Jatavis Brown

As a Senior (2015): 2015 MAC Defensive Player of the Year … first-team All-MAC selection … participated in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl … MAC Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 16) … Zips’ Student-Athlete of the Week (Nov. 9, Nov. 16) … 2015 Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List … preseason first-team All-MAC selection by Phil Steele and Athlon Sports …Team captain … set the career record for tackles for loss (41.5) as well as the season records for tackles for loss (20.0) and sacks (12.0) … started all 13 games at WILL linebacker … one of 12 Zips to start every game … team tackling leader with 116 tackles, including a season record 20.0 TFL and a season record 12.0 sacks, six hurries, four forced fumbles, and an interception … in the win over Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, had eight tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble … with his two sacks against Miami, set the school record for sacks in a season … in the shutout of Kent State, led the Zips with eight tackles, a forced fumble, and a hurry … led all defenders with 12 tackles and two hurries in the win over Buffalo … had a very busy day n the win at Miami (Ohio) … led all defenders with 11 tackles, two sacks, a career-high 4.5 TFL, a forced fumble, a break-up, and the first interception of his career en route to MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors … in the win at UMass, led the Zips with 11 tackles, 1.5 TFL, and an eight-yard sack … against Central Michigan, led the Zips with six tackles and a nine-yard sack … at Bowling Green, had nine tackles and a team-best two sacks for a loss of 13 yards … in the win at Eastern Michigan, had nine tackles, including five solo stops and a TFL … had seven tackles in the MAC opener against Ohio … had five tackles, including 2.0 TFL, and a hurry n the win at Louisiana … in the win over Savannah State, had seven tackles … against Pittsburgh, led all defenders with a career-high 16 tackles, including eight solo stops, 2.5 sacks for a loss of 18 yards, and a forced fumble … had seven tackles, including a two-yard sack at No. 19 Oklahoma.

As a Junior (2014): First-team All-MAC … second-team All-MAC by Phil Steele and College Sports Madness … MAC East Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 29) … MAC Defensive Player of the Week by College Sports Madness (Sept. 29, Oct. 5) … Midseason first-team All-MAC by Phil Steele … named team’s Defensive MVP … started all 12 games at WILL linebacker … team’s top defender with 99 tackles, including a team-best 64 solo stops, a team-best 14.5 TFL, four sacks, three forced fumbles, and a break-up … led the Zips on defense at Kent State with 10 tackles, including a career-high three stops for a loss of 13 yards … in the win over UMass, led the Zips with nine tackler, including 1.5 TFL … against Bowling Green, forced two fumbles and led the Zips with a career-high 16 tackles … had seven tackles at Ball State … had five tackles, including 2.0 for a loss of seven yards, at Ohio … in the win over Miami, had six tackles, 1.5 TFL, and a sack for a loss of nine yards … in the win over Eastern Michigan, led the defense with a game-high 14 tackles, including a career-best 12 solo stops, a career-high two sacks, and a career-high two TFL … in the win at Pittsburgh, led the Zips with a career-high 11 tackles, including 10 solo stops and a sack … against Marshall, led the Zips with eight tackles, a TFL, and a forced fumble … had six tackles, including three solo stops and 1.5 TFL, at Penn State … had five tackles, a TFL, and a break-up in the win over Howard.

As a Sophomore (2013): Named first-team All-MAC after leading the team with 107 tackles (57 solo) … named Akron’s Fred S. Sefton Defensive MVP … started all 12 games … became the first sophomore to post 100 or more tackles in a season since Brian Wagner (2010, 130) … his 8.9 tackles per game were tied for 37th in the nation (eighth in the MAC) … named MAC East Division Defensive Player of the Week on Dec. 2 … added 6.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles and two pass breakups … posted at least two tackles in 11-of-12 games … recorded 10 or more tackles in five games, including each of the last four … recorded a career-high 16 tackles, including eight solo stops, against Kent State … had 15 tackles at Northern Illinois and against Toledo … added 13 tackles at Massachusetts and 12 stops vs. Ball State.

As a Freshman (2012): Played in 11 games with one start … chosen as a starter at Ohio … tallied five tackles and one tackle for loss against the Bobcats … made a season-high seven stops, including five solo stops versus Northern Illinois … also forced a fumble in the game with the Huskies … totaled 23 tackles, including 13 solo stops, for the season.

High School: All-Area Defensive Player of the Year as a senior at Glades Central HS … led the program to an undefeated regular season, posting five shutouts … recorded 100 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and seven sacks.

Personal: Born Feb. 18, 1994 … organizational supervision major.

JATAVIS BROWN HIGHLIGHTS

The ultra-productive linebacker from Akron was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Year. Without many offers leaving high school, Brown committed to Akron and made the most of his opportunity with the Zips. Playing when he was six his older brother signed him up because he didn’t want Jatavis sitting around the house. His early days he spent playing running back but calls himself now, “the running back of the defense.”

Undersized with oversized production. Brown is a superb athlete. Productive, three year starter at Akron. Thick muscled up frame. Tempo setting defensive leader with passion. Film study and instincts make him ultra-productive locating the football. Intense physical competitor. A guy who love watching play. Great burst to the ball. Able to drop back in short coverage areas. Sideline to sideline speed. Possible positions at outside or inside linebacker and even safety. One player to pay close attention to simply to smart, productive and athletic not to make it.