How Miami wide receiver Sam Brown Jr. aced the NFL scouting combine: ‘I couldn’t take this stage for granted’

INDIANAPOLIS – Sam Brown Jr. flexed his knees several times, gathering his power before uncoiling his legs for a mighty leap at Lucas Oil Stadium.

And the University of Miami wide receiver, a former University of Houston standout and All-Big 12 selection, soared for a 41 1/2 inch vertical leap that tied him with Arizona State wide receiver Jaylin Noel for the highest among the receivers at the NFL scouting combine and the second-highest overall behind South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori’s 43-inch jump.

That wasn’t all, though. Brown, despite a strained hamstring, bolted into a respectable 4.44 40-yard dash clocking while yelling, ‘Fight!” repeatedly as he sprinted in front of coaches, general managers and scouts. He’s regarded as a top 100 draft target, per multiple sources.

“I was excited about the whole setup because a lot of people don’t get to be there for this opportunity, and I feel like I gutted it out,” Brown told KPRC 2 in a telephone interview. “I knew prior to coming to Indianapolis that I had tweaked my hamstring a little bit, but I couldn’t take this stage for granted. I took advantage of the opportunity.

“I didn’t know my vertical would have finished that high all-time. With the 40-yard dash, I was more relieved. I thought I would do worse. It was a relief I got it done. I wanted to compete. I can run much faster than that.”

Brown had formal meetings at the NFL scouting combine with the Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans, Cincinnati Bengals and the Philadelphia Eagles. He met informally with the Texans at the combine after previously meeting extensively with them at the East-West Shrine Bowl all-star game.

Brown felt comfortable in his interactions with teams and the impression he felt like he made.

“I’m just one of the most genuine guys you’ll ever meet, someone my teammates and coaches know as a dawg,” Brown said. “I’m somebody who has the instincts and is an intellectual thinker on the field. I see things before they happen in the game and I’m able to be ready. Words don’t mean anything at this level. It’s about showing in my day-to-day life that I’m committed to it on and off the field.

“I’m preparing my mind. I treat myself like a pro on and off the field. I’m fully committed to the game right now. I haven’t reached my prime and my peak yet. At the next level, it’s not just about pure talent. It’s about consistency. Talent is flashes. Consistency is what you want to put behind your name. I want them to say: ‘Sam Brown is one of the most consistent and most productive wide receivers.”

Brown has been advised by Texans wide receiver Tank Dell, a former Coogs teammate, on the entire draft process.

“I’m not necessarily looking for any one team, just one that gives me the opportunity to play at the next level,” Brown said. “Playing for the Texans would be a great moment. One of my mentors, Tank Dell, being around him, it would be surreal.”

A vital part of the Miami Hurricanes’ top-ranked offense, Brown caught 36 passes for 509 yards and two touchdowns from potential top overall pick Cam Ward.

“Cam Ward, playing with him, it was generational,” Brown said. “That’s the name we gave him at Miami. You don’t come across quarterbacks that have the strength and knowledge to literally put a team on his back for a whole season and be a coach to the receiver room and be there for us verbally, physically and mentally. He’s the guy who’s going to change someone’s program soon.”

At West Virginia, Brown caught 10 passes for 108 yards before entering the NCAA transfer portal.

The Georgia native originally committed to Central Florida before choosing the Mountaineers over Florida, Mississippi, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Oregon, Syracuse, Tennessee and Wake Forest.

At UH, he caught 62 passes for 815 yards and three touchdowns before entering the portal again. In 2022, Brown caught 41 passes for 471 yards and four touchdowns.

His best performance last season: three catches for 125 yards in a victory over Louisville.

Playing with a talented receiving corps with teammates Xavier Restrepo, Jacolby George and Elijah Arroyo, Brown made an impact.

Now, several teams are intensely interested in Brown. That includes the Ravens and Dallas Cowboys.

Brown, who played at Miami after stints at Houston and West Virginia, had a 1.52 10-yard split. His time ranked 18th among all wide receivers at the combine and tied for 41st overall. His split was tied for 12th-best among receivers and tied for 29th overall.

“I think he showed teams what a lot of teams already knew about him: He’s an athletic freak,” said Will Felix III, Brown’s Houston-based agent of Maven Sports. “He will have an opportunity at the next level to play outside and inside. He showed his explosion. He’s a pretty fast and athletic guy. We knew he could have done any better. He didn’t perform some of the drills because of the strained hamstring.

“He got hurt training at Exos in Georgia. We know at his Pro Day that he’s going to do every drill like the broad jump, short shuttle and we expect him to jump over 11-feet in the broad jump. This was just the preview. I think Sam was able to answer some questions about his love for the game. He’s a real savant with a high football IQ. When he sees the play, he knows where everybody is. He’s very smart. He showed at Miami what he can do against some of the top talent.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com

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