SUPER SOPHOMORE: SOUTHERNâ€™S JAIDEN BROWN TAKING SHORE CONFERENCE BY STORM

SUPER SOPHOMORE: SOUTHERN’S JAIDEN BROWN TAKING SHORE CONFERENCE BY STORM

By Mike Ready

MANAHAWKIN – Only a sophomore, Southern Regional’s Jaiden Brown isn’t new to being a starting running back in the Shore Conference.

Before his family moved to Manahawkin last summer and Brown transferred to Southern Regional High School, he racked up over 900 yards of total offense and three touchdowns in only five starts as a freshman running back at Jackson Liberty High School.

“I was only 14 last year, playing with 17- and 18-year-old kids so I was pretty nervous,” said Brown. “But my teammates at the time supported me and they were ready for me to take the starting spot. I became more and more confident as the games went on and just went out there and got results.”

After Jackson Liberty head coach Jim Sharples was informed that Brown would be transferring to Southern Regional, he gave a courtesy call to head coach Chuck Donohue to let him know he was getting a tremendous athlete, as well as a super kid.

“When coach Sharples called me in late May or early June and told me that Jaiden’s family was moving down to Manahawkin, everything he told me about Jaiden has certainly proved true,” said Donohue. “I really can’t say enough good things about him. The thing I’m really happy about is that it’s been an easy transition from the two high schools both academically and athletically for him and for us.”

Transferring high schools can be a daunting experience for any student, but Brown – mature beyond his age according to Donohue – handled the transition seamlessly.

“I was nervous at first just wondering how I would fit in with the other kids, especially the kids on the team,” said Brown. “Coach Donohue helped me a lot. While we were still getting moved in, he asked me every day how I was doing and how I like it down here. He introduced me to staff at school and the players on the team and even people outside of football. Looking back on it now, I’m glad that we made the move because I really enjoy it here. The hardest part for me was gaining everyone’s respect. Nothing is handed to you; you have to go out there and earn it.”

Last season’s experience at the varsity level has proved to be an invaluable asset to Brown’s maturity and growth as a football player. It has already paid huge dividends for both him and the Rams football team. Southern is off to its best start to a season since 2012, when Penn State standout and current Miami Dolphin tight end Mike Gesicki led them to a 9-3 record and a trip to the South Jersey Group V final.

“Certainly last year’s experience helped him a lot making the early jump up to varsity football,” said Donohue. “But it’s his work ethic and not being satisfied and wanting to get better that’s special. He accepts coaching and understands he has the potential to be even better by just changing some subtle things like protecting his body with the straight arm and using his shoulder pads.”

Brown has helped the Rams get off to a 3-1 start this season and a spot in the Shore Conference Top 10 at No. 9.

“We’ve all come together as a team and it feels pretty good,” Brown said of the Rams’ 3-1 start. “This year we’re trying to do something special and we’ve definitely been doing that so far and look to keep it going.”

Southern Regional’s only blemish to its season record came on a five-point loss, 17-12, to No. 3 Toms River North in a game Brown rushed for 105 yards and two touchdowns on just 12 carries for an 8.8 yards per carry average.

He’s run for over 100 yards in all four games, including a 205-yard rushing performance and two scores on 20 carries in their 28-14 win over Howell in the third game of the season. For the year, he’s rushed for 581 yards and eight touchdowns in 72 attempts for an 8.1 yards per carry average.

The 5-foot-11, 215-pound Brown is a load to bring down and uses his brickhouse frame to run through people on offense and to search and destroy ball carriers from his inside linebacker spot on defense.

“I’m a north-south runner and when I see a hole I’m going to hit it,” said Brown. “If there’s someone in front of me, my first option is to put my shoulder down and run over you.”

When asked if there was anyone he patterns his style of play after he didn’t hesitate saying, “Wisconsin’s Johnathan Taylor, especially because he’s from New Jersey.”

“Right now Jaiden’s a linear back,” said Donohue. “He’s a straight ahead back but I think he has a lot of potential to cut the ball back as he becomes more experienced. He’s a very physical runner that uses his legs well and breaks a lot of tackles using his shoulder pads and straight arm. Once he gets the ball through the line of scrimmage, however, he’s starting look more for cutbacks and change of direction when he’s downfield. He’s not an easy kid to tackle.”

Brown leads the team with three interceptions and has 15 tackles (14 solo) to his credit on defense with one tackle for loss.

“This is my first year playing in the middle; last year I played outside linebacker,” said Brown. “It’s been an adjustment having to call all the plays and formations and it’s a lot of pressure of course, but I look at as if I’m the quarterback of the defense. All my teammates and coaches trust me to go out there and lead the team on defense.”

After coaching Brown for over two months now, Donohue still has nothing but good things to say about his rising star.

“There’s nothing I can say except very, very positive things from the time Jaiden got to our school in the summertime,” said Donohue. “He immediately showed an outstanding work ethic and blended in with the kids really well. He’s an easy going, happy-go-lucky kid who always has a smile on his face. He has really good work habits and accepts coaching. Academically he’s a very strong student and he has just made plays for us all season long on both sides of the ball.”

Southern hasn’t made the playoffs since 2016 when they went 5-5, and Brown would like nothing more than lead his team into the postseason.

“Since summer workouts, that’s one of the main topics we talked about,” said Brown. “We want to put the team back on the map and get back to the playoffs, which we hope to do this season.”