On Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012, Central Bucks South senior Matt Johns and Dan Brown were recognized at a special news conference for signing letters of intent to play football at the collegiate level.
“One of the things that separates them is they both have great football IQs,” coach Dave Rackovan said. “They’re both going to great academic schools. Football is very important to both of them, academics are important to both of them, and a lot of times that doesn’t translate on the field, but for them, it does. I always talk about football IQ, and they understand the game. They have to be great athletes to do what they have done. They’ve both had special careers here for us.”
Dan Brown
Major: Marketing
Final list of colleges: Lehigh, Holy Cross, Bryant, Richmond, Lafayette
Reasons for choosing Lehigh: “On my official, I fell in love with the campus. It’s beautiful, and the academics are top notch. They finished fifth in the country last year, and when you add all three together, it’s a great combination.”
What was the progression that led you to playing collegiate football? “I have always dreamed of going to college and playing. Every little kid dreams of going pro, but playing in college became a reality this year. After my junior year with my ACL injury, I started off this year a little slow, but then everything started to come together, and I thought, ‘Maybe this is a reality for me.’”
What was the highlight of your career at CB South? “Our PW (district) game – they had allowed about 50 points all year, and we came out and scored 52 on them. We were really playing good.”
Coach Dave Rackovan says: “What’s amazing about Dan is that he’s such a good finisher. By that I mean, when he has the ball in his hands, he can score at any time. That’s the thing that was really brought to the forefront this year. Whether it be from one yard or whether it be from 50 yards, he had the ability to do that. He’s one of those kids that looks to score on every play. Some guys look to get tackled. He doesn’t. He looks to score.”
About Dan:
Favorite food: Steak and shrimp
Favorite movie: Step Brothers
Music: Wiz Kahalifa
Matt Johns
Major: Business
Final list of colleges: Virginia, Boston College, Maryland, Pittsburgh, Penn State
Reasons for choosing Virginia: “Just the people that surrounded me while I was there and the environment, the campus, the academics. It has a great legacy there, and it’s something I wanted to be a part of.
“I think their pro style offense is what helped me buy into their schemes because that’s what I see myself as a college player. I committed before the season. I was going there whether they had a good season or bad season. They came out and they were 8-4 and had a great season. I’m just going to go in there to compete. I think competition is what matters most, and that’s something I’ve always strived for. I want to earn the respect of the players and the coaches.”
What was the progression that led you to playing collegiate football? “In my sophomore year, I threw a touchdown pass, and when I came off the field, one of our assistant coaches looked me in the eye and said, ‘You’re a Division One quarterback.’ I honestly didn’t believe him, but once coach Rackovan came, the first practice of my junior season – he brought this new intensity level and a new level of play that I just loved. I knew from the first day of my junior season that I wanted to play Division One football, and I worked really hard to get to that point. I did what I had to do in the offseason, and it paid off.”
What was the highlight of your career at CB South? “Just this entire season in general and the arrival of coach Rackovan and the entire offense - that was very exciting with the offense that we put in. We were the second team in CB South history to have a winning record, and we went to the second round (of districts). This whole season in general was a dream come true, and playing with my best friends on the field – it doesn’t get any better than that.”
Coach Dave Rackovan says: “Matt is really a complete football player at the quarterback position. He has everything from the ability to make all the throws, to make all the right reads and has tremendous confidence in all of that. There are a lot of kids who are athletes, and there are a lot of kids that might have a stronger arm, but when you put the whole package together, that’s what you have with Matt, and I think that’s the thing that separates him from everybody else.”
About Matt:
Favorite food: Penne with vodka sauce
Favorite movie: Billy Madison
Favorite music: A little bit of everything – R&B, rap, country
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