With a handle of "@kampicksix" on the social media platform X, it only makes sense for University of Tennessee at Chattanooga defensive back Kam Brown to have the mindset of a playmaker.
It also only made sense for his first pick-six for the Mocs — he returned an interception 53 yards for a touchdown in UTC's 41-21 win over Mercer on Oct. 22, 2022 — to come two years to the day of one of the toughest moments of his college career. Brown's sister died the day before the Mocs left to face Western Kentucky in the lone fall game they played during the pandemic-altered 2020 schedule.
"That was a special moment," Brown said earlier this week while reflecting on the big play against Mercer at Finley Stadium. "Leading up to that game I had been sad, all week at practice was a little dull for me, dropping balls out there. But it was different on that Saturday; I had some family in the stands and my niece was there, so it was just exciting, catching that pick and changing the momentum of the game that helped my team win."
That was part of a six-interception season for Brown, which resulted in multiple All-American honors. Last season's success has also led to a lot of lonely Saturdays on his portion of the field in 2023 as opposing teams have thrown more to the side opposite Brown. Yet he has still found some opportunities and has added three more picks, giving him 11 for his career to tie for sixth in UTC history with three other players, most recently safety Brandon Dowdell (2017-21).
College is about growth, though, and UTC coach Rusty Wright is definitely about seeing growth in his players. Brown has shown that personally while also aiding in the growth of the team. He joined the Mocs in Wright's first year as UTC's head coach, 2019, and the program has never had a losing record at the end of any of those seasons — though that span has also yet to include an appearance in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.
"You watch where that guy grew from his first year until now not only as a football player, but as a human being and how much he's matured," Wright said. "He's went through some things good and bad here, and he's stuck with it — that's what makes you proud. He's worked himself into a good football player, and he's a really good student now. He's going to have a great career whatever he decides to do."
Brown is from Mobile, and he'll back in his home state Saturday when the Mocs (7-3), ranked in the top 20 of both FCS polls, take on Football Bowl Subdivision power Alabama (9-1), which is eighth in the College Football Playoff rankings. Kickoff is set for noon Eastern at Bryant-Denny Stadium, where the Mocs will be returning to action after last week's open date that followed 10 straight Saturdays of games.
This will definitely be Brown's last regular-season game in college; whether it's his college finale won't be known until the following day.
The 24-team bracket for the FCS playoffs will be revealed during a selection show at 12:30 p.m. Sunday on ESPNU, and for the third consecutive year, the Mocs go into the last game on their schedule with their postseason fate ultimately in the hands of a committee and not their own. The Mocs haven't made the playoffs since reaching the second round in 2016, and their home loss to Furman two weeks ago allowed the Paladins to clinch the Southern Conference's automatic bid.
Has everything gone Brown's way during his career? Not at all.
But there have been way too many successes — whether UTC makes the playoffs or not — to call it a failure.
"It's been an uphill battle," Brown said. "When I first got here, playing right away (as a freshman), going through trials and tribulations through COVID, then having a great year last year and building going into this year.
"I've been trying to send a statement of the player I am — overlooked, undersized — and I think it's overall a great career. It could have been better, but I'm glad with what I did in the time that I did."
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com.