‘Downtown’ Sammy Brown! You heard it often if you attended a game at Memorial Stadium. This season, Brown made every game a clinic and was worth every cent of the entry fee. The proved not only why was more than deserving of BLITZ Football Player of the Year, but the nation’s top linebacker, a 5-star Clemson commit.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• 2,289 Rush Yds, 36 TD
• 202 Rec Yds, 2 TD
• 71 Pass Yds, 2 TD
• 3 200-yd rushing games
• 4 4-TD rushing games
• 153 TKL, 12 TFL
• 1 Sack, 2 INT

You want video game numbers? Sammy Brown offered that. 2,289 rushing yards ranks 44th in state history for a single season. The 36 rushing TDs is the 27th-most in a season. Add in the 202 receiving yards and 2 TD, as well as the 71 passing yards and 2 TDs, and Brown collected 2,562 total yards of offense and 40 touchdowns. That’s insane. That alone would win someone Player of the Year. However, the MaxPreps All-American also had 153 tackles (12 for loss), a sack, and 2 interceptions. He led the Dragons to a 13-1 season that carried a #1 state ranking, region title, and Semifinals run. Brown had 4 4-rushing TD games as a senior. Of his numerous special outings was a 5-TD game in the second round against Hiram in which he rushed for 354 yds and 4 TD and threw for a 9-yd TD. He also had 3 200-plus yard performances. 

Brown, a 4-time All-American and last year’s National Athlete of the Year, added the Butkus Award to his trophy case after this season. He also finished his career with 5,869 rushing yards and 82 rushing TD (21st all-time), and closed with 345 career tackles as well.

VOTING RESULTS

1. Sammy Brown – 88 pts (17 1st-place votes)
2. Cal Faulkner – 38.5 pts
3. Mason Sullens – 36.75 pts (1)
4. Jaiden Daniels – 22 pts
5. Caiden Tanner – 20 pts
6. Javin Gordon – 9.5 pts
7. Willie Goodwyn – 5.5 pts
8. Seth Rutan – 4.75 pts

Voting included our 18-person panel made up of sports reporters, writers, video producers, former coaches, players, GHSA officials, and sports experts. The voting is Heisman-style, with the following points system:
1st place votes: 5 pts; 2nd: 3 pts; 3rd: 2 pts; 4th: 1 pts; 5th-6th: 0.5 pts; 7th-8th 0.25 pts

Brown dominated the voting with 17 of 18 1st-place votes. It wasn’t particularly close. Lumpkin teammates Cal Faulkner and Mason Sullens (1 1st-place vote) finished 2nd-3rd.

HISTORY OF FOOTBALL POY

• 2023 – Sammy Brown – Jefferson SR RB/LB
• 2022 – Jaden Gibson – Rabun Co SR WR
• 2021 – Gunner Stockton – Rabun Co SR QB
• 2020 – Gunner Stockton – Rabun Co JR QB
• 2019 – Gunner Stockton – Rabun Co SO QB
• 2018 – Gunner Stockton – Rabun Co FR QB
• 2017 – Bailey Fisher – Rabun Co SR QB
• 2016 – Bailey Fisher – Rabun Co JR QB
• 2015 – Bailey Fisher – Rabun Co SO QB
• 2014 – Charlie Woerner – Rabun Co JR WR/RB/DB
• 2013 – Joseph Mancuso – Union Co SO QB
• 2012 – Tyler Dominy – Dawson Co SR QB
• 2011 – Kevin Ellison – Habersham Central SR QB
• 2010 – Ashely Lowery – White Co SR RB/DB
• 2009 – Ashely Lowery – White Co JR RB/DB

Sammy Brown is the first Jefferson player in BLITZ history to take the honors, and the first 2-way standout since Rabun County’s Charlie Woerner in 2014. There’s a lot similar between those 2, as Woerner, a former 4-star TE who went to UGA and then the NFL, was exceptional on both sides of the ball. Brown is destined for the same great success first at Clemson then likely the NFL if he continues to play like this.