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Donald Brown

  • Height:
    5'10"
  • Weight:
    210 lbs.
  • College:
    Connecticut
  • Conference:
    Big East
  • Hometown:
    Atlantic Highlands, NJ
  • High School:
    Red Bank Catholic

Brown doesn't have any special measurements that stand out to scouts, but it's hard to think of something he can't do. His early entry into the draft came after leading the nation with 2,083 rushing yards and scoring 18 touchdowns as a junior, including a huge 261-yard effort as the 2009 International Bowl MVP.


He was named an All-American and the Big East Offensive Player of the Year for his efforts. That total was more than the combined 1,717 yards in his first two seasons while working in a platoon system with the talented Andre Dixon (who suffered a 2008 preseason injury to open the door for Brown) in 2007 and taking over for star back Terry Caulley as a redshirt freshman.


The fact that others have enjoyed so much success under head coach Randy Edsall is one of the key questions scouts are seeking to answer. Brown's production, like Central Florida's Kevin Smith last year, is undeniable, but considering the success of past UConn backs -- and their subsequent lack of success in the NFL -- Brown will have his doubters on draft day. Had an arm span of 31 1/2 inches and a hand span of 9 inches at the combine.


Positives: Compact build. Runs with a low center of gravity. Good speed to and through the hole. Best attributes might be his vision and stop-and-start ability. Shifty runner who can slide in and out of the hole at the point of attack and hit the seam before it really opens. Deceptively fast once he gets to the second level. Good balance to appear to lean one way to deceive the oncoming safety, only to bounce the other. At least adequate straight-line speed to gain yardage in chunks. Soft hands out of the backfield and an alert receiver. High effort player. Negatives: A bit narrow in his shoulders and might lack the frame to add much weight. Might lack the bulk and leg drive to be a true bell-cow runner at the NFL level. Lacks elite speed to breakaway from NFL defenders. Marginal size and strength as a pass blocker. Struggles of past Connecticut backs to translate their collegiate success to the NFL will force some teams to pause on draft day, especially considering the role left tackle William Beatty -- himself a first-day prospect -- had on Brown's success.

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