Louisville RB Isaac Brown will be “tough to keep off the field”
However, one true freshman is making a strong impression—Isaac Brown. The running back from Homestead, Fla., arrived in January and has had an outstanding spring camp, which has carried over into the first two weeks of fall camp. U of L running backs coach Chris Barclay mentioned that it will be “tough to keep him off the field.”
Brown now wears No. 25, the same number Jawhar Jordan wore in recent seasons, and Brohm has even compared Brown’s running style to Jordan’s.
“Isaac Brown, the true freshman, has really stood out,” Brohm said after Saturday’s scrimmage. “He has some Jawhar Jordan qualities. He made some plays today.
“He’s young, and ball security, protecting the ball, and blocking on pass plays are crucial areas he needs to improve. But when it comes to making plays with his feet, he’s a real weapon. We just need to keep getting him stronger and up to speed with our system so he can execute because he has a lot of potential.”
The 5-foot-9, 190-pound Isaac Brown committed to Louisville in August 2022 and remained committed even through the coaching change. Over his high school career, he accumulated over 2,000 rushing yards.
As a sophomore, Brown ran for 761 yards and 13 touchdowns, followed by 650 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior, helping Homestead reach the 3M state championship game in Florida. He improved his numbers last season, including a standout 245-yard game early on, and once again led the Broncos to the state championship game.
“Isaac has what we call the ‘It’ factor,” said Homestead coach Ronnie Thornton. “He plays with a competitive edge that shows every time he touches the ball. The more intense the environment, the more he wants the ball and to make an impact.”
Since arriving in Louisville, Brown has received rave reviews. During spring ball, Barclay noted that Brown had adjusted well to the college system, while Brohm praised his performance during spring camp.
“He’s an X factor,” Barclay said last week. “His speed is different. If someone misses a gap, he has the potential to take it to the house from anywhere on the field. He has that extra gear. He’s also one of those kids who never seems rattled; no moment is too big for him.”
“It’s amazing to see his growth every day. It’s just a beautiful thing to watch.”
Thornton, Brown’s high school coach, believes that Brown will have a “really, really successful” career at Louisville and envisions him playing in the NFL one day.
“If he’s in the right system, Isaac Brown is a guaranteed Sunday player,” Thornton said. “He has that kind of talent and that special ‘It’ factor. If everything falls into place, he’ll have a great college career, and you’ll definitely see him playing on Sundays. He just has ‘It,’ and that’s the best way I can describe it.
“He’s a matchup nightmare for a typical linebacker. He’s also fast enough to outrun most cornerbacks, and in open space, strong safeties won’t be able to keep up with him. He’s a special player when the ball is in his hands.”