WEST LAFAYETTE − Kam Brown has to admit that when it came to Indiana weather, he was not prepared.
The Purdue football grad transfer receiver spent two seasons at Texas A&M and the last three playing for UCLA.
“That was my first time seeing real snow,” Brown said after moving to West Lafayette last winter. “Some people told me I need like a snow shovel. I thought they were joking. I learned really quick I had to go buy one and a little ski mask.”
Brown’s mother actually sent him the ski mask, along with gloves and a coat.
On the football field, though, Brown is never unprepared. While his reps haven’t been plentiful while returning from a knee injury, Brown still processes everything as though he’s an every-down receiver.
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“He sees it a lot of times before we see it, so he gets to let us know a lot about the game,” receiver De’Nylon Morrissette said.
Maybe it comes naturally.
Brown’s father, Larry Brown, won three Super Bowls playing for the Dallas Cowboys and was the MVP of Super Bowl XXX.
Though his lone Purdue highlight to date is a 52-yard reception against Notre Dame, Brown’s time could be coming for the Boilermakers, who are currently without Jahmal Edrine and CJ Smith, two expected playmakers for the receiving corps this season.
“As we go, he’s going to get more and more reps,” quarterback Hudson Card said. “Obviously him just coming off an injury, it’s tough to just throw him right back in the fire. He’s a guy that we have a lot of belief in and he’s going to make some plays for us.”
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Until that time comes, offensive coordinator Graham Harrell and receivers coach Cory Patterson are utilizing Brown’s ability to break down football.
“He always has ideas. They’re usually really good ideas. …” Harrell said. “Since he’s walked into this building, he makes the people around him better. He sees things very well. I don’t know what he wants to do in life, but he should be a football coach.”
Brown has now played in 43 career games and, as a 2019 high school graduate, is older than his teammates. He’s acquired a lot of information throughout six years and with three college football teams.
The way Brown sees it, having an abundance of great information isn’t valuable if he’s not sharing it with his teammates.
Whether that leads to a career in coaching remains to be seen.
“A lot of people tell me you’re going to be a coach one day,” Brown said. “I’m not sure right now. Right now, my focus is just on helping my teammates.”
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue receiver Kam Brown finds role while returning from injury
