Charlotte football receiver Sean Brown ready for his final act with the 49ers

A new Charlotte 49ers football team will take the field at Bank of America Stadium on Friday night.

It’s the first matchup with Appalachian State since 2020. It’s the first impression for head coaches Tim Albin and Dowell Loggains. It’s the first time Charlotte has played at The Bank. And it’s the first bout under the brightest lights the Queen City has to offer.

But it’s the last first game for Sean Brown.

After receiving an NCAA waiver for his seventh and final season of college football, Charlotte’s 2024 leader in receptions and the old guy in the 49ers’ locker room is back doing what he loves — running routes.

While he’s known as “Unc” to some of the younger players, Brown’s old soul is a calming factor that’s bridging the gap between 56 new players, a completely new staff, and a hunger to bring Charlotte’s program to college football relevancy.

With his last first game coming in the stadium of the NFL team he grew up watching, Brown hasn’t thought about this being his last dance.

“It feels weird, because I thought last year was it for sure. I’m thankful that I get to do it. I’m doing it for the old (UNC) Pembroke and Charlotte guys,” Brown said on The Highway 49 Podcast. “When we get a bowl game, this is for Calvin Camp, Victor Tucker, Grant DuBose, Marcus Robitaille, Jalon Jones, and Shadrick Byrd. When we get it, I hope they know that they did it, too, in a way.

“There’s a bunch of bucket list things, and in a way, it’s like I’m bringing them along, too,” Brown continued. “I’m very blessed to have these opportunities, and that’s why I took this year.”

Tim Albin’s impact

Playing for Will Healy, Biff Poggi, and now Albin, Brown has seen the program’s highs and lows since enrolling in 2021, transferring in from UNC Pembroke. And after participating in senior day, saying his goodbyes, and marking his first 100-yard game in what he thought was his final act, Albin’s staff was supportive of Brown applying for a waiver, unlike Poggi’s.

Looking to break the mold of today’s college football and finish his career with a program that’s close to his heart, Brown stuck with the team during the coaching transition, putting his faith in Albin.

“Albin knows what he’s doing. He’s won a lot of games at Ohio, and I always revert back to that. I believe in you, and I’m going to put all my faith in you,” Brown said. “I keep doing it, and good things keep happening — of course, I got the (extra) year, and I’m super thankful for him.”

More green

The Waxhaw native eats, sleeps, and breathes football. Brown has a cat named Charlotte and a family dog named Sunday. He’s the last player in the locker room at the end of the day, and he’s known to put a smile on anyone’s face.

And he wants more 49ers green in the city of Charlotte.

“It’s a great city, and we need a sports team that can consistently win,” said Brown. “If we can have a great, winning culture here, we’ll have more merchandise. There’s way too much Appalachian State stuff in Dicks Sporting Goods, and we’re in Charlotte. That baby blue — I’m sick of it. We have to play them too, of course. I want to see more green around, but we’ll take it one day at a time.”

And taking his preparation one day at a time has led Brown to game week against the Mountaineers. His superstitious routine has kept him healthy throughout a grueling training camp, and the opportunity to take center stage in the Duke’s Mayo Classic is just days away.

“I’m very thankful I got through it again. I’m right next to football, but you can take one bad step, and it can be taken away. Camp is bad, it doesn’t matter who the coach is, but I love it because it’s just football all day,” said Brown. “You see how long your body can take it. It’s just that football buzz. I think the difference this year is that there aren’t a lot of injuries. We were on the grass (practice fields) to start, which I think was very smart.”

Brown caught a pass in all 12 games last season, leading the team with 35 receptions for 470 yards and a touchdown. He was the only non-lineman offensive player to start every game. The most impressive stat: more tackles than drops. Brown didn’t register a single drop on catchable passes and has continued that trend through training camp, paying homage to NFL legend Larry Fitzgerald.

“It sounds weird, but I like when defensive backs are on me, making it a little more difficult. The difficult catches are the ones that get you paid,” Brown said. “On PFF, I didn’t have a drop. I had more tackles than drops, which is a Larry Fitzgerald thing, and I’m very proud of that. We’re going to keep it that way. I’m still getting my catches in. No drops in camp, of course, and I’ve got to keep it that way.”

Full circle

At 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, Brown’s size allows him to lean on defensive backs and create space with his frame. Every route he runs is designed to emulate a fade, and the combination of speed and strength makes him a quarterback’s best friend.

And Charlotte’s all-time leading passer, Chris Reynolds, spotted that right away.

Entering the transfer portal after two years at Pembroke in 2021, Brown worked out with quarterbacks coach and former Duke Blue Devil Anthony Boone to stay sharp, hoping for another opportunity to play football. Reynolds was throwing that day, and immediately knew he wanted Brown on his team at Charlotte.

“This tall, lanky, big guy is running around, reaching up and plucking the ball out of the air. I couldn’t overthrow him, and he was a super nice guy,” Reynolds said of Brown. “Immediately, I went straight to the (team facility), sat down with the offensive coordinator, and told them I have a walk-on guy.

“To see Sean go in there and make plays as a former walk-on from the streets of Weddington — it’s all kudos to him. Want to talk about a good human being — he’s the most humble and nice person in the world. You will never find Sean in a bad mood,” Reynolds continued. “I mean it from the bottom of my heart, and I know he’s going to keep going. Now he’s one of the leaders on this team and is counted on as a playmaker.”

Now a veteran leader on Albin’s roster, Brown is focused on bringing together the smorgasbord of talent on Charlotte’s roster. But he’s also working on getting back to himself — something that’s taken a couple of years to do since he first put on the green and white.

“In my life, I’ve always seen people kind of being down, so I try and bring some joy and make them laugh — that makes me feel good. I try and do that on the field,” said Brown. “The past two years, I think I tried not to be myself. Trying to be maybe a three-star receiver, or one of those high-talented guys. But the coaches have done a good job teaching me to be me,” said Brown. “I really do love this sport. I’m having fun, whether the ball comes to me or not. I have a lot of great memories here, and I’m going to be able to create some more.”