Dec. 20, 2007

UTEP Head Coach Mike Price announced on Thursday that junior college standout L.J. Brown will join the Miners for spring drills and have two years of eligibility with the team.

Brown, a 6-6, 285-pound defensive end, played at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, Calif. last season. He was team captain and an honorable mention All-Conference selection, posting 28 tackles, three tackles for losses, three sacks and four tipped passes. He started every game for the Jaguars at right end.

"He is a man," Price said. "He was in the Navy for five years, so physically he is a man and mentally he is a man. He's one big, huge person who can play football. We're very pleased to add someone of his physical caliber to our defensive line."

"He is a really mature kid who goes to class," Southwestern College coach Ed Carberry said. "Football-wise, his best years are ahead of him. He worked hard and got better during the time he was with us. There was nothing but upward movement. He did everything we asked of him."

Brown attended Stranahan High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where he played wide receiver. After enlisting in the Navy, he spent one year at Grossmont College in El Cajon, Calif. prior to transferring to Southwestern and blossoming into a defensive line prospect.