Mississippi Fadol Brown hits a dummy during practice yesterday. (DM Photo | Payton Teffner).
As a 21-year-old first-time player at Ole Miss, redshirt sophomore Fadol Brown transferred to Ole Miss in 2013 as a highly touted player, getting many looks from SEC schools.
He decided to leave Florida International after his freshman year in 2012 and transferred to Ole Miss, but Brown had to sit out the 2013 season due to NCAA eligibility rules for transfers.
Brown spent his 2013 season on the scout team for Ole Miss in preparation for his first year in 2014.
Brown has played a big role for the Rebel defense so far this season, racking up nine tackles and a team-high three hurries on the quarterback. Brown has started two of the first three games this season.
With the big role Brown has seen since coming to Oxford, he’s thankful for gaining the proper experience necessary to handle the pressure of playing for Ole Miss.
“The talent at this level is crazy. I couldn’t imagine coming out of high school into this conference and playing right away,” Brown said. “It’s definitely a lot.”
Brown mentioned the experience at Florida International helped him develop as a player, and Ole Miss taught him not to rely just on talent.
“Going against our offense and how physical they are, they prepare you for game situations,” Brown said.
Brown’s quick rise to the top of the depth chart in the spring raised a lot of the coaching staff’s eyebrows. So far this season, though, Brown isn’t completely satisfied with the way he has played.
“I feel like I’ve done an OK job, but I’m not satisfied,” Brown said. “I can get a whole lot more physical and make a whole lot of more plays.”
Brown also sees room for improvement in the pass rush as a whole.
“We do need some work,” Brown said. “It’s about keeping a constant motor and keep on going and going without stopping. We have to be relentless when we get close to the ball and make more plays.”
Brown also admitted that the spotlight of playing in the game has caught up to him at times.
“I’m just caught up in the game and the moment and that’s on me,” Brown said.
Brown has been very impressed with many of his fellow defensive lineman, including sophomore Robert Nkemdiche, freshman Marquis Haynes and junior C.J. Johnson.
Brown mentioned that Nkemdiche and Haynes have shown “freakish” athletic ability and talent in every game so far and added that Johnson has helped him in practice and games with being a leader for the defense.
Brown loves the experience of the defense as a whole and thinks it will help them in the long run.
Over the bye week, Brown took advantage of the time off to refocus on the upcoming game.
“We have to make sure that we stay focused, specifically on Memphis. That’s it,” Brown said. “We have to stay focused in practice, stay disciplined and be relentless.”
