Fall Camp Spotlight: Noah Brown
8/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 18, 2016
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Name: Noah Brown
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 6-2
Weight: 218
Hometown: Flanders, N.J.
High School: Pope John XXIII
2015 Statistics: Missed season due to injury
by Chris Cullum, Ohio State Athletics Communications
If you’re looking for glowing remarks about Noah Brown coming from his teammates and coaches, you don’t have to look too hard.
“Coach always talks about Noah Brown,” a former Buckeye teammate said. “The way he transformed his body is amazing. His routes are extremely crisp.”
“Kind of like Jalin [Marshall], Noah has that flexibility so that when we need to get the best three on the field, whoever that is, I can plug them where we need to and they’ll be really good at it,” said Brown’s positional coach Zach Smith.
“I’ll say Noah Brown definitely is probably the most improved receiver right now,” said another former defensive teammate who had to go up against Brown in practice. “There was a point early in camp where nobody could cover him for a little bit, he was just so physical and really good with his hands. He just catches everything.”
Those teammates praising Brown were Joshua Perry and Eli Apple, third and first round picks in this past May’s NFL draft, guys who know a thing or two about the makeup of a talented football player.
Those quotes are also all from 2015, before Brown suffered a season-ending leg injury that kept him out all of last season. For a guy who was slated to possibly start last season, it was a significant blow.
“It was definitely a rough time for me,” Brown acknowledged.
Fast forward to now, and that’s all behind him.
“My teammates really helped me push through it,” he continued. “I’m looking forward to this year. It’s a new year, I’m healthy and I’m ready to go out there with my guys again.”
“He’s coming,” head coach Urban Meyer said of his returning wide receiver. “He’s probably not back to full Noah Brown this time of year, but he’s, I would say, another week away he’ll be there. He’s working his tail off and I just love having him back.”
Fear not, the remark about not being “full Noah Brown” isn’t related to the health of his leg, at least according to Brown himself. He says that he’s felt 100 percent healthy for a couple months now and all that’s left is getting back his feel for the game on the field.
“I’m hungry,” Brown said of his impending return to game action.” I can’t wait to get back out there. Every day I’m working on getting better.”
He’s not kidding. One area he’s been paying special attention to this camp is the most important part of the wide receiver: his hands.
“I’ve always had pretty good hands, but I’m constantly working on it,” Brown said. “Jugs machine, tennis balls, stuff like that. But I definitely feel like that’s one of my best qualities.”
That extra work hasn’t gone unnoticed. Brown has caught the eye of his quarterback J.T. Barrett, who is all in on his big target outside.
“He has, like, suction cups for hands,” Barrett said at this summer’s Big Ten media day in Chicago. “Throw it around Noah and he’ll go get it.”
Brown couldn’t help but agree.
“I definitely see myself as a consistent guy as far as hands go,” he reiterated. “When it’s third down and eight, I’d like to see that as my opportunity. Plus I can take the top off the defense or I can run the short route.”
Over 80 percent of last year’s receptions came from guys who will not be on the team in 2016, so it won’t take long to see if Brown really does have what it takes to be a leading contributor on this Buckeye offense. One thing’s for certain: when his opportunity comes, he’ll be ready.
“I’m not setting any limits on myself,” Brown said. “I plan on having a great year.”
