He’s Piling Up Brownie Points

Today is a special day for Palmdale High running back Jan Brown. It’s his 19th birthday.

There won’t be a party, or much fanfare. Just a quiet evening with his mother and greatest confidant, NeEviest Brown.

“We’ll probably go to a Chinese restaurant,” he said. “It’s one of my favorite foods.”

Brown looks forward to visits with his mother more than ever, after a falling out with his stepfather caused him to move in with a teammate.

“I talk to her every day,” he said. “She checks on my grades and talks to the [college] recruiters.”

Brown chooses not to discuss the separation from his family, but that’s not unusual.

He takes a low-key approach to everything, including his success on the football field and how it could lead to a free college education.

Brown has been overshadowed by other standout players in the Golden League.

Time to shed some light:

Colorado, Colorado State, Oregon and Arizona State are eyeing the 5-foot-10, 195-pound senior who has rushed for 692 yards, eclipsing 100 in each game, and seven touchdowns in leading Palmdale, ranked No. 4 in the Southern Section Division II and No. 10 in the region by The Times, to a 4-1 record.

The Falcons were 0-10 two years ago, but Coach Jeff Williams knew he had a gifted back when Brown rushed for 150 yards against Section champion Antelope Valley.

Williams started touting Brown as a college prospect last year, and Brown responded by rushing for 1,146 yards to make the all-league team. But Jermaine Lewis of Antelope Valley was the league’s player of the year and Lafayette Bailey of Littlerock was the back of the year.

Now Brown is busting through the line of scrimmage en route to notoriety.

“If there’s a hole, [Brown] finds it,” Williams said. “He’s got a knack for finding a sliver. He makes things happen at the point of impact.”

Brown’s average of 9.1 yards a carry is third highest in the region and testimony to his explosiveness.

“He reminds me a lot of Walter Payton,” Williams said. “He does things you can’t teach--that shoulder duck and the slashing. And he’ll punish you when he bounces off you.”

Brown credits his offensive line--tackles Vincent Sandoval and Scott Cundiff, guards Drew Bledsoe and Steve Maher, and centers Chris Winchester and Mike Ferguson--for his success.

Brown’s primary goal is to improve his 2.5 grade-point average in hopes of qualifying for a Division I scholarship.

“I feel good about myself,” Brown said. “I hope I can keep doing what I’m doing and we can keep winning games.”