PRINCESS ANNE — A native of Surry County, Virginia , Roger Brown arrived on the campus of Maryland State College in the mid-1950s to get a college education and play some football. Most likely even he did not anticipate the amazing career that awaited him, both in college and in the NFL. Now Brown will be honored by another hall of fame with his induction into the Black College Football Hall of Fame, one of six players and a coach to be enshrined at a ceremony in Atlanta this coming February 28th.

Brown started off with a spectacular four-year collegiate career at Maryland State under the tutelage of legendary coach Vernon “Skip” McCain. Starting at tackle for the Hawks, the team would capture a 1957 CIAA Championship with Brown contributing as a key playmaker towards a 6-0-1 regular season record. After graduating from the school, he was drafted by the Detroit Lions of the NFL in the fourth round of that’s league draft. He would play in the NFL for nine seasons from 1960-1969, spending six years with the Lions and three with the Los Angeles Rams, where he was a member on the “Fearsome Foursome” defensive line. Along the way, Brown would play in six straight Pro Bowls from 1962-67.

UMES honored Brown’s achievements in college with induction into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1982. Fifteen years later in 1997, the state of Virginia named him to their Sports Hall of Fame. Finally in 2009 Brown received induction to the College Football Hall of Fame, now located in Atlanta. The BCHOF will be the fourth hall Brown will be honored in.

Joining Brown will be collegiate and NFL greats Richard Dent, L.C. Greenwood, Ernie “Big Cat” Ladd, Ken Riley, Donnie Shell and Coach W.C. Gordon, all of whom played at HBCUs during their college days.