Broncos QB Brown chooses Utah

By LANDON NEGRI - Posted: June 28, 2010 8:03 pm

Derrick Brown really considered playing close to home in San Diego. Then he fell in love with Salt Lake City.

Brown on Sunday verbally committed to a football scholarship offer to the University of Utah, making him the third Vista Murrieta player to dot the Utes roster.

While the lineage is nice, Brown, the Broncos senior quarterback, said it had little to do with his decision. Rather, it was more the camp he attended two weeks ago and his interaction with Utah coaches that sold him on the campus.

"I just loved it," he said. "I loved the people. With (quarterbacks) coach (Brian) Johnson, he played at Utah, and he knows the system."

The 6-foot, 3-inch, 230-pound Brown piloted the Broncos to the CIF Southern Section Inland Division championship game last season. Brown was a true dual threat, throwing for 1,886 yards on 122 of 225 completions for 18 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also ran for 913 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Those numbers included a improbable semifinals comeback against Norco, when, after falling behind 27-7, Brown capped a 34-33 victory on a fourth-down, 32-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Casey Marquez with 2:03 left.

Brown fully expects to remain a quarterback, even with starter and former Oceanside High standout Jordan Wynn, the MVP of last year's Poinsettia Bowl after a 337-yard passing performance, entering his sophomore year.

Also on the Utes' roster are former Vista Murrieta standouts Jamel King (junior linebacker) and Justin Taplin-Ross (sophomore defensive back).

"I just wanted to get there and compete, and whatever happens after that, well, that's what happens," he said.

And it's an exciting time at Utah, which just two weeks ago accepted an invitation to join the Pac-10, along with Colorado.

But Brown, ranked 19th nationally among "dual-threat" quarterbacks by rivals.com, said what really sold him was the atmosphere. So did offensive coordinator Dave Schramm.

"The first day I was there (at the camp), he was just no B.S.," Brown said. "I really respected that."

Brown can now turn his attention to leading Vista Murrieta, he hopes, to winning a section title in 2010.

"It's a big relief. If I was to talk to some of my friends that are coming up or playing Pop Warner, I would advise them to do this," he said of committing early. "I think it relieves a lot of stress and pressure."