverage right now is the best that it's ever been. He just has a great feel for the game. He can track the ball deep throws, he's a guy that has a great ability to blitz and he can bend and blade and get his body in different positions to get through the line of scrimmage."

https://www.espn.com/college-footba...llege-football-2025-player-rank-sleeper-picks
 

GopherTheJugular said:

Kerry Brown, safety, Minnesota Golden Gophers​

i

Class: Sophomore

Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 190 pounds

2024 stats: 12 games (9 starts), 63 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 4 pass breakups

ESPN recruiting snapshot: Three stars, No. 68 safety, No. 133 in Florida


Big Ten fans and others probably know about Minnesota's other safety, Koi Perich, the first-team All-Big Ten defensive back who might be the closest thing to Travis Hunter in 2025 as he takes on a significant role for the offense. But Minnesota also is excited about Brown, who performed well during his first season as a starter, finishing third on the team in tackles and showing active hands in pass coverage. He had pass breakups in each of his last two games, and made several of his biggest tackles on fourth down, where Minnesota thrived (15th nationally in fourth down defense).

Coach's take: "Kerry Brown is a very special football player," Minnesota defensive coordinator Danny Collins told ESPN. "He is a star on our team, and he's ready to take that next step. He can do everything. We put him at nickel, we put him at strong [safety], we put him at free [safety], he plays dime on third down. He can do everything. His coverage right now is the best that it's ever been. He just has a great feel for the game. He can track the ball deep throws, he's a guy that has a great ability to blitz and he can bend and blade and get his body in different positions to get through the line of scrimmage."

https://www.espn.com/college-footba...llege-football-2025-player-rank-sleeper-picks
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Kerry Brown was really good last year. If he didn't happen to be a FR at the same time as Perich, there would be a ton of offseason threads about him. In some ways, Perich is only able to do what he does because he plays back there with Brown.

Brown is the more natural FS but they are both so versatile that you can completely disguise the defense. Either of them can play FS, SS, nickel and they can tackle. You can't just say "Ok, Brown is lined up in the slot, they're blitzing".
 

Bob_Loblaw said:
Brown is the more natural FS but they are both so versatile that you can completely disguise the defense. Either of them can play FS, SS, nickel and they can tackle. You can't just say "Ok, Brown is lined up in the slot, they're blitzing".
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This is what I love - confuse a QB and watch the offense make mistakes. I love defensive football. I really hope we keep the chaos this year. With 2 young, star safeties, who now have experience, we should be able to get creative.
 

Perich gets the attention with the flashy picks and his versatility (and he's one of us) but on a play-by-play, pound-for-pound importance, I was probably more impressed by Kerry last year. There were multiple times when I was like "Dang, who the hell is that guy?" after he filled a run gap like a missile with super clean tackling. Honestly reminds me of a Winfield Sr with the Vikes, undersized DB that plays way bigger than his size and is almost like a LB in the run game.
 

GopherEnEspaña said:
Perich gets the attention with the flashy picks and his versatility (and he's one of us) but on a play-by-play, pound-for-pound importance, I was probably more impressed by Kerry last year. There were multiple times when I was like "Dang, who the hell is that guy?" after he filled a run gap like a missile with super clean tackling. Honestly reminds me of a Winfield Sr with the Vikes, undersized DB that plays way bigger than his size and is almost like a LB in the run game.
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Yes, he was missile-like in run defense last year. Excited for him and our safety room this year!
 



Having smart and versatile guys on defense can really open up different looks. That's what makes the Vikings defense so good too.
 





He is damn good! If not for Koi, people would have been talking a LOT more about KB14. 63 tackles and 2 INT in 12 games as a freshman is impressive.
 

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