Dwayne Brown
Offensive Lineman
Bethune-Cookman
Alex Khvatov: What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?
Dwayne Brown: I am 6’3, 327 and my last forty was a 5.4. It has been awhile since I ran my last forty. But I have been training for it.
Alex Khvatov: Where are you currently training for the NFL Draft?
Dwayne Brown: I have been training at X-Factor in Indianapolis and St. Vincent Sports Performance with Trai Essex. He used to play for the Steelers.
Alex Khvatov: When is your Pro Day? What are your expectations for that day?
Dwayne Brown: On March 29th. I have been focusing on my 10-yard splits. My times should be right up there with everyone else at the Combine for my position group. I want to hit in the mid-20’s on 225 and run a 4.7 in the 5-10-5.
Alex Khvatov: How would you describe your experience at the College Gridiron Showcase?
Dwayne Brown: It was a good experience. I was at the small school showcase. I did the one on one’s.
Alex Khvatov: Tell me about the HBCU Spirit of America Bowl in Virginia.
Dwayne Brown: It was lots of fun. We had three practices and the game. It was a great experience. There were CFL and NFL teams there. We performed in front of scouts. We did the one on one’s. There were a lot of reps.
Alex Khvatov: Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?
Dwayne Brown: Out of high school, I had Ball State, Western Michigan, Toledo and Bowling Green. I kind of waited after my junior year. I visited those schools on summer trips. Those schools filled up. During my senior year, I had FCS teams that called. Eastern Michigan showed up in the middle of December. I liked it.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you choose Eastern Michigan?
Dwayne Brown: It was the only FBS offer. I liked coach Ron English a lot. I formed a good relationship with the coaches. I redshirted the first year. I played my first game against Michigan State. Then I started and played the rest of the way.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you decide to transfer Bethune-Cookman?
Dwayne Brown: We got a new staff at Eastern Michigan. We didn’t win a lot. In high school, I was used to winning. I felt like it would be better for me to go somewhere else. I went to JUCO at Arizona. I took my official visit to Bethune-Cookman. It was a different feeling than anywhere else I have been. I liked the coaches. They won a lot. The HBCU atmosphere was really cool.
Alex Khvatov: What are your strengths?
Dwayne Brown: I am a smart football player. They call me a road grader, but I pass block just as well. I know the playbook very well and I understand the offense. I can play center and guard. I played at center at Eastern Michigan. I played guard at Bethune-Cookman
Alex Khvatov: What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?
Dwayne Brown: I want to be as explosive as I can in every aspect. I want to get on the board and learn different blitzes. I want to understand what the defense is trying to do on every play. Trai Essex has helped me with the little things.
Alex Khvatov: Describe your overall career at Bethune-Cookman.
Dwayne Brown: I had a great career. I was a two-time All-MEAC. We were #2 both years in the conference. During my junior year, we only had two losses. They were close games. I had an injury free career. We won a lot of games. We played at Miami and Nebraska. We also played in my hometown.
Alex Khvatov: What is the highlight of your career up to this point?
Dwayne Brown: It was when I left Eastern Michigan. I was supposed to go to JUCO. But I sat out a year. I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. I received six rounds of chemotherapy. It was my journey to beat cancer and get back to that level of where I was.
Alex Khvatov: What is your biggest accomplishment in college that you are most proud of?
Dwayne Brown: Receiving first team all-conference at Bethune-Cookman. I was also on the black college hall of fame watch list. They have a ceremony every year and induct players to the hall of fame. They had 25 players on the watch list, and I was one of them. QB Amir Hall won the offensive player of the year award. It was a great honor being named to the watch list. It was special. I play on the interior. Interior OL never get that recognition.
Alex Khvatov: What have you learned the most from your coaching staff?
Dwayne Brown: I understand the game of football. Coaches helped me master our offense. It will help me in the future if I want to get into coaching. They made me get on the board and draw up different plays. I learned why they call plays in certain situations. I understood how to pick up on defensive tendencies and what other teams were trying to do.
Alex Khvatov: What is your favorite NFL team?
Dwayne Brown: As a kid, my grandfather loved the Steelers. So I rooted for them. The last couple of years, I haven’t rooted for anyone.
Alex Khvatov: Who is your favorite NFL player?
Dwayne Brown: David DeCastro, Pouncey brothers, Zack Martin and Marshal Yanda.
Alex Khvatov: What is the most important trait for an OL?
Dwayne Brown: Being smart. If you let the defense set the tempo, you won’t have a successful day. You have to pick up on different keys of what the other team is trying to run. You have to recognize the different types of pressure and pick on different tendencies of the defense.
Alex Khvatov: What players on your team should we keep an eye on for next season?
Dwayne Brown: DE Marques Ford, CB Henry Miller, QB Akevious Williams and RT Nicholas Roos. We will be a young team next year.
Alex Khvatov: Who is the toughest player that you have faced on an opposing team?
Dwayne Brown: Darius Leonard from South Carolina State, Malik McDowell and Shilique Calhoun from Michigan State. The Miami guys were good too.
Alex Khvatov: What do you enjoy most about football?
Dwayne Brown: Winning is always fun. But it is the friendships you make. I have friends all over the nation. It is friendships I built through football.
Alex Khvatov: What is your definition of a leader?
Dwayne Brown: A leader is not just someone who is vocal. It is someone you can trust, follow and depend on. He will always do the right thing.
Alex Khvatov: What are your hobbies?
Dwayne Brown: I play a lot of video games. I am a health science major. I like anatomy.
Alex Khvatov: What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?
Dwayne Brown: I want to get into physical therapy. I have to go three years to a PT school. I want to open up my own PT clinic for athletes and rehab.
Alex Khvatov: What five words best describe you?
Dwayne Brown: Physical, smart, determined, laid-back and caring.
