By Carlton D. White
Marietta Daily Journal Sports Writer
Kerry Brown won't be far away from the action when the NFL draft begins April 26.
"I'll be in Cherokee County with my mom and dad in their apartment," he said. "And, I'm going fishing. I'll have my cell phone with me, though."
Brown, a two-time first-team All-American guard at Division I-AA powerhouse Appalachian State, is a sought-after player who is expecting to be picked sometime on the second day of the draft. If he goes undrafted, Brown is planning to test the free-agent waters.
The Lassiter High School product has been on the radar of several NFL teams and their scouting departments, including New England, Indianapolis, Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati and the New York Giants, since the end of his 2006 junior season.
At 6-foot-6, 305 pounds, Brown can't help but get noticed. In the meantime, he's doing everything he can to remain ready for that one opportunity to make a future NFL roster. He's also having fun with the experience.
"This is such an exciting process," said Brown about being a potential draft pick and playing in the NFL. "Fifteen to 20 teams have me on their draft board. I certainly wouldn't mind if I get drafted or picked up by Atlanta.
"Overall, though, I don't care where I go. I just want the opportunity to play and to be on a team that needs me."
Brown needs a 320-hour internship this summer to complete his graduation requirements for a degree in health promotions and nutrition and hopes to do it in the city where he signs.
In the meantime, Brown has been busy with not only his work towards a degree, but also with his training.
"I work out about five or six days a week, lifting and running," Brown said. "I train with (Appalachian State track and field) coach (John) Weaver. He trains me pretty well. I also train with my football and strength coaches. They work me out.
"I felt like it would be best if I just stay here and train, because I can work towards my degree and get the kind of support and care I need to hopefully succeed in the NFL. The people here really have my best interest at heart."
Although Brown missed out on being invited to the NFL combine, his pro day went really well and had many scouts wondering why he wasn't invited to the combine.
"The scouts came and watched me and I did really well," Brown said. "They were regular combine drills and I worked out for several teams."
Brown, who has signed with Joe Linta to be his agent, is represented by JL Sports, which also signed Louisville receiver Mario Urrutia and another I-AA standout in Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco.
"I had over 100 agencies trying to sign me," Brown said. "I could have chose any of them, but when Flacco signed with Joe Linta, I decided to take a look at them and I liked how they treated me and I felt I could trust them."
Brown's whirlwind romance with the NFL is just one of the senior's love interests. He is also in the process of planning his wedding to his college sweetheart, Amanda Farthing, whom he proposed to in December, the day the Mountaineers won their third straight national championship. They set a wedding date for June 2009.
However, before that can happen, Brown is doing all he can to try to make his NFL dream a reality.
"I'm on the cusp of beginning to achieve my dream," Brown said. "It's a lot of hard work and I think about it every day. I couldn't think of anything sweeter. I have a beautiful fiancé, a loving family, I'll graduate soon, I won three national championships.
"To have a career in the NFL would make one heck of a life."
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