Wednesday, August 13, 2003

By Mike White, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

One in a series on top high school football players in the WPIAL and City League.

Ask Dontey Brown for some of his favorite movies and he'll tell you the 1994 WPIAL Class AAAA football championship.

Dontey Brown: Already a big hit for McKeesport. (Tony Tye, Post-Gazette) Click photo for larger image. Related articles Demand increasing for Aliquippa's Revis (8/25/03) Pitt-bound duo takes major leadership role seriously at Kiski (8/23/03) Peabody's Davis truly big man in the middle (8/22/03) Sto-Rox QB nearing WPIAL pass record (8/21/03) Spotlight finally focuses on Lyons (8/20/03) Gateway's Ivy quickly growing as a top quarterback talent (8/19/03) Beaver's Nicol has shown worth at tight end (8/18/03) Pine-Richland's Walker will add QB to resume (8/17/03) Shipley shapes up as defensive star at Moon (8/15/03) Hopewell lineman reinvents himself (8/14/03) McKeesport LB fan of blockbuster hits (8/13/03) After rocky start, Rogers is thriving (8/11/03) Butler relies heavily on Sales to turn around its football fortunes (8/10/03)

He keeps a tape of the game, just because he likes to watch McKeesport star linebacker Brandon Short.

Brown also is enamored of his Baltimore Ravens highlight tape because of the hits made by linebacker Ray Lewis.

And don't forget about the old Penn State-Ohio State game tape Brown keeps, just to watch Short and LaVar Arrington play linebacker for Penn State.

Brown views the tapes every so often because he has a penchant for watching stud linebackers.

The funny thing is, Brown already is a movie star.

"You ought to see some of his game tapes. Some of his hits are shocking," said McKeesport Coach George Smith.

"I didn't realize how good he was last year and how many great hits he had until I started going through game tapes and made a highlight film of him."

As high school linebackers go, Brown gets two thumbs up.

Brown, a 6-foot-3, 245-pound senior at McKeesport High School, is considered one of the best linebackers in the state. He already has made a commitment to Penn State.

Brown was pretty good last season; the bad news for McKeesport opponents is, he's bigger and stronger this year.

"I played last year at 230 pounds," said the soft-spoken Brown. "I'm pretty comfortable where I am now with my weight. I got bigger, but I got faster, too. So I'm pretty cool with things."

Brown runs the 40-yard dash in 4.7 seconds. He is so versatile that Smith can't figure out where to play him on the offensive line. He might be a tackle, guard or tight end.

Through preseason conditioning, Brown was pegged as a guard. Then shortly before the first practice of training camp Monday, Brown was told to work with the tight ends.

"I'll play anywhere," he said.

But his future is definitely on defense. He is one of three standout Pennsylvania linebackers who have committed to Penn State.

The others are Tyrell Sales of Butler and Dan Connor of Strath Haven. All three were heavily recruited, and Brown chose Penn State over Pitt.

Brown is built low to the ground and has big legs. With such a stature, Smith believes Brown could possibly end up as a defensive lineman at Penn State.

But at McKeesport, Brown will be the man in the middle.

He is a linebacker all the way.

And with Brown headed to Penn State, many want to compare him with Short, who now plays for the New York Giants.

"They're a lot different," said Smith, who also coached Short. "Brandon had those long arms and long legs. Dontey is more compact."

Brown has met Short twice. One of the meetings was this past spring at Penn State's Blue-White game. Short talked up Penn State to Brown.

"He was so happy that I was thinking about going to Penn State," Brown said.

"I'm glad I picked Penn State early. Even after I committed, I took a visit to Michigan. I liked Michigan, but I liked Penn State more."

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