CARDINALS

Former Louisville LB Brown ready for name-calling

Jeff Greer
@jeffgreer_cj

Once the University of Louisville football team won its final game last season, a blowout bowl victory over Miami, Preston Brown returned to his Cincinnati roots.

The star linebacker has been working out with his dad, Mike, a former college football player at Ball State, and staying in football shape ahead of this week’s NFL draft. His name is being heard as a potential third-, fourth- or fifth-round pick this coming weekend.

Brown, a 6-foot-1, 251-pound middle linebacker known for his run-stopping ability, said he’s visited five NFL teams and worked out for four others at U of L. Multiple reports over the past few months indicated the Minnesota Vikings, with their four middle-round picks, are among the most interested in Brown.

“You never really know (where you’re going), so I’m just enjoying the whole process,” said Brown, who recorded 301 tackles in his four seasons at Louisville.

“It’s fun for me and my family to fly across the country and do things I never thought I’d be able to do.”

Brown blew through the minutiae that come with the NFL draft, posting an impressive 4.86 40-yard dash and 23 reps of the 225-pound bench press at the draft combine.

His wingspan of 33½ inches and his 10¼-inch hands reinforce his reputation as a physical fortress in the heart of defenses.

“Aggressive, high-collision ‘Mike’ linebacker best paired with a demanding position coach who will extract the most from him,” reads his NFL.com draft scouting report. “Could be most ideally suited as a two-down thumper vs. the run.”

Brown was equally as impressive at U of L’s Pro Day in March, the same place where the draft stock for his former teammate, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, took a hit after an average performance.

The fallout from that day shocked Brown, who said he can’t turn on his television without seeing analysts talking about Bridgewater.

Bridgewater was once trumpeted as the top pick in this year’s draft, but hits on everything from his hand size to a middling Wonderlic test score have hurt Bridgewater’s reputation, with some draft analysts suggesting he might even drop to the second round.

“I just know Teddy’s the best quarterback in the draft,” Brown said. “He was the leader of the whole team. He had so much command over the offense it was incredible.”

Brown’s biggest point was that players involved in the draft process can only control themselves. That’s why he’s tried to maintain a low profile, occasionally joining teammates in Louisville for workouts.

He was a gate security guard at the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, and he stopped by U of L spring practice a few times in March and April. He’s keeping an eye on his pal James Burgess, the team’s only returning starter at linebacker, who was Brown’s locker mate last season.

“They’ve been saying it’s different but they’re enjoying it,” he said. “They looked good from what I saw. ... I’m sure it’ll be fun for them scoring 70 points a game this fall.”

He’ll be watching this fall. Every Saturday, he said. And he’s hoping his old college friends will be watching him and the other former U of L standouts who are trying to take the next step into the NFL.

Bridgewater and safety Calvin Pryor will be in New York City for the first-round broadcast on Thursday night. Brown and defensive end Marcus Smith are both considered more mid-round options, while safety Hakeem Smith and receiver Damian Copeland are potential late-round picks.

“Hopefully we hear our names,” he said. “This is why we worked so hard.”

Reach Jeff Greer at (502) 582-4044 and follow him on Twitter @jeffgreer_CJ.