Mack Brown promises M.L. King win over Stephenson
M.L. King's Mack Brown gets some help stretching from an coach before playing Southwest DeKalb earlier this season. The state's top-rated tailback has battled hamstring injuries and had limited carries all season. (Photo by Chip Towers).
Mack Brown has never been shy about making bold statements.
Georgia’s highest-rated running back prospect — number 3 (ESPNU Rise), 4 (Scout.com) or 5 (Rivals.com) in the nation depending on the recruiting service to which one subscribes — publicly stated his personal goals this year are to rush for 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns and to win a state championship for M.L. King High.
Seven weeks into the season, the Florida Gators commitment is severely lagging on those statistical goals. But the Lions (6-0) remain undefeated heading into Friday night’s monumental matchup against region rival Stephenson. Ranked eighth and seventh, respectively, in Class AAAAA, the game is so big and so chocked full of college prospects that it’s going to be beamed into more than 46 million homes by ESPN.
Naturally, Brown had another daring declaration about that.
“I was excited when they said it was going to be our homecoming game and I was even more excited when they said it was going to be on ESPN,” Brown told me Sunday evening. “I always play my best in games like this.
“We’re going to win, too. I can tell you that right now.”
It was more of a matter-of-fact statement than a guarantee but a bold prediction either way. It’s especially surprising considering the difficulties Brown has experienced this season.
A year after rushing for more than 1,700 yards and 20 touchdowns (statistical accounts vary widely), Brown hasn’t had a 200-yard rushing game this season and has failed to gain 100 at least twice. He has gained about 600 yards through six games though exact stats were not immediately available.
There are reasons for the statistical decline. Not only is Brown playing behind a less-experienced offensive line this season but he has also been dogged by injuries from the outset. First he had trouble with his left hamstring, now it’s his right. He hasn’t been 100 percent healthy since first pulling a hamstring last spring.
Brown sat out the Douglass game two weeks ago and has played only sparingly in several others as M.L. King won handily. But he had right at 100 yards in a 15-8 win over Newton this past weekend, including a 30-yard, game-clinching TD run in the second half.
“My hamstrings have been injured the whole season,” Brown said. “I haven’t been at full speed yet. But it feels a lot better now than it has.”
Brown said he gets treatment every day and wears a “hamstring sleeve” during games.
“I don’t have many carries because of that and because we’ve had a lot of blowout games,” he said. “But that’s OK. As long as we’re winning as a team, I don’t care about stats.”
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Guides
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2011 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
32 comments Add your comment
Tampa Gator
October 12th, 2009
7:10 am
The last sentence in your story explains why this kid will fit in well in the “team first” attitude that makes the Gators winners and champions. Mr. Brown, you will fit in well in Gainesville.
Saint Simons
October 12th, 2009
8:48 am
45 – 19 !!!!!!!!!!! hahahahahahahahahahahaha
Gatormania
October 12th, 2009
9:14 am
The Yellowjackets talking trash. The brag about winning the state championship. Hello, this is college football and not high school football. The bulldogs are pitiful but they do play in a real conference against the greatest college team in history. The Yellowjackets play in the sorry ACC which is a nothing conference.
BIG BEE
October 12th, 2009
10:25 am
GATORMANIA, when we see things posted of this nature, we assume that you have a few minutes off from picking hanging chads and trying to get ready for your part time poll watcher job. Must admit that you and your other Fl. buddies are not so hot in the voting world. What a bunch of YO-YOS.
Glenn
October 12th, 2009
10:29 am
I find it interesting that Charles Perkins, the GA Tech commit, already has surpassed 1,000 yards in the same 6 games as Mack (and many more TD’s) this season, and he, too, has been pulled from his games very early in his contests, yet he is virtually unknown because of his early verbal to the Jackets.
It’s funny what preseason hype can get you and what hard work will earn you.
MLK Lions Fan
October 12th, 2009
10:46 am
Go Mack and the rest of the MLK Lions!!! Keep your head in the game and let’s win this game VS Stephenson.
ReptilesRule
October 12th, 2009
12:05 pm
Man, I can’t wait to see future Gator star Mack Brown on ESPN! Go Mack Go!!!
Gator Growl
October 12th, 2009
12:27 pm
Sounds like Mack has just the stats I like…6-0.
Gerald
October 12th, 2009
12:51 pm
Gatormania:
First off, why do you care about the Georgia-Georgia Tech rivalry? Second, Georgia Tech is 1-0 against the SEC and will almost certainly be 3-0 at the end of this season. That will make them 7-1 against the SEC under Paul Johnson. Third, the Gators are not the greatest team in college football history. The greatest team in college football history was the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Do you Gators remember them? If not, let me remind you. 62-24! Want me to remind you again? 62-24! How’s about a third time? 62-24!
And it wasn’t even that close. In the 4th quarter, the referees started feeling sorry for Florida and giving them nonsense calls in order to allow them to score a few points. Also, Nebraska got bored, stopped running the option, and just started throwing the ball downfield. And on the last play of the game, instead of plowing it in for a final score, they just took a knee. The score was 62-24, but it really could have been 80-14. You guys love Tim Tebow, but let me tell you, Tommie Frazier would have run circles around him. Frazier won 4 straight Big 8 titles, started in 4 straight major bowl games, won 2 national titles, and was a shanked field goal (and bad calls that all favored FSU!) from winning 3 in a row. Meanwhile, Tebow didn’t start and rarely played (850 yards of total offense, most of it in blowouts and against creampuffs) in 2006, went 9-4 in 2007, and needed to get bailed out by Percy Harvin and the defense time and time again in 2008. This year, with no Harvin the offense only manages 26 against Tennessee and 13 against LSU. Hmmm …
Gerald
October 12th, 2009
12:54 pm
Glenn:
Please. Mack Brown is injured, ok? There is no need to go trashing high school recruits. Also, if Mack Brown or any other 5 star recruit were headed to Georgia Tech, you’d be the first one on here defending him. Before bashing the work ethic of high school recruits, why not pay attention to the work ethic of your own defense that almost blew games against Clemson, Mississippi State and FSU and couldn’t even shut down a Division I-AA team playing its backup QB?
Albert the Alligator
October 12th, 2009
2:20 pm
See you next year son as you are coming to play in Gainesville for the Florida Gators. As Tim Tebow said when he came off the field after his concussion and asked Coach Meyer if he held on to the ball and Coach said yes Tim replied, “It’s good to be a Florida Gator.”
Glenn
October 12th, 2009
3:18 pm
Gerald, that wasn’t intended an insult towards Mack but as an example as how the media and recruiting services ignore other kids, like Charles, who also do well but aren’t “projected”. Don’t get me wrong, Mack is a great talent and a great kid, but Charles, and other kids out there, deserve there props just as well. My point was that they’re easily outperforming Mack statistically this season and they aren’t getting any press.
JUSTSAYIN'
October 12th, 2009
4:05 pm
In relations to your article I would not put to much stock into Mr. Browns remarks ,as he is still only a kid and kids have vivid thoughts of grandur.Mr Brown also has a short memory of the last meeting between he and the Stephenson defense.If memory serves me correctly MLK lost the game and Mr. Brown had a BAD day. There are 4 running backs that run a 4.3 or better at Stephenson …. 2 fullbacks that are bullish as blockers and ball carriers on short yardage…3 wideouts with great hands … one of which can break a game wide open singlehandly … and if you key on him the other two will do the same …MLK has no secondary…no match-up for Stephenson. And lastly STEPHENSONS DEFENSE has never let Mr.Brown have his way …Mr Brown strap-up and prepare for more of the same … just like you couldn’t cut it at Stephenson …you’ve never been able to RUN against them………….
Denise
October 12th, 2009
5:07 pm
Ah!! MLK beat Stephenson last year and the year before that. Check your history!!!
decatur where it is greater
October 12th, 2009
5:38 pm
we have played MLK for four years we have the edge 2-1 check your history Denise 17-6, 6-14, 27-7 and after friday it will be 3-1
JUSTSAYIN'
October 12th, 2009
7:20 pm
P.S. RAYMOND SANDERS # 25 is the BEST I-Back in the division … He splits time with 3 other TEAM-MATES….. still he has more yards than …more touch-downs than …and guess what … more CLASS than … A BETTER team player than and the best than …HE’S HUMBLE …his teammates always come first … He shows by example …Mr Brown is always bosting about himself … always … SO I’m bosting for Mr.Sanders, he has been the best back for Stephenson over this season… never crys about carries …sharing the ball …NOTHING…JUST GETS THE JOB DONE game after game …
blueboy
October 13th, 2009
1:16 am
Mack Brown must be smoking the Gator bud already! Stephenson will make him regret he ever said that!
Roland
October 13th, 2009
9:19 am
Hey Denise,
Check the HISTORY again sweetie because I believe MLK beat Stephenson two years ago when they were number one in the state!!!!
Roland
October 13th, 2009
9:31 am
JUST SAYIN,
I don’t agree with Mack running his mouth, but I have to disagree with your assertion that MLK has no secondary. Actually, their secondary is the strongest unit on their defense which is the strongest part of their overall team.
MLK’s only weakness is their O line which is what caused them trouble last year because you guys obviously have the BEST D-line in the state no disrespect.
JUSTSAYIN'
October 13th, 2009
12:42 pm
None Taken …MLK defensive secondary will be scorched … three reasons…#8 Nathan Benford …# 18 Ronnie Shields …#17 Cey-Ron Willingham and not necessarily in that order.
Pi$$ on a dawg
October 13th, 2009
2:51 pm
Haha. Ok this make a lot more sense. At first i was wondering what the hell Mack Brown (the Texas version), was making guarantees about a high school game.
Sweet James Jones
October 13th, 2009
2:53 pm
I’ve seen MLK all Spring and all Summer getting prepared for this season. They will most definitely win this game just as they did against SW Dekalb. Stephenson can’t throw as well as MLK, so the box will be loaded up to stop Sanders and the rest of that crew. MLK 16-Stephenson 10
Please
October 13th, 2009
4:44 pm
Denise Wake up its only a DREAM HONEY!!!!!! You guys Crystal Ball is not working over there.
upset
October 13th, 2009
10:29 pm
always twisting a young mans word chip. that’s how you make your money. mack is the most humble god fearing young mane you will ever meet. yes he is playing stephenson most of those kids he played with in the park. they all are friends. see If you get another interview chip. stop twisting words of a young man.
upset
October 13th, 2009
10:33 pm
always twisting a young manword chip. that’s how you make your money. mack is the most humble god fearing young man you will ever meet. yes he is playing stephenson most of those kids he played with in the park. they all are friends. see If you get another interview chip. stop twisting words of a young man.
Chip Towers
October 14th, 2009
12:22 am
upset: what do you mean twist Mack’s words. I did nothing of the sort. He’s a fine young man and a good back but he said what he said. I know he played ball at Central DeKalb with a bunch of those Stephenson kids. They all rib each other. I’m writing about that later this week. But Mack knew what he was saying. Nobody’s twisting anything.
Jaguar
October 14th, 2009
9:39 am
upset dont even try that- We dont believe he twisted his words . You are correct he is a nice young but you guys have been talking smack since the season started and this is in line with a couple other things you guys have done that we will share later AFTER the game. GO JAGUARS!!!!
High school fan
October 14th, 2009
3:25 pm
Tell u the truth both teams havn’t played a legitament 5a school.The offenses of both teams need better play calling and organization . If it was not for blowout games and small injuries Mack brown is the best back in the state , Florida wouldn’t be after him if he wasn’t. I wish he had chose Georgia , but he didn’t. Mlk will win Friday if they use their talent and stop being to complicated, coaches have to realize this is high school football when u have to think too much u slow down talent. Plenty of talent on both sides.mlk has better passing game should win if they run basic football plays fakes, counters, bootleg, tight end, double moves.
Go USA(Univ. of S. Antiqua)!
October 15th, 2009
5:29 am
Gerald,,
Glenn is right. Same with Storm and Morgan(GT) in Loganville. What about Storm? What has he promised? I want a Mack-Storm playoff so Storm (’s Daddy), will shut up.
Just saw article about Morgan Bailey and Glenn is right about the Perkins thing. It was nice to see one about an early commit. The uncommit hypes get all the attention while they “make their choices”. Who cares. Morgan Bailey committed to GT early as well and all we always hear about is Storm who popped in for ONE season cause he “left” Buford, who continueously has more D-1 prospects . Even mentioned in Morgan’s article, though Storm hasn’t hit an inside hole to save his life. Why do all the showboats that are holding out for the “right deal to get to the NFL path” get the press and the awesome 3.8 GPA early commits get an “also ran” article cause they are not hyping themselves? Oldest reason in the books. Early commits do not sell articles. We already know the story. Hype sells. Uncommitment sells. “Will they or won’t they? Ooooohhhhh, I’m intrigued”!
Commits and kids who know what they want and shoot straight for it do not sell. So we in the local area know about them but the bigger picture generally ignores them. Just plain bidness.
Seem backwards? Seen America lately?
Mack did not promise. He is just being confident.
Difference?
Storm said he went to Loganville to bring them to the Dome. Then they started 1-2. With Morgan and Storm! Now there’s attitude!
upset
October 15th, 2009
7:58 pm
I know from first hand the reporter twisted mack words. that was not a exact quote from mack. you need to tell the truth.
crash001
October 16th, 2009
3:08 pm
Chip Towers – correction if Mack Brown played at Central Dekalb, I think that is Wade Walker Park not Redan Park. I have seen both teams know coaches on both staff, each school has great talent but usually underachieve unless they are playing each other. In my opinion Stephenson will win this game 27 – 13.
ratherBgambling
October 16th, 2009
3:40 pm
Go Mack………can’t wait to see you in Gainesville