Page 43 - 2020 Sollenberger

By Leo Tochterman azpreps365.com
Arcadia’s Brown making a name for himself
Former 20-year NFL offensive linemen Ray Brown doesn’t mince words when discussing the potential of his son, Trey.
“I know my son is better than me when I was in high school,” Ray said.
Trey is entering his senior season as an outside linebacker at Arcadia High School and has been around football since he was in diapers.
So naturally he developed a passion for it.
“I’ve really just loved football since I was born,” Trey said. “I’ve been around it my whole life and just watching (Ray) play just made me love it even more.”
At 6-3, 205-pounds, Trey doesn’t have the same physical frame his father had as a high school senior, but what they do share is a similar set of values.
“It’s very noticeable, the impact that his father has had on him as far as a character standpoint,” Arcadia head coach Vance Miller said. “He doesn’t walk around with any ego in his way. He’s willing to help the kid next to him with anything. It’s parenting at its best.”
Ray praised the growth in maturity and hard work he’s witnessed from his son since the family relocated to Arizona after Ray joined Bruce Arians’ coaching staff with the Cardinals.
“When we moved to Arizona my son had no offers and nobody knew who he was,” Ray said. “He wasn’t confident in what was out in front of him in regards to opportunity on the football field.”
In Arizona, Trey blossomed, and in late August he committed to Duke.
Washington State, Colorado State and Northern Arizona University were among the other handful of other schools that were also after Trey. When it came to college, Ray made it clear that Trey would ulti- mately decide where to go.
“I think he’s got to feel comfortable with where he’s going to be,” Ray said. “It can’t be what mom and dad think about it. I think he knows that it’s important that he projects how the coach sees him or how the team sees him.”
After working as an assistant coach in the NFL, Ray is now Arcadia’s junior varsity offensive line coach.
According to Miller, Ray’s transition was seamless.
“Trey’s dad supports everything we’re doing,” Miller said. “The kids love having him out there, and they all respond well to having him out there.”
Teammates also love having Trey around, who developed into a lead- er for the Titans and is making an impact on both sides of the ball.
On defense, Trey’s impressive combination of speed and sheer size makes him a menace against both the pass and the run. Trey uses those same physical tools to punish tacklers and make acrobatic catches as a tight end.
Ray thinks Trey’s growth as a football player and person is due to different factors.
“There’s been some unique individuals that have touched his life to get him to this point, and it’s not just mom and dad,” Ray said. “But it’s been the Arcadia athletic community, the Arcadia school community and it’s been the coaches. A lot of people really helped Trey get here, and I think he’s very aware of that.”
Despite his NFL pedigree, Ray tells his son to be his own person instead of someone chasing his father’s shadow.
‘‘My dad has always told me to just go out there and be myself, so I don’t really feel any added pressure,” Trey said. “He has told me that it’s always going to be different.”
If you think you can hang with linebacker/tight end Trey Brown, the Duke-commit will be waiting for you at 4703 E. Indian School Rd., Arcadia High School. (Mark Jones photo/MaxPreps)
Arcadia - 4A Black Canyon Region
Head coach: Vance Miller.
Years as school’s head coach: First year.
2019 record: 6-4.
Returning starters on offense, 2019 stats: Sr. TE Trey Brown 6-2, 215; Sr. WR Crew Edwards 5-9, 150 (542 yards receiving, 6 TDs); Jr. OL Frankie Leon 5-8, 220; Jr. OL Joseph Boyle 6-1, 245; Jr. OL James Phillips 6-4, 270; Sr. OL Andrew Carreon 6-3, 310; Sr. WR Yonis Aden 5-8, 145; Sr. WR Noah Richardson 6-2, 170; Jr. WR Lucas Rice 6-0, 165; So. K Isaac Delacruz 5-8, 135.
Returning starters on defense, 2019 stats: Jr. DL Brody Ramirez 6-3, 230; Sr. LB Clayton Kinkle 5-10, 185; Jr. LB Jacob Swords 5-11, 200; Jr. DB Antonio Green 5-9, 160; Sr. DB Crew Edwards 5-9, 150; Sr. DB Matthew Alire 5-10 165; Sr. DB Cisco Rodarte 5-11 165; Sr. LB Nixon Nolan 5-7, 165 (73 tackles); Sr. DB Noah Richard- son 6-2, 170 (52 tackles).
Also keep an eye on: So. DL Cabot Wiggington 5-9, 185; So. DL Juan Mendez 5-8, 230.
Strengths of offense: Speed. Agility. Intelligence. Hand and arm strength. Physi- cality.
Strengths of defense: Speed. Toughness. Diverse. Adaptive. Intelligence.
Team’s biggest question: Adaptation to new regime. Conformity to new philoso- phy. Limited time to learn new philosophies.
2020 expectations: Excitement, can’t wait to start. Gel as one unit. Total buy-in. More about program: The biggest obstacle we have to overcome is our time restraint. We are a new staff with new philosophies and without being able to work with our kids this spring, we will face a major time crunch when we have the opportunity to get back on the field.
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