The UTSA Roadrunners received a late boost to their 2017 recruiting class after signing three-star linebacker Joshua Brown Monday evening. While the majority of the Division I-bound athletes in the country put ink to paper back in February, Brown took a while longer to weigh his options before signing with the Roadrunners.

Late signing date aside, Brown’s recruitment was an unorthodox one. The Houston product got his start on the varsity level as a sophomore at Dekaney High School before transferring to Westfield High towards the end of his junior year. The late transfer caused him to miss all of spring football, a decisive period for in-person evaluations by college coaches. Undeterred, Brown hit the summer camp/combine circuit where he really turned heads after growing to 6’3”, 220 pounds following a late growth spurt.

Brown’s camp performances were so impressive he earned offers from Iowa State and TCU over the summer. Both offers seemed to have dried up over the span of the season, leaving Brown with scholarship offers from UTSA, Boise State, and Arizona at the time of his commitment and signing. The talented linebacker announced his commitment with the following tweet.

UTSA has had many great linebackers throughout the short history of the program (Josiah Tauaefa, Steven Kurfehs, Brandon Reeves, Jens Jeters) but Brown is arguably the most talented linebacker the Roadrunners have ever signed coming out of high school as Tauaefa and Kurfehs played other positions at the prep level. Standing at 6’3”, 220 pounds, Brown is certainly the most physically-developed linebacker UTSA has ever signed.

Brown’s highlight film puts his skills clearly on display. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a high school linebacker more exceptional in shedding blocks as Brown routinely punishes oncoming blockers with strength and aggression. His reputation proceeds him as you can see blockers approach him with obvious hesitation on film.

Brown shows great anticipation skills, both against the run and the pass. He times the snap perfectly in several plays on his film, leading to large tackles for loss. The striking power and explosiveness Brown shows in his film explain why Power Five schools were willing to extend offers to him. Given his size and strength, Brown should be prepared for early playing time at UTSA should it present itself however with Tauaefa, Lakel Bass, Marcos Curry, and Les Mauro all healthy Brown might be best suited with a redshirt season to preserve his eligibility.