Harvard transfer graduate linebacker Jake Brown was named the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Defensive Player of the Week to kick off Monmouth University’s 2023 season, the league announced Monday.
Brown led Monmouth’s defensive attempts with seven tackles, two counts of sacks, and an essential fumble in Monmouth’s 42-23 win over Towson on Saturday night. With fewer than six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and a 28-23 advantage, Brown snatched the football away from Towson quarterback Nathan Kent. Sophomore Miles Mitchell recovered the fumble within Towson territory, and Monmouth scored two plays later to reclaim a double-possession lead.
Student-athlete Brown is no stranger to the limelight. Transferring from Harvard University’s graduate program, he appeared in 30 games as linebacker and totaled 58 career tackles, including 33 solo stops throughout his career. He earned Harvard’s William Paine LaCroix Award presented for enthusiasm and sportsmanship, and he received the 2022 All-Ivy League Honorable Mention for Harvard University. His legacy continues at Monmouth where he has already made quite an impact.
Looking to expand upon the turnover differential in the game against Towson, Monmouth won the turnover fight 4-1 thanks to Brown’s interception. Monmouth is currently leading the CAA with a plus-four differential after making four turnovers in the win at Towson. These four turnovers versus Towson matched for the CAA single-game lead this season. Hoping to capture a 2-0 lead for the start of the 2023 season, Monmouth football recruited several new members to the Hawk family this past year through the transfer portal.
Along with Brown there are several top picks in this roster. Nick White from Gannon University, Isaiah Oduro out of Lackawanna College, Isaiah Rogers from Central Michigan, and Antonio Colclough from James Madison University are all two-time All-PSAC First Team selections on the defensive line. Harvard running back Sone Ntoh and reserve offensive guard Matt Fries out of Illinois are the new threats to watch on offense. The final addition is Luke Schabel from Incarnate Word, who has resided as the Hawks’ primary punter on special teams.
Monmouth is one of the 15 members within the CAA division including their 23 out of 24 Division I sports teams. The CAA, originally known as the Colonial Athletic Association, is a collegiate sports conference connected with the NCAA’s Division I that has full members from Massachusetts to South Carolina. Monmouth University recently joined the CAA in July of 2022. Competing in it will allow Monmouth “to tap major media markets up and down the East Coast,” said Patrick Leahy, Ed.D., President of Monmouth University. “This gives us an important opportunity to extend the Monmouth brand and to shine a spotlight on the incredible work that happens day in and day out on this campus.”
The Hawks’ next endeavor at home involves Leigh University for the Hawks Homecoming at 1 p.m. Sept. 30 and will air on SNY/NBC Sports Philadelphia+. Around this time last year, the Hawks finished with a win against Leigh with a final score of 35-7. The two teams have gone head-to-head in recent years averaging an even trade of a four-win streak and a four-loss dating back to Sept. 2014. With the teams making changes this year it should be an interesting game to watch.
