By Alex Kozora
Pittsburg State wide receiver John Brown, who recently visited with the Pittsburgh Steelers, was gracious enough to give me a short interview.
At the Combine, Brown ran a 4.34 and jumped 36.5 inches in the vertical. As a senior, he averaged nearly 20 yards per catch and caught 14 TDs. He’s been the Gorillas’ primary return man on kicks and punts since 2011. A full bio can be found here.
Thanks again to John for the interview.
Q: What is your biggest strength as a receiver?
A: My biggest strength as a wide receiver is my change on direction .
Q: What is your biggest weakness?
A: My biggest weakness is my size.
Q: What was your favorite moment in college (most memorable game or play, etc)?
A: Favorite moment in college is winning the national championship in 2011
Q: You began your college career at Mars Hill in 2008 before transferring to Coffeyville Community College and then Pitt State. Why did you transfer and what made you want to play for Pitt State?
A: Because due to my test scores, I had to attend a junior college. Leaving from there Pitt was the only school gave me a full ride.
Q: You were one of the few Division II players invited to the NFL Combine. What was being on that big stage like? Was there anything about it that surprised you?
A: It was a great feeling to show them I can compete with the best. There wasn’t any surprises because I knew what I was preparing for.
Q: At the Combine, you ran a 4.34 40. Was that the time you were expecting to run or were you even a little surprised of how fast you ran?
A: That wasn’t the time I was expecting. I was looking forward to running a 4.27
Q: What teams did you visit with at the Combine?
A: Denver Broncos, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals
Q: You recently visited the Pittsburgh Steelers. Take me through what you did during the workout. Roughly how long did it last?
A: I did not work out.
Q: What was your impression of Mike Tomlin and wide receivers coach Richard Mann during your workout?
A: They were very nice and honest guys
Q: On Twitter, you wrote you met Antonio Brown. What kind of person is he?
A: Antonio is a great person that’s humble.
Q: You also posted a picture of seeing the team’s six Lombardi trophies. What was that moment like?
A: It was a great moment to know that a winning team is interested in me, and it’s always been a dream of mine to win a Super Bowl.
Q: Had you ever visited Pittsburgh before? If not, what did you think of the city?
A: No, I never visited Pittsburgh but it’s a nice city to come see or to stay.
Q: Your Twitter handle is @RIPJWALK5. What does that symbolize?
A: My brother nick is JWALK and his favorite number is 5. I lost him in 2011, he got shot, and I want to keep his name alive.
Q: Has being a father (John has a young daughter) helped you mature as a person?
A: Yes, it made me mature real fast.
Q: You were a two-time captain at Pittsburg St. What does that honor mean to you?
A: It’s a great honor because a lot of my teammates looked up to me.
Q: Are there any current NFL players you model your game after?
A: Antonio Brown and T.Y. Hilton
Q: Finish this sentence. John Brown is…
A: …a hard worker, a person that loves to compete. and loves to be around his family.
