Photograph: Chris Brown with his family at signing ceremony. (Photograph by Freddie Herpin.)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
During his varsity career at Opelousas Catholic, Chris Brown was often recognized for his overall athletic ability in several sports.
That versatility has earned Brown a scholarship at Bethel University in Tennessee, where Brown hopes to continue a career in multiple sports.
Brown, who for two seasons has been a selected all-parish and all-district performer in football and basketball, intends to continue his career in collegiate football and track.
This year Brown was a key performer in football, track and basketball. In May Brown scored several points for OCS in the sprint and jumping events at the state track meet.
In football Brown was often the targeted OCS offensive threat as the Vikings moved him around to various positions as an open field threat.
During the 2021 football season, Brown was the St. Landry Parish high school interception leader with six pickoffs, in addition to catching passes for well over a thousand yards and the overall choice as the St. Landry Parish football Most Valuable Player.
Bethel Brown said, is a school that has agreed at least verbally to allowing Brown to pursue a two-sport athletic career.
“I had other offers and interest from Nicholls State and Texas State, but Bethel I think is the best school that will allow me to also have a track career. I think it’s a good move for me, getting away from (the Opelousas area) and things that are happening around here,” Brown said during an interview at his signing ceremony last month.
Brown pointed out that Bethel has had overall athletic success in men’s sports and the school eventually plans to move into a major athletic conference.
Looking ahead Brown concedes that in college he will also be valued for his multiplicity as an athlete.
In track, Brown thinks Bethel will feature him in the 200 meters, where he has run a person best 21.8 seconds.
On the football field, Brown says that he could be positioned as an inside receiver or perhaps a defensive back, according to what he has been told by the Bethel coaches.
Brown said that during the recruiting process, he received advice from former OCS receiver and defensive back Keon Coleman, who signed with Michigan State three years ago.
Coleman, Brown noted, has always been a mentor for him and while Brown was considering his athletic future, Coleman was helpful.
“We had kind of the same situation coming out of high school, where Keon was good in two sports (football and basketball) and wanted to be considered as an athlete that could play that way in college,” Brown said.
Brown said Coleman provided one important suggestion that Brown carried with him when considering a career at the next level.
“Keon told me in the conversations that I had with him that you have to do what is best for yourself and that’s what I did,” Brown added.
