by LARRY VAUGHT
“He was in the fourth grade I think but even at that point in time you knew this kid would be special,” said McConnell.
He was right.
Brown is now a 6-foot, 190-pound four star cornerback who recently gave his verbal commitment to Kentucky over Tennessee, Louisville and Mississippi.
“He is a heck of a football player. He plays receiver, cornerback, returns kicks for us. He can do anything,” McConnell said. “He was our best basketball player. The team went to the state championship game before losing and he had 21 points in the title game. He’s an all-around athlete who played baseball until this year and also runs track.”
He had 40 tackles, four interceptions and six pass breakups last season and in the state title game had four catches for 63 yards and a score, broke up two passes and returned a kickoff 78 yards for a touchdown.
During his sophomore season he had 39 tackles and three interceptions he returned for touchdowns. He also had 54 catches for 984 yards and 16 touchdowns. He had over 1,300 all-purpose yards.
“I would think the kid would compete (for playing time) from day one at Kentucky. He just turned 17. He is still growing up,” McConnell said. “He is the type of kid who will do everything he can to get on the field whether it is nutrition, studying film or getting in the playbook.
“I had a college coach tell me a kid is fast enough if he doesn’t get caught. I don’t know that I have ever seen him get caught. He is not shy about contact, either. When I got back to Westview he was a sophomore and our first game playing against our rival he hit their running back and he did not play any more that game. No way will he shy away from contact.”
Kentucky coaches made Brown a priority with head coach Will Stein, defensive coordinator Jay Bateman and cornerback coach Allen Brown all visiting. They also impressed him when he visited Lexington.
“When he came back from his first trip to Lexington he was really excited. He fell in love with the place. He had a great relationship with the cornerback coach,” McConnell said.
Still, McConnell did not know what school his star player was going to pick until he announced his decision at his commitment ceremony.
“I never asked him where he was doing until he made his commitment. I just asked if he was happy and if they were going to take care of him. I think it was a relief for him to know where he wanted to be and he just wanted to get this done,” McConnell said.
“He is a special athlete and great kid. He is almost an all-A student. He is a super leader. You just don’t find many athletes that have the attitude he has got. Nobody will outwork him. He shows up every day and is very consistent. He does not change day to day. He is just Miles. He works hard, is a great teammate, does whatever you ask him to do and is very coachable. You just do not find many like him.”
