321preps Dandy Dozen: Tray Brown could be a big recruiting target
Heritage High football player Tray Brown stands out in the Panthers huddle and on the sideline.
How much he stands out on the field this year will determine the interest he receives from college football programs looking to add Class of 2023 talent to their programs.
It is his 6-foot-7 frame that puts him head and shoulders above his teammates, and he has a lean body in the range of 220-225 pounds with room to grow. He was closer to 240 a couple of years ago but has improved his condition through running.
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Brown is the 11th of 12 Brevard County senior high school football players on FLORIDA TODAY's list of the most coveted recruits, the 321preps Dandy Dozen. Visit floridatoday.com and 321preps.com for stories, videos and photographs of the previous 10 choices. The 12th will be released Friday online and in the pages of FLORIDA TODAY.
In last week's preseason game against Jensen Beach, Brown lined up at defensive end and frequently found his way into the Falcons backfield with a smooth motion and a speed that eventually demanded double teams from the visitors.
Panthers coach Mark Ainsley pointed out that the defensive end is still relatively new to the sport, though he has athletic experience.
Brown started learning that colleges were interested in him during his sophomore year. He played for Merritt Island at the time was at Cocoa last season, transferring to Heritage in the winter of this calendar year.
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Coastal Carolina, Syracuse, Texas-El Paso and West Virginia are among schools that have expressed interest. Marshall has made an offer to Brown.
"Before we played the spring game, a Marshall coach came to me, supporting me," Brown said. "I got to see him in person and really talk to him."
As a Merritt Island 10th-grader, Brown recorded 18 tackles, five sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery. At Cocoa last year, he finished with 15 tackles, a pair of sacks and a forced fumble.
Brown could have a wider range of options for his future beyond football programs. He played basketball while a Merritt Island student and is expected to join the Panthers basketball squad as a post player after the 2022 fall season.
"I was about six foot when I was in sixth grade," he said, adding that he had grown two more more inches by the time he entered high school.
As a basketball player, he gained some experience traveling out of the area, and he said last week that's where he wants to continue his playing career.
"I actually want to go out of Florida," Brown said. "I've been in Florida all my life and haven't really gotten to experience being out of the state."
Contact McCallum at bmccallum@floridatoday.com. Follow @321preps on Twitter and Instagram. Be sure to subscribe to FLORIDA TODAY.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: 321preps Dandy Dozen: Tray Brown of Heritage High football, basketball
