Brown will not only be missed on the field for the Huskies, but also off it. He had become the university's "poster child" for his work within the community and recently began work on organizing a mentoring program for high school players from the New Jersey Shore League that produced Brown and Georgia's Knowshon Moreno. He also unveiled plans to present the Donald Brown Player-to-Player Leadership Conference back in his home state.

Ask anyone on the Connecticut staff to name the team's hardest worker and it sounds like a choir with everyone singing the praises for Brown. Ask any teammate who they would go to for mentoring or extra help and the first name you hear is Brown's. "Donnie understands the importance of giving back and how to prepare for life after football," his former head coach at Red Bank Catholic High School, Frank Edgerly, recently said. "He has a great perspective on life."

During his prep days, Brown was named first-team all-division, All-Monmouth County and All-Jersey Shore, in addition to earning second-team all-state honors as a senior. The Divisional Offensive MVP and team captain rushed for 2,032 yards and scored 27 touchdowns that year. The recipient of the All-American Scholar Award, he also lettered six times on the school's indoor and outdoor track teams.

Brown enrolled at Connecticut in 2005, where he was the top offensive player on the Huskies' scout team while redshirting that season. In 2006, Brown earned All-Big East Conference recognition, taking over as the team's starting tailback for four games after Terry Caulley was injured.

He led the team with 896 yards and seven touchdowns on 161 carries (5.6 avg.) in 12 games. He ran for 118 yards and two touchdowns on just nine attempts in his college debut vs. Rhode Island and totaled 205 yards rushing vs. Pittsburgh, the 14th time a Connecticut player totaled more than 200 yards on the ground in a game.

Brown was primed for a banner sophomore campaign, but after starting the first five games, he suffered an ankle sprain vs. Akron and when he returned, he was used in a reserve role. Undaunted, he still piled up 821 yards on 170 runs (4.8 avg.) that included eight touchdowns.

In 2008, Brown won his starting job back by default, as Andre Dixon, who took advantage of Brown's 2007 injury to take over as the Huskies' starting tailback, suffered the same fate in fall camp. This time, Brown would not give the job back. He became the first player in school history to lead the nation in rushing, averaging 160.23 yards per game. The nation's only 2,000-yard rusher set school and Big East Conference season records with 2,083 yards on 367 carries (5.7 avg.). He also scored on 18 rushes and finished third on the squad with 21 receptions, good for 125 yards (6.0 avg.).

GENERAL REPORT: GRADE: 7.00

Body Structure: Brown has a compact frame with good chest definition, but slight shoulders. He has better lower-body thickness than on top. He has decent arm-muscle tone, big thighs, thick calves and the athleticism to make up for a lack of ideal speed or strength.

Athletic Ability: Brown needs to add more bulk to his frame, but might be at maximum growth potential. He is not exceptionally fast or strong and has adequate shoulder definition, but compensates with good balance, body control and loose hips. He has a quick short-area burst and good footwork, doing a nice job of shifting his weight and staying low in his pads to slip through traffic into the second level. He generates good body lean, moves and fakes to con the defender and is very effective using his outstanding change-of-direction agility. In isolated coverage, he will generally win the foot race vs. second-level defenders. He has swivel hips, rather than veer and weave, doing a nice job of picking and sliding trying to find daylight. GRADE: 7.0

Football Sense: Brown has excellent peripheral vision and good football awareness. He needs only normal reps to retain, as he's instinctive and really prepares for the game. He does well in school and will not have problems digesting a complicated playbook. The thing you see on film is the way he can adjust to coverage and pick and slide, showing very good patience following his blockers. GRADE: 6.8

Character: Brown is a solid, humble person who is not the one to "beat his chest" over his on-field accomplishments. Off the field, he is a solid citizen with no off-field issues and has even started a mentoring program for high school athletes back in his hometown. Even when he lost his starting job as a sophomore through injury, and not from poor performance, he did whatever he could to help the new starter adjust. He sets a very good example in practice and in games. He is very responsible and well-liked by teammates. He is also the type that conducts himself very well in interviews. GRADE: 7.5

Competitiveness: Brown is an outstanding competitor, very tough and the type that will play with nagging injuries rather than rest on the sidelines. He is a quick healer and the type that gives total effort throughout the game, along with delivering very good production. He was vital to the team's offensive success in 2008, putting the brunt of that load on his shoulders after the passing game failed to materialize. Despite sharing playing time the first two years, he complemented his "running mate" well, both on and off the field. He's not really an explosive runner, but he is a tough one between the tackles, even though he lacks ideal strength. He might dance around too much in the backfield, but is not the type that tends to run out of bounds, and is more apt to fight for yardage than take the "easy" way out. GRADE: 6.7

Work Habits: Brown demonstrates an excellent work ethic, year-round. His body could use more bulk and power, but he is a hard worker in the offseason. He is a self-motivated leader, coachable and always on time for his scheduled workout sessions. GRADE: 7.0

ATHLETIC REPORT: GRADE: 6.96

Initial Quickness: Brown is not the type to generate an explosive and sudden burst into the crease, but he has that low center of gravity that remind old-time scouts of former Jets tailback Freeman McNeil. He has outstanding vision and stop-and-go action to freeze the defender and is a slippery runner through the holes. He runs with great balance and flashes good quickness on the move. He might not be able to simply fly past an opponent, but he can quickly pick and slide through trash and is a fast-twitched type who has no problem negotiating through even the tiniest of creases. GRADE: 6.5

Acceleration/Burst: Brown is not going to win long-distance foot races, but his balance, loose hips and short-area burst is evident by the way he picks, slides and breaks into the second level. When he runs low in his pads, he has no problems separating from defenders and while he lacks blazing speed, his stride and acceleration will see him take the ball to the house. He shows both burst and acceleration, changing angles sharply to find daylight and can quickly gain advantage over the defender. GRADE: 6.9

Instincts/Balance: Brown has excellent change-of-direction agility and body control. He is very effective when taking the pitch and having time to scan the field. He is the type that can create quite a bit on his own, but also is patient following his blocks. He does a very good job of adjusting on the move and with his shiftiness in and out of his cuts, he can get past the second level consistently. He has good lower-body strength (just adequate upper body) to break tackles and it is rare to see him go down on the initial hit. GRADE: 7.9

Inside Running: Brown has that short-area burst to make defenders miss and stays low in his pads to attack and move the pile. He is very conscious of ball security and has the forward body lean to gain positive yardage squeezing through tight quarters. He is very sudden to cut back, displaying above-average vision and pick-and-slide agility. He will gain yardage between tackles, as he quickly sees the crease, but is best when having room to move and slide. With his balance and ability to keep his feet, along with his vision, he can find the seams quickly. GRADE: 6.9

Outside Running: Brown bounces outside with good urgency. He has superb outside vision and can get to his top-end speed to take the ball to the house turning the corner. He moves well as an option running back, where he is able to capitalize on his balance and foot work. He has a very good feel for the cutback lanes, getting the bulk of his yardage when doing so. He might not have the timed speed to beat secondary defenders, but takes good angles and shows the head and shoulder fakes to take those opponents out of the play. With his body control, he excels at turning it up with his outside run. GRADE: 8.2

Elusiveness: Brown might not have the blazing speed of other backs, but he is quick enough and shows very good balance to consistently flash the quickness needed to break down and step away from the defenders. He has good shake-and-bake moves, very loose hips and a darting style that gets him into the second level. He shows very good awareness to adjust on the move and good acceleration out of his cuts. What is puzzling is that he tends to dance quite a bit, running east-to-west instead of north-to-south in the backfield, looking for that perfect hole to attack. That led to him getting taken down 38 times behind the line of scrimmage, and 22 other times he was stopped for no yardage (16.35% of his carries led to no gains in 2008; 60 of 367 attempts). GRADE: 6.9

Tackle-Breaking Strength: Brown needs to add more upper-body strength, but he runs hard, runs through and punishes tacklers with his leg drive. He can move the pile when he stays low in his pads, using his strong lower body and compact build to run through arm tackles. He's not really a pile mover running inside because of strength issues, as he is best when he utilizes his moves and quickness to break free. He does appear stronger when attacking the secondary, though. GRADE: 6.7

Tendency to Fumble: Brown does a good job of protecting the ball, having just five fumbles on 698 carries (0.72%). He has the functional strength in his arms to secure the ball before heading upfield and holds the ball close to his frame, using his body well to cover up the pigskin on contact. GRADE: 8.1

Receiving Skills: Brown has limited production as a receiver, but shows good hands in the minimal times he gets to catch the pigskin. He is fluid when trying to extend his hands away from the framework, especially when attempting to get to off-target tosses. He shows good concentration to look the ball in and is quick to turn and head upfield after the catch. He has the body control to adjust to the ball in flight and has a very good feel for getting open on the screens. GRADE: 6.5

Route Running: Brown is used mostly on short rounded, screens and flats. While he does not get many chances as a receiver, he does have very good change-of-direction agility and speed. He is also alert to coverage and does a nice job of getting proper position on screens. GRADE: 6.5

Blocking Ability: Brown is an adequate blocker, but limited. He will bend and pop in pass protection and will attempt to stand his ground, but when he keeps his arms close to his body, he fails to pick up the blitz and sustain. He's a decent cut blocker who will try to face up and strike, but he does not stone defenders. GRADE: 5.5

Compares To: TIKI BARBER, ex-New York Giants -- Brown has done everything he could to pattern his game after Barber's. Neither were known as power backs, but both had the leg drive to break tackles. Brown has excellent balance and runs with that low center of gravity to get good yardage slipping through the second level. He runs with good body lean and, even though the Connecticut system did not throw to their backs much, he could be a nice safety valve target coming out of the backfield.

OVERALL GRADE: 6.97

--Report by Dave-Te' Thomas

Brown started 23 of 37 games at Connecticut, carrying 698 times for 3,800 yards (5.44 avg.) and 33 touchdowns, adding 276 yards and two scores on 48 receptions (5.75 avg.), 210 yards on nine kickoff returns (23.3 avg.) and 4,286 all-purpose yards while scoring 210 points … His 698 rushing attempts broke the previous school career record of 570 by Terry Caulley (2002-06) and rank fifth in Big East Conference annals behind Avon Cobourne of West Virginia (1,023; 1999-02), Ray Rice of Rutgers (910; 2005-07), Amos Zereoue of West Virginia (726; 1996-98) and Derrick Knight of Boston College (708; 2000-03) … Joined Caulley (3,187) as the only players in school history to rush for over 3,000 yards in a career, as his 3,800 yards rank sixth on the Big East all-time record list … Only Brown (33), Caulley (31) and Wilbur Gilliard (34, 1992-95) ran for more than 30 touchdowns in a career for Connecticut, as his 33 scoring runs rank ninth in Big East annals … Ran for over 100 yards 17 times, a school record and the seventh-best career total in the Big East … Averaged 5.44 yards per rushing attempt, ranking behind Caulley (5.6 avg.) on the school career-record chart … Averaged 102.7 yards per game rushing, topped only by Vin Clements (105.8 ypg, 1968-70) in Connecticut history … Ran for over 100 yards in eight consecutive games, breaking Caulley's old school mark of six (2002-03) … His 367 carries in 2008 rank second on the Big East Conference season-record list behind Rice of Rutgers (380 in 2007) … His 2,083 yards rushing in 2008 set the Big East season record, joining Rice (2,012 in 2007) as the only 2,000-yard rushers in conference annals … His 11 100-yard rushing performances in 2008 broke the Big East season record that was shared with Mike Cloud of Boston College (1998), Cobourne of West Virginia (2002), Willis McGahee of Miami (2002), Rice of Rutgers (both 2006 and 2007) and Steve Slaton of West Virginia (2006) … His average of 160.23 yards per game rushing in 2008 topped the previous conference annual record of 156.91 yards by Cloud of Boston College in 1998 … His average of 159.85 all-purpose yards in 2008 set the school season record and rank sixth on the Big East's annual record book … His 18 touchdown runs in 2008 are topped by Walt Trojanowski (22 in 1945) on Connecticut's season-record chart … Carried 43 times vs. Pittsburgh in 2006, ranking behind Russ Clarke (44 vs. Vermont in 1974) on the school game-record list and second in Big East Conference annals behind Tanardo Sharps of Temple (48 vs. Rutgers, 2002) … Scored four touchdowns vs. Hofstra in 2008, the third-highest game total by a Connecticut player … Brown rushed for over 200 yards three times during his career, including 261 vs. Buffalo in 2008, the fourth-best game total by a Husky, ranking behind Nick Giaquinto (277 vs. Holy Cross, 1976), Vinny Clements (273 vs. Rhode Island, 1969) and Kevin Wesley (272 vs. Massachusetts, 1989) … His 75-yard run vs. Buffalo in the International Bowl was the school's longest run from scrimmage in postseason action.

First-team All-America selection by The NFL Draft Report and The Sporting News, earning second-team honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation and Associated Press … Named Big East Conference Offensive Player of the Year, as he was also chosen All-Big East first-team … Chosen Eastern College Athletic Conference Player of the Year … Also selected the team's Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year … Led the nation as he set school and conference season records with 2,083 yards on 367 carries (5.7 avg.) that included 18 touchdown runs … Ranked third on the squad with 21 receptions for 125 yards (6.0 avg.), ranking second in the league and 24th in the nation with 108 points, an average of 8.31 points per game … Led the Big East and placed sixth in the NCAA ranks with 2,208 all-purpose yards, an average of 169.85 yards per game … Ran for 106 first downs on his 367 rushing attempts (28.88%) … Converted 19 of 51 third-down carries … Had 51 runs for at least 10 yards (13.9%), including 17 for 20 yards or longer … Gained positive yardage on 73 rushing attempts inside the red zone (19.89%), including 29 on goal-line plays … Had big runs that set up 27 Connecticut touchdown drives and 11 more that led to field goals … Was tackled behind the line of scrimmage 38 times (10.35%) and was stopped for no gain on 22 other runs (5.99%) … Turned the ball over three times, fumbling once in each of the Louisville, West Virginia and Buffalo games … Ran for over 100 yards in 11 contests.

Hofstra … Brown opened the season with his first of a school-record eight consecutive 100-yard rushing performances, as he ran 23 times for 146 yards and a career-high four touchdowns … On the team's season-opening possession, he went over the top for a 1-yard score … Midway through the opening stanza, he totaled 53 of the team's 60 yards on a seven-play series that he capped with another 1-yard score … In the second frame, he tallied 42 yards on five rushes, including a 19-yard touchdown that concluded a 76-yard, seven-play possession … His final score came on a 2-yard run with 1:40 left in the first half, as the first unit spent the rest of the day on the sidelines in a 35-3 victory.

Temple … Brown scored the only touchdown in a 12-9 overtime decision, picking up a career-high 214 yards on 36 attempts … The tailback set up a 37-yard field goal with a 16-yard run to the Temple 17 in the fourth quarter and scored the game-winning touchdown on a 7-yard burst in overtime.

Virginia … Brown produced his second consecutive 200-yard game, the first time a Husky player ever accomplished that feat, as he totaled 206 yards with three touchdowns, as he averaged 10.3 yards on 20 attempts and finished with 238 yards, catching five passes for 32 yards … He ended a first-quarter 70-yard, 11-play drive with a 3-yard scoring burst … He added an 8-yard touchdown in the second quarter and finished the day with a 63-yard rumble into the end zone in the third stanza, earning Big East Player of the Week honors.

Baylor … The junior tailback delivered 150 yards on 34 tries, as 11 of his runs came inside the end zone, producing 12 first-down carries … His 11-yard scoring run set the team into the locker room at halftime and his game-winning 3-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter gave the Huskies a 31-28 decision.

Louisville … The Husky rushed 33 times for 190 yards, generating 10 first downs with 16 red-zone carries … His second-quarter 1-yard touchdown run finished off a 71-yard, 8-play possession.

North Carolina … Brown was the lone bright spot in a 38-12 loss, gaining 161 yards with a touchdown on 33 chances … His fourth-quarter 1-yard score capped an 11-play, 84-yard drive … Record Watch-This marked Brown's sixth straight 100-yard rushing performance, tying the school record set by Terry Caulley (2002-03).

Rutgers … Produced his school-record seventh consecutive 100-yard game, delivering 107 yards on 27 carries … He set up a first-quarter 19-yard field goal with a 27-yard scamper and a 3-yard run that converted a third-and-1 snap.

Cincinnati … Brown continued his torrid pace, coming up with 150 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries and 58 yards on four receptions … Set up two field goals and one other touchdown drive while also rushing for scores of 2 yards in the first quarter and 5 yards in the fourth.

West Virginia … Brown has his string of 100-yard rushing games snapped at eight, as he ran 19 times for 82 yards, but turned the ball over once on a fumble … Made up for that miscue with a 21-yard touchdown jaunt that ended a 7-play, 80-yard first-quarter series.

Syracuse … The tailback registered his ninth 100-yard game for 2008, as he carried 22 times for 131 yards … He brought the crowd to its feet with a 49-yard scoring scamper late in the second quarter.

Pittsburgh … Brown generated 189 yards behind 34 carries, scoring the team's only touchdown on a 57-yard burst in a 34-10 loss.

Buffalo (International Bowl) … Brown closed out his career in explosive fashion, rushing for a career-high 261 yards on 29 attempts, including a 75-yard touchdown in a 38-20 win.

Shared the team's Offensive MVP award with fellow tailback Andre Dixon … Started the team's first five games before suffering a left ankle sprain vs. Akron that would sideline him for the Virginia clash … Returned to back up Dixon in the final seven contests, as Brown ranked second on the squad with 170 carries for 821 yards (4.8 avg.) and eight touchdowns … Caught 14 passes for 85 yards (6.1 avg.) and made one solo tackle … Scored 48 points and generated 906 all-purpose yards … Ranked sixth in the Big East Conference with an average of 68.42 yards per game rushing … Ran for 36 first downs, as he had positive yardage on 32 red-zone rushing attempts, including nine on goal-line plays … Set up 11 touchdown drives and six other series that ended with field goals … Turned the ball over once on a fumble vs. Louisville … Was tackled behind the line of scrimmage 27 times and stopped for no gain on 16 other runs … Gained over 100 yards rushing vs. both Rutgers and West Virginia.

Began the season with 19 carries for 99 yards and a score vs. Duke … Added 87 yards on 20 tries vs. Maine … Scored twice and picked up 54 yards on 13 carries in the Temple contest … Rushed 18 times for 53 yards and a touchdown vs. Pittsburgh … Collected 65 yards on 11 chances that included a score vs. Akron … Generated a season-high 154 yards with a 70-yard touchdown on 24 rushes vs. Rutgers … Collected 99 yards on 22 runs that included a 21-yard score vs. Syracuse … Rushed 22 times for 129 yards and a touchdown in the season finale vs. West Virginia … In the Meineke Car Care Bowl, Brown had 13 attempts for 72 yards vs. Wake Forest.

All-Big East Conference second-team pick as a redshirt freshman … Played in 12 games, starting five contests after Terry Caulley was injured … Led the team and ranked fifth in the conference with 161 carries for 896 yards (5.6 avg.) and seven touchdowns … Caught 13 passes for 66 yards (5.1 avg.) and a pair of scores … Returned nine kickoffs for 210 yards (23.3 avg.), recorded a solo tackle and scored 54 points … Placed seventh in the Big East with an average of 97.67 all-purpose yards per game … Fumbled once vs. Wake Forest, but Connecticut recovered the miscue … Ran for over 100 yards four times, setting the school freshman game record with 205 yards vs. Pittsburgh.

Brown made his collegiate debut an impressive one, becoming the first Husky to gain over 100 yards in his first game, as he carried nine times for 118 yards (13.1 avg.) and a pair of scores, including a 53-yarder vs. Rhode Island … In his first career start, he gained 199 yards on 28 attempts and scored twice, including on a 65-yard scamper vs. Rutgers … Had 43 carries for 205 yards and two touchdowns, adding 26 yards and a score on four catches vs. Pittsburgh … Ran 18 times for 80 yards and a 35-yard touchdown vs. Cincinnati … In the season finale, Brown totaled 122 yards on 21 attempts vs. Louisville.

Redshirted as a freshman … Named the Offensive Scout Team Player of the Week prior to the West Virginia game.

2007: Suffered a left ankle/foot sprain vs. Akron (9/29) … Forced to wear a protective boot for two weeks, sitting out the next game vs. Virginia (10/13).

Combine: 4.46 in the 40-yard dash … 1.50 10-yard dash … 2.55 20-yard dash … 4.10 20-yard shuttle … 6.93 three-cone drill … 41.5-inch vertical jump … 10'5" broad jump … Did not participate in 225-pound bench press due to right a/c joint injury.

Attended Red Bank (N.J.) High School, playing football for head coach Frank Egerly … Named first-team all-division, All-Monmouth County and All-Jersey Shore, in addition to earning second-team all-state honors as a senior … The Divisional Offensive MVP and team captain rushed for 2,032 yards and scored 27 touchdowns that year … The recipient of the All-American Scholar Award, he also lettered six times on the school's indoor and outdoor track teams.

Exercise Science major … Born Donald Eugene Brown II on 4/11/87 … Resides in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey.