Trevon Brown’s football career at East Carolina has been sidetracked by injuries, a disciplinary suspension and an academic issue that forced him to miss the entire 2016 season.
Wednesday, the junior wide receiver from Wilmington finally got some good news.
Brown, who has been sidelined since spring practice with a neck injury, received medical clearance that will allow him to return to action in time for Saturday’s season-opening game against James Madison.
“We’re just really, really excited about that,” Pirates coach Scottie Montgomery said in announcing the news after practice. “That gave us a boost leaving out of the meetings today when we let the guys know that he is available to play.”
ECU vs. James Madison
Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium | Saturday, 6 p.m. | ESPN3
Montgomery said that he wasn’t expecting Brown to be available for at least another week or two and was surprised when he received word that he would be able to play Saturday.
His return adds yet another weapon to an already deep receiving corps that includes top returning receiver Quay Johnson and deep threats Jimmy Williams and Davon Grayson.
Brown has played in 17 games in two seasons at ECU, with seven starts. He has 55 catches for 760 yards and eight touchdowns while also contributing on special teams with an average of 21.5 yards per kickoff return.
Although he had been held out of contact drills until Wednesday, Montgomery said that Brown has been working out with the team throughout preseason camp and should be ready to contribute right away.
“He’s been able to take reps in practice,” Montgomery said. “The problem is that the only reps he’s been able to take before today were noncontact reps. Now, if we want to contact him again (Thursday) we can. Then Friday he can get more contact and Saturday we can go in and play the game.”
