The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Spencer Brown Named Conference USA Freshman of the Year
12/6/2017 1:03:00 PM | Football
IRVING, Texas – Coming off a sensational freshman season that saw him amass nearly 1,300 rushing yards and shatter the UAB record books, running back Spencer Brown has been named the Conference USA Freshman of the Year, the league office announced on Wednesday.
Prior to being named the top freshman in the league, Brown earned a spot on the C-USA All-Freshman Team and was named Second Team All-Conference by the leagues head coaches. He is the first freshman in program history to be named the C-USA Freshman of the Year.
"This award could not have been given to someone more humble than Spencer and he will be the first to thank his offensive linemen," head coach Bill Clark said. "He earned the respect of his teammates very early into training camp and continued to get better each week. It is great to see a hometown kid garner this recognition and the future is so bright for him. We look forward to his continuous growth as a football player and student-athlete at UAB over the next three years."
Brown's regular season was one to remember as the Birmingham native ran for 1,292 yards and 10 touchdowns. Heading into the Bahamas Bowl, he needs just 97 yards to set the C-USA freshman rushing record (1,388 yards by Damion Fletcher of Southern Miss in 2006).
It took Brown just eight games to break the program's single season rushing record by a freshman previously held by Jordan Howard and he is currently third in program history for overall single season rushing yards. His 10 rushing touchdowns is also seventh most in a single season.
He has also been one of the best freshman backs in the nation as his 107.7 yards per game is the third-best among freshman running backs and the 24th most yards per game in the country.
His efforts on the ground helped spark one of the most prolific offensive seasons in UAB history as the Blazers are averaging 29.6 points per game and have tallied 355 total points this season, just 43 points behind the school record point total of 398 set in the 2014 season.
Behind All-Conference USA offensive linemen Chris Schleuger and James Davis, the Blazers were the second leading rushing attack in C-USA, averaging 190.2 yards per game. UAB's 27 rushing touchdowns tied a single season record and the Blazers have an opportunity to set the record in the Bahamas.
The freshman first broke onto the scene against Ball State when he rushed for 151 yards as part of a 351-yard effort by the offense, the Blazers' first 100-yard performance of the season.
Brown's breakout moment of the season came on Oct. 28 when he rushed for a season-high 209 yards to surpass Howard's single season freshman rushing record. The 209 yards were the seventh most in a game in school history and just the eighth time ever a UAB running back has eclipsed the 200-yard mark in a single game. Overall, Brown had six 100-yard rushing games this season.
Brown and the Blazers take on Ohio University (8-4) in the Bahamas Bowl on Dec. 22 at 11:30 a.m. CST from Thomas A. Robinson Memorial Stadium. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.
Prior to being named the top freshman in the league, Brown earned a spot on the C-USA All-Freshman Team and was named Second Team All-Conference by the leagues head coaches. He is the first freshman in program history to be named the C-USA Freshman of the Year.
"This award could not have been given to someone more humble than Spencer and he will be the first to thank his offensive linemen," head coach Bill Clark said. "He earned the respect of his teammates very early into training camp and continued to get better each week. It is great to see a hometown kid garner this recognition and the future is so bright for him. We look forward to his continuous growth as a football player and student-athlete at UAB over the next three years."
Brown's regular season was one to remember as the Birmingham native ran for 1,292 yards and 10 touchdowns. Heading into the Bahamas Bowl, he needs just 97 yards to set the C-USA freshman rushing record (1,388 yards by Damion Fletcher of Southern Miss in 2006).
It took Brown just eight games to break the program's single season rushing record by a freshman previously held by Jordan Howard and he is currently third in program history for overall single season rushing yards. His 10 rushing touchdowns is also seventh most in a single season.
He has also been one of the best freshman backs in the nation as his 107.7 yards per game is the third-best among freshman running backs and the 24th most yards per game in the country.
His efforts on the ground helped spark one of the most prolific offensive seasons in UAB history as the Blazers are averaging 29.6 points per game and have tallied 355 total points this season, just 43 points behind the school record point total of 398 set in the 2014 season.
Behind All-Conference USA offensive linemen Chris Schleuger and James Davis, the Blazers were the second leading rushing attack in C-USA, averaging 190.2 yards per game. UAB's 27 rushing touchdowns tied a single season record and the Blazers have an opportunity to set the record in the Bahamas.
The freshman first broke onto the scene against Ball State when he rushed for 151 yards as part of a 351-yard effort by the offense, the Blazers' first 100-yard performance of the season.
Brown's breakout moment of the season came on Oct. 28 when he rushed for a season-high 209 yards to surpass Howard's single season freshman rushing record. The 209 yards were the seventh most in a game in school history and just the eighth time ever a UAB running back has eclipsed the 200-yard mark in a single game. Overall, Brown had six 100-yard rushing games this season.
Brown and the Blazers take on Ohio University (8-4) in the Bahamas Bowl on Dec. 22 at 11:30 a.m. CST from Thomas A. Robinson Memorial Stadium. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.
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