Sam Brown Jr. Scouting Report
By: Michael Higgins
(Image courtesy of Jamie Rhodes/IMAGN Images)
School: Miami
Class: Senior
Position: WR
HT: 6’2
WT: 200 lbs
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Background: Sam Brown is a redshirt junior who was a 4-star wide receiver out of high school. Brown is from Savannah, Georgia and attended New Hampstead High School. Brown played both safety and wide receiver in high school but was primarily recruited as a wide receiver. He was named Region Player of the Year as a senior after recording 731 receiving yards and 69 tackles. Brown also competed in basketball and was a runner-up in the state championship long jump. Out of high school, Brown committed to West Virginia over Florida, Oregon, and Georgia.
College: Samuel spent 2020 and 2021 as a Mountaineer before transferring to Houston. In two seasons at Houston, Brown recorded 1,286 yards and 7 touchdowns. Before the 2024 season, Brown transferred again, to Miami. He did not have the prolific season he was hoping to have as a Hurricane. He caught 36 passes for 509 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Strengths: Samuel Brown Jr. is an explosive athlete who can with both elite speed and short area quickness. Brown has an athletic profile that allows him to play anywhere in the offense. He can play slot with his quickness and sharp route running while also being able to use his combination of speed and strength to stack cornerbacks and make a play outside the numbers. He can create separation over the top of defenses without having to make a break in his route due to that speed. He is not fazed by press coverage as he can easily get physical and be a bully. Brown has a large catch radius to provide for a friendly target for his quarterback. Brown is an explosive play waiting to happen. His consistency and strength at the catch point allows him to be a reliable target in the deep areas of the field. Even when corners are smothered all over him, Brown can power through to make a big play.
Weaknesses: Brown has a problem with showing late hands on deep balls. Too often he is seen showing his hands early, allowing the cornerback to make a play on the football without turning around to look in the ball. He also has trouble tracking the football over his outside shoulder, no matter where he is on the field. He does not have the quickest first step and loses opportunities to create separation out of his release.
Conclusion: Samuel Brown Jr. can be a dynamic gadget receiver in the NFL with his unique ability to bbe physical on the boundary, win with speed in the deep areas, but also create separation with sharp route running in the intermediate areas. His technique off the release and in the deep areas needs refinement, but these are issues that can be improved upon in the NFL.
Scheme Fit: Scheme Versatile
Ideal Role: Z Receiver
Best Team Fits: DAL, PIT, BUF
Player Comparison: Stefon Diggs
Player Grade: Round 3 (74.2)
