UVA gets commitment from brother of former BYU starter, picks Cavaliers over BYU

By Jerry Ratcliffe

The brother of a former BYU Remington Trophy watch list candidate has committed to Virginia only days after visiting Charlottesville.

Joe Brown, a 6-foot-3, 285-pound, offensive lineman from American Fork, Utah, became the Cavaliers ninth commitment Wednesday. He visited UVA last weekend.

Rated the No. 16 prospect in the state of Utah, and the No. 36 interior lineman in the nation by 247Sports, Brown chose Virginia over BYU, NC State, Indiana, Idaho, Morehead State and Weber State. UVA was the first to offer Brown, and BYU quickly followed suit.

Brown’s older brother, Terrence, was a three-year starter at BYU during a six-year career (2005 through 2011) for the Cougars and played for some of Bronco Mendenhall’s best teams in Provo. Terrence Brown, who now resides in Raleigh, N.C., started 39 games and played in 52 for BYU, where he was a four-year letter winner at guard and tackle.

Joe Brown, rated a 3-star out of Lone Peak High School, was a Class 5A honorable mention in 2020, but excelled recently at two football camps out west.

He was named one of the top offensive linemen at the Under Armour All-American Camp Series in Phoenix and was MVP at the National Preps Collegiate Showcase in Arizona.

“I want to say how grateful I am for the support from my family,” Brown tweeted Wednesday. “They always stood by me no manner the obstacles. I want to thank my coaches who have helped make me the person I am today and my trainers who have pushed me to my limits to get better each day. With that being said, I am committing to the University of Virginia.”

Brown said that he quickly developed a solid relationship with UVA offensive line coach Garrett Tujague, who has gained a strong reputation for the love and care of his players.

Brown is UVA’s second offensive line commitment in the past week, joining 4-star Brody Meadows from Bluefield’s Graham High School, a 6-7, 300 prospect who chose the Cavaliers over Cincinnati, Michigan State, West Virginia, Georgia Tech, Arizona State and Purdue.