Joe Gaiter: What does football mean to you?
Jerome Brown: Football was a gateway to let all my anger/frustration or whatever I was dealing with out. Instead of taking the street fast life route, I saw a bigger picture in my life and wanted to do something with it.
Joe Gaiter: Where did you grow up and how was your childhood?
Jerome Brown: I grew up in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. My child hood was a little different. My granddad had 13 kids, 12 boys and 1 girl. Then all my uncles had 2-3 boys a piece so growing up all we did was fight. Other kids knew if you messed with one of us you going against all of us.
Joe Gaiter: What are your fondest memories about Mallard Creek High School?
Jerome Brown: My favorite memory about Mallard Creek was the back-to-back state championships game against New York Giants DL Dexter Lawrence and former Stanford RB Bryce Love.
Joe Gaiter: Tell us about your recruitment experience.
Jerome Brown: I wasn’t really highly recruited out of highschool because of grades. I didn’t really have my head on right and really didn’t have guidance. My time at Winston was terrible. I hated that school. Everything was not what the coaches said it was going to be.
Joe Gaiter: Why did you leave Winston-Salem?
Jerome Brown: I had bad grades and I really didn’t like any of the coaches except Coach Richardson and Coach Means. They are the only ones who always believed in me.
Joe Gaiter: At Lackawanna CC you lead your team to the NEF Championship in 2018 and the El Toro Bowl championship. Describe the feeling.
Jerome Brown: The feeling of being the first team to ever in Lackawanna history to win the championship and go undefeated is priceless. Words can’t even be put into a sentence on how it feels. I’m glad I got to be a part of history. That’s something no one can ever take away.
Joe Gaiter: Why did you choose Valdosta State?
Jerome Brown: I was really highly recruited by major division 1 power 5 schools but I was on a eligibility clock for what happened at Winston Salem State. If Ii went D1, Ii would only have a year of eligibility. If i go D2 I would have two. If I couldn’t go D1, I wanted to go to the best D2 in the country and in 2018 it was Valdosta State.
Joe Gaiter: What are your thoughts about your amazing 10-1 season?
Jerome Brown: Failure, Failure, Failure Makes me sick to my stomach.
Joe Gaiter: How did you face adversity this year?
Jerome Brown: I went through a lot this past year from not knowing the plays to learning everything all over again. I’m still here and what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!
Joe Gaiter: What has been your contribution to the team this year?
Jerome Brown: Attitude, support, leadership and swagger.
Joe Gaiter: What makes you so explosive as an Offensive Lineman?
Jerome Brown: My attitude, leg power and the ability to change direction quickly and still keep the same speed and power.
Joe Gaiter: What is your untold story?
Jerome Brown: Juco Lackawanna saved my life. That’s all I’m going to say.
Joe Gaiter: What is your major and how do you plan on using it?
Jerome Brown: My major is psychology. I like to see what people think and why they think that way. I don’t know exactly what I want to do with it but knowing me it’s going to be something great that helps other people.
