Qua Brown

Safety / Southern Illinois

Alex Khvatov:  What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?

Qua Brown:  Height is 5’11 and 205 currently.    

Alex Khvatov:  How were you preparing for the 2020 season with no offseason training?

Qua Brown:  I am from Florida.  Things opened up faster here than in some other states.  I have a personnel trainer.  I worked out with him for about two months.  He did a great job getting me ready and getting me even more explosive.  He included conditioning into our workouts.  I am pretty close to playing shape.   

Alex Khvatov:  Besides football, what other sports did you play in high school?

Qua Brown:  I played basketball.  I have played since I was seven years old.  Basketball was my first love.   

Alex Khvatov:  What positions did you play in high school? 

Qua Brown:  I played safety and a little bit of running back.  They didn’t need me there because we had a five-star RB in Lorenzo Lingard at my school.    

Alex Khvatov:  Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?

Qua Brown:  I had interest from a lot of smaller FCS schools.  My top three were Southern Illinois, South Dakota State and Monmouth.    

Alex Khvatov:  How did you wind up at Southern Illinois? 

Qua Brown:  They were the first to call and offer me.  I didn’t know what a Salukis was.  They explained it to me.  The facilities, the school and the stadium.  It was a nice area.  I had a great relationship with coach Hill.  The official visit was more than what I had expected.  I committed during the visit.  There are a lot of hiking trails and lakes in the area.      

Alex Khvatov:  How would you describe your overall career?      

Qua Brown:  I got my first start as a redshirt sophomore.  It was humbling because I had to wait two years to start.  My best season was during my junior year.  I was able to showcase my talent.  I take this game seriously.  We also went 7-5.  It was an amazing year.  We wanted to get into the playoffs, but didn’t get in.

Alex Khvatov:  What did you learn from your former teammate safety Jeremy Chinn?

Qua Brown:  I learned how to come to work, how to be a leader, and make an impact on guys around you.  You have to show the way to your teammates.  He was a great player.  He had energy and passion for the game.    

Alex Khvatov:  What can we expect from your team this upcoming season? 

Qua Brown:  A championship.  Our team is pissed off that we didn’t get into the playoffs last year.  We are ready for success.  We are dedicated.  We play with passion and have a great bond.    

Alex Khvatov:  What are your strengths?

Qua Brown:  My preparation for games.  Breaking down film and studying tendencies.  I know what to expect.  I am great at tackling.  I am a physical player.  My grit.  I can play either of the safety positions, but I love playing in the box.    

Alex Khvatov:  What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?

Qua Brown:  Capitalizing on plays.  I had far too many opportunities that I could have turned into INT’s.  Be much more consistent.    

Alex Khvatov:  What is the highlight of your career up to this point?

Qua Brown:  My first INT last year against Indiana State.  There was also a game against UT-Martin.  We were down by seven points and we needed a big play.  The RB had the ball, and I shed the block from the WR.  I punched the ball out of the RB’s hands.  Our offense scored going into the half.  We ended up winning the game.  I helped change the momentum going into the half.  I gave our team the spark.    

Alex Khvatov:  What is the biggest lesson that you have taken away from your coaching staff? 

Qua Brown:  The slogan right now is nobody cares, work harder.  Basically, no matter what, work harder.  We were 7-5 last season, but no one cares about what we did last year. 

Alex Khvatov:  What is your favorite NFL team? 

Qua Brown:  Dallas Cowboys.  I like watching them play.  They are a physical team.  They pound the ball.  They are a very tenacious team.    

Alex Khvatov:  Who is your favorite NFL player?

Qua Brown:  Tyrann Mathieu.  He has that dog mentality for his position.  He is not afraid.  He is a great leader.  I have been watching him since his college days. 

Alex Khvatov:  What players on your team should we keep an eye on for this upcoming season?

Qua Brown:  QB Javon Williams was a freshman All-American last year.  He was our wildcat QB.  He rushed for over 1,000 yards.  D’Ante Cox and Avante Cox are the two receivers.  They are brothers.  WR Landon Lenoir.  His older brother played for the Cowboys.  LB Bryce Notree. 

Alex Khvatov:  Who is the best player that you have faced on an opposing team?

Qua Brown:  It is between DK Metcalf and A.J. Brown.  They are the best players.   

Alex Khvatov:  What is the most important trait for a DB?

Qua Brown:  Confidence.  You need that as a DB.  You will give up plays, but you have to remain confident. 

Alex Khvatov:  What do you enjoy most about football?

Qua Brown:  I am a huge competitor.  I always compete against everyone.  I always try to come out victorious.    

Alex Khvatov:  What are your hobbies?

Qua Brown:  I love listening to music.  Lately, I have been learning about investing and reading books in that area.  I like to play video games.      

Alex Khvatov:  What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?

Qua Brown:  After football, I want to be an entrepreneur.  I want to get into commercial real estate.  I also have an interest in being a sports agent.  I want to open up a huge training facility back at home.      

Alex Khvatov:  What makes you unique?

Qua Brown:  My desire to succeed in anything that I do.  I am a perfectionist.  I will do whatever.    

Alex Khvatov:  What five words best describe you?

Qua Brown:  Grit, humble, hardworking, competitive, and resilient.