Brown grew up in Gilbert, Arizona and initially attended Queen Creek High School, where he was coached by former Ohio State and NFL quarterback Joe Germaine.[2] He passed for 1,319 yards and 10 touchdowns in eight games during his sophomore season.[3] He moved to Draper, Utah and transferred to Corner Canyon High School prior to the start of his senior year.[4] As a senior, Brown passed for 4,881 yards with 57 touchdown passes while also rushing for 430 yards and eight touchdowns.[5]
Brown was initially rated a three-star recruit and committed to play college football at USC during his junior year.[6] He later decommitted during his senior year after the firing of USC head coach Clay Helton.[7] Brown ultimately signed to play at Ohio State.[8]
College career
Brown enrolled at Ohio State in January 2022.[9] He appeared in two games during his true freshman season before redshirting the year.[10]
Brown initially competed with Kyle McCord to succeed C. J. Stroud as Ohio State's starting quarterback during spring practices before suffering a finger injury that required surgery.[11] He resumed the competition during preseason training camp.[12] McCord was named the starter for the Buckeyes' season opener, although head coach Ryan Day stated that the competition was still ongoing.[13] After seeing some playing time in the season opener against Indiana and in the second game against Youngstown State, Day announced that McCord would be the starter for the remainder of the 2023 season.[14]
Brown started in the 2023 Cotton Bowl, completing four of his six pass attempts for just 20 yards, but suffered an ankle injury in the first half on a sack. He left the game in the second quarter and was replaced by Lincoln Kienholz for the remainder of Ohio State's 14–3 loss to Missouri.[15]
On December 8, 2024, Brown announced that he would enter the transfer portal.[16]
