If you are a Tampa Bay high school football fan, you know the name Juwan Brown. Since starting his first game as a freshman, Brown has wowed many and surprised few. The Largo High rising junior QB is special. He makes plays with his arm and with his legs. Starting midway through the 2009 season, Brown ended the year with over 500 yards passing and 200 yards rushing. With potential through the roof, Brown’s sophomore season was expected to be a great one. Surrounded by talent on both sides of the ball, the expectations for Largo were high. But then tragedy hit the Packers when the 2013 QB, went down with a season ending injury after playing the first 5 games of the 2010 season. Through the first five games of the 2010 season, Brown amassed 515 yards passing and 230 yards rushing. Rehab has gone great for Brown who stepped back into his familiar role as the Packers starting QB this spring and had a solid performance. BCP photographer, Willie Kelly, put on his journalist/writer hat and took it upon himself to find out a bit more on the kid they call “Nikki”.

Q & A

KELLY: EXPECTATION FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON?
Brown: Everybody on the team is aiming for Countryside and East Lake, because they knocked us off last year and have been doing a lot of talking. We really want to win our district and go as far as we can in the playoffs.

KELLY: WHAT CAN LARGO DO TO BE CONSIDERED AS THE TOP DOG IN PINELLAS COUNTY?
Brown: Hard work in the weight room and at practice. We have good team chemistry, a lot of talent and I think we can go far.

KELLY: WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE WHEN OTHER PLAYERS AT YOUR POSITION ARE SAID TO BE BETTER THAN YOU?
Brown: Just try and prove them wrong.

KELLY: WHAT SCHOOLS ARE YOU MOST INTERESTED IN?
Brown: Florida State and USF

KELLY: WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF YOUR GAME?
Brown: I make plays!

KELLY: DO YOU HAVE AN ALTER EGO?
Mr. Brown [Father interjects]: Yes he does. He can be very laid back, but at times turns it on.

KELLY: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE VIDEO GAME?
Brown: Madden [laughter]

KELLY: HOW DO YOU FEEL WHEN IT IS SAID THAT LARGO STRUGGLES TO GET OUT THE 1ST OR 2ND ROUND?
Brown: I hate it! We are just going to prove everybody wrong. We want to go to state.

KELLY: WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS WHEN YOU GUYS LOST TO HILLSBOROUGH HIGH LAST YEAR?
Brown: I wish I could have played to help my team.

KELLY: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND PINELLAS COUNTY FOOTBALL?
Brown: Tampa teams get a lot more publicity than the Pinellas County teams. You hear a lot more about the Tampa teams than teams over here.

KELLY: NICKNAME?
Brown: [laughter] Nikki! See on our team we call each other by our moms’ first name. So my nickname is Nikki.