Regarded as the No. 5 overall high school football prospect in the Class of 2024 according to 247Sports,
Sammy Brown of
Jefferson (Ga.) has made a name for himself on the gridiron as a dominant linebacker, tallying 113 tackles during his junior campaign.
On the other side of the ball, Brown rushed for 1,449 yards and totaled 24 touchdowns during a season that saw Jefferson finish with a record of 8-3 and qualify for the AAAAA state playoffs.
He might be an even more dominant wrestler with an 88-5 career record, back-to-back state championships and a 27-2 mark this winter while competing at 285.
Sammy Brown has gained the most notoriety for his work on the football field but he has compiled an equally as impressive resume in wrestling and track and field. (Photo: Ed Turlington)
Brown shifted his attention to track and field in the spring, placing sixth in the state meet in the 100-meter (10.76), fourth in the long jump (23-3) and 11th in the 200-meter (22.0).
For his efforts, Brown – who committed to play football at Clemson earlier this week – has been named the 2022-23 MaxPreps Male National Athlete of the Year. He joins a list that includes past winners like Derrick Henry, Patrick Mahomes, Kyler Murray, Lonzo Ball and Jalen Suggs (see the complete list below).
"It means a ton," Brown said of the award. "I really appreciate it and I feel very honored
to just be able to represent Jefferson High School. It's a really great
blessing to earn that honor and I just really appreciate it."
Sports aren't everything for Brown, however. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound rising senior describes himself as an outdoorsman who spends time unwinding in nature.
"I would consider myself a pretty good hunter and fisherman," Brown said. "I am pretty
outdoorsy. I ride four-wheelers and spend a lot of time out in the
woods."
Dabo Swinney and Clemson won out earlier this week over Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Tennessee for Brown's commitment. (Photo: Ed Turlington)
Brown also finds time for golf and has gone viral for his incredible feats in the weight room. Perhaps most impressively, he has managed to excel in the classroom with a 4.0 GPA.
Earning a spot in the NFL is Brown's ultimate goal, but he has a backup plan if football doesn't work out at the highest level.
"I want to be a three- or four-year starter at the
college of my choosing and beyond that to make it to the NFL and become a
first-round pick," Brown said prior to his Clemson commitment annoucement. "If that doesn't pan out then my second choice is to go into pre-med in college and
become a pediatrician."
Expectations are high heading into his senior year as Brown will look to continue to build his athletic legacy at Jefferson High School.
"I definitely want to make a
deep run into the playoffs in football and then maybe win another state
title in wrestling if I don't early enroll," Brown said. "Anything can happen on the
track, so athletically the sky is the limit and I am really excited for
that."
Brown put one big decision behind him Monday night by picking Clemson over Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Seven former MaxPreps National Athlete of the Year selections have made it to the NFL — don't be surprised if this year's winner becomes the eighth.
Other nominees
The track and field standout ran a 10.25 100-meter and 20.47 200-meter at the BYU
Invitational (biggest and oldest meet in the Intermountain area). Those
times ranked third and second in the nation, respectively. Bair also
hauled in 73 receptions for 1,113 yards and 20 touchdowns on the
gridiron.
A standout
on the baseball diamond, he had a .457 batting average with a .531 OBP
and smashed 16 home runs, 63 RBI and 44 runs in 138 at-bats.
Gundy also led the Pioneers to their first state championship in 55
years in football, throwing 30 touchdowns and rushing for 10 more.
South Dakota's all-time passing leader led Riggs to three consecutive state titles in football with 9,100 passing yards and 104 touchdowns. Kienholz was also a first team all-state selection in basketball and had a standout season in baseball.
A first-team MaxPreps All-America selection in football, he recorded four interceptions and returned two kickoffs for touchdowns. He also set the state record with a wind-aided 10.09 100-meter and won the 200-meter with a wind-legal 20.53 at the CIF Southern Section championships.
Past winners
2007-08 — Terrelle Pryor, Jeannette (Pa.)
2008-09 — Garrett Gilbert, Lake Travis (Austin, Texas)
2009-10 — Dorial Green-Beckham, Hillcrest (Springfield, Mo.)
2010-11 — Kasen Williams, Skyline (Sammamish, Wash.)
2011-12 — Anthony Alford, Petal (Miss.)
2012-13 — Derrick Henry, Yulee (Fla.)
2013-14 — Patrick Mahomes, Whitehouse (Texas)
2014-15 — Kyler Murray, Allen (Texas)
2015-16 — Lonzo Ball, Chino Hills (Calif.)
2016-17 — Tim Tawa, West Linn (Ore.)
2017-18 — Jordyn Adams, Green Hope (Cary, N.C.)
2018-19 — Joe Girard III, Glen Falls (N.Y.)
2019-20 — Jalen Suggs, Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis, Minn.)
2020-21 — Lebbeus Overton, Milton (Ga.)
2021-22 — Aaron Graves, Southeast Valley (Gowrie, Iowa)
