Tag: Ireland Brown

Rutgers offensive lineman Ireland Brown has declared for the 2024 NFL Draft

On Sunday, Rutgers offensive lineman Ireland Brown announced on his social media account that he was declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft. 

Over the weekend, Rutgers offensive lineman Ireland Brown announced on his social media account that he’s declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft.

Brown, the 6-foot-3, 300-pound lineman, began his career as a defensive tackle at Boston College before transferring to Rutgers in his sophomore season.

When joining Rutgers football, Brown moved from defense to offense, getting rotated to left guard in 2021 before settling into the center position a year later. During his junior season, Brown started 11 games and was named to the Academic All-Big Ten list, earning the Mark Mills Second Effort Award as the team’s most improved offensive player during spring practice in 2022.

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The Jamaica, New York native helped an offense unit total 460 yards against a Big Ten opponent in Michigan State. Also, Brown was part of a unit that allowed no sacks in a winning effort against Indiana in 2022.

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Heading into the 2023 season, Brown was selected to the Reese’s Senior Bowl watch list, being identified as a possible future 2024 NFL Draft pick.

The senior center took part in a unit that totaled 436 yards of offense in a victory over Wagner and received his third Academic All-Big Ten honor for his efforts in the classroom.

 

 

Rutgers football: Ireland Burke progressing nicely at center

Ireland Brown is showing well at the center position for Rutgers football.

Ireland Brown is on his third position since joining Rutgers football two years ago, his athleticism and versatility helping him find multiple roles with the program. The center position is now his latest venture.

A transfer from Boston College, Brown came to Rutgers originally as a defensive tackle. Then he transitioned last fall to the offensive line where he played as a guard.

Now this spring, he is at center, which is where he played on Friday night at the annual spring game. Brown, now at 6-foot-3 and 295 pounds, played in nine games a season ago at left guard, with six starts.

Rutgers head coach [autotag]Greg Schiano[/autotag] sees an uptick in his performance and comfort at his new position.

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“Ireland started the year, the spring at guard. After four practices, we made the move to center. We just thought that he had that kind of fast-twitch, and he does,” Schiano said after the game.

“I mean, I think he can be as good as he wants to be. He really improved quite a bit. He did a good job the first four practices but from practice five on, he really picked it up.”

The fact that Brown can play three positions at the collegiate level is impressive. It is that versatility and athleticism that Schiano says makes him a natural at the center position.

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Coming out of Pope John (Sparta, N.J.), Brown was a three-star recruit, was ranked the No. 40 player in the state in the class of 2019 according to Rivals.

In addition to Boston College and Rutgers, he also held Power Five offers from Maryland, Minnesota and Purdue.

“You know, centers, people kind of take it for granted, especially in a shotgun offense. They just take that snap for granted. Well, that’s not the easiest thing in the world,” Schiano said.

“If that’s all you had to do, it’s easy. But you have to snap it, and then you have to block somebody, and that other guy doesn’t have to snap it. He just has to get off on ball. It’s really a lot harder than people think. So you’ve really got to be a pretty good athlete to do it, and with he and Gus, I think we have some good depth at the position now.”

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