• Tight End
• 6-6, 248 pounds
• Hermitage High School, Richmond, Va. (Coach Patrick Kane)
• Runs 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds
• Tight End rankings: No. 55 Rivals (3 stars), No. 30 Insiders (3 stars)
• Committed to Virginia Tech in early December of 2002
• VT recruiter: Jim Cavanaugh

Needless to say, Duane Brown�s senior season did not go as planned. In the fourth quarter of Hermitage�s second game of the year, Brown suffered a broken left fibula, sidelining him for seven and a half games of the regular season.

Brown had gotten off to an excellent start before the injury occurred. From his tight end position, he had caught five passes for 70 yards in the first two games. According to Hermitage had coach Patrick Kane, the injury happened on a "typical Duane Brown play."

"Duane is an intense player, and he is very athletic," said Kane. "He gives it everything on every play. In fact, the play he got injured on was a situation where he was carrying two defenders after catching a pass down the middle. While he was carrying both defenders, a third guy came in low on him."

Hermitage was able to go 10-0 on the season, however Brown was still missed, not just for his actions in the game, but for his exemplary dedication in practice. According to Kane, Brown�s intensity on the practice field was a big part of Hermitage�s team success.

"Believe it or not, the biggest loss was in our practice intensity," said Kane. "Duane is the most intense practice player in our program. He brings up the level of our team�s practices, and is very intense and vocal on the field."

Being intense in practice has been an important part of Brown�s character and game since his junior season. He feels his experiences in high school in terms of work ethic will help him adjust faster to the Division I level.

"Coach Kane told me going into last season I was going to have an important role as far as being a leader," said Brown, who had demonstrated his work ethic as a junior. "Everything I do I go 110 percent, and that has helped me keep focused and helped me keep the team focused. It will help me a lot next year."

The young tight end who had the potential to earn all-state honors as a senior was disappointed in his injury, however did not give up hope that he could return. More importantly, the Hokies did not give up on him, either.

Virginia Tech assured Brown his scholarship was still available despite his early injury, which was a big lift to the talented tight end.

"He was disappointed and concerned at first," said Kane. "Once he found out he might be able to make the playoffs, he was motivated and focused on returning. It was a big relief also when Virginia Tech told him that the injury did not matter, and for him to just concentrate on getting better. I really think that was one of the reasons he chose Virginia Tech."

The Hokies had led early on for Brown, and their display of dedication just enforced his positive feelings towards the Hokie program.

"It was a big part of my decision," said Brown. "They didn�t stay in contact as often as they did before, but they called every week to let me know I was still at the top of their list."

By the end of November, Brown narrowed his list down to Virginia Tech and UVa before choosing the Hokies. While he liked both schools, his comfort level with Virginia Tech never waned, making the choice pretty easy in the end.

"Virginia Tech had always had the edge," said Brown. "I just thought I fit in better there than anywhere else. UVa also has a lot of tight ends on its roster, but the most important factor was the way I fit in at Virginia Tech."

Brown�s dedication and intensity were just two of the reasons the Hokies labeled him as a top priority prior to his senior season and despite the leg injury.

Not only does he possess superior size, but has good athletic ability and soft hands.

"He was an offensive tackle on the junior varsity squad, but when I got there two years ago, I moved him to tight end because of his athleticism," said Kane. "I don�t think you can say this too often, but he�s the true tight end prospect teams are looking for. He has soft hands to catch the football, and is a good blocker as well. He is a big kid. He has size 18 shoes and hasn�t peaked in size and potential yet. He could grow to 6-8 and put on more pounds of muscle as well."

After a few years in Blacksburg, Brown could indeed get bigger and stronger. He would like to stay at the tight end position, even if he puts on a few inches in height and a few pounds of muscle.

"Coach Cavanaugh said I would stay at tight end as long as I kept my speed," said Brown.

While earning notoriety for his athleticism and receiving ability, Brown also boasts a talent for blocking. He played defensive end for two years at Hermitage, and playing defense helped him become a better blocker and will benefit him in the coming years.

"Playing defense helped my blocking a lot," said Brown. "Defense was actually my thing as a junior. By playing defense, I now know where the defensive lineman might go on a certain play."

Brown, who has already qualified for NCAA eligibility, is busy playing basketball right now. On the court, he is averaging a double-double, and says his leg is feeling "better than ever." Following basketball, he will be able to take advantage of Hermitage High School�s new $30,000 weight facility in preparing for his first year at Virginia Tech.

HokieStud � Did the internet and messages that appeared on the message boards of the schools that were recruiting you have any influence on your decision at all. Even more basically, did you and/or your family and friends read the message boards at all? If so, how much?

DB: I looked at it a little bit, and people told me some things, but really, it didn�t matter much. I heard that some UVa fans might want Jon Stupar over me, but Virginia Tech was always higher anyway. It didn�t really matter at all.

Raleigh Hokie - How did your recruitment change once you verbally committed to VT? Comment on how VT continued to stay in touch afterwards as well as comment on the actions of other schools after your verbal.

DB: After I committed, everyone pretty much knew my mind was made up, so no one really recruited me anymore. I didn�t get recruited by anyone. I had my mind made up.

Coach Cav was on the phone with me quite a bit after I committed. They [VT] kept in touch a lot.

st_andrew � In an interview last year, you said, in comparison of VT to UVa, "I think Virginia's team is the one of the future after Lee Suggs graduates."

DB: I don�t really feel like that anymore. I think Virginia Tech has better athletes than UVa�s young guys.

st_andrew - It sounds like you were taken with the 'youth movement' sales job by UVa. How did the VT staff counter that? What are your thoughts now on VT and UVa in the future?

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