Fresh Faces: Back from injury, SIU safety Brown isn’t taking anything for granted

Southern Illinois safety Iverson Brown is back at full speed after suffering a meniscus tear before last season in his left knee. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)

Last in a four-part series

By Barry Bottino

When Iverson Brown wasn’t able to celebrate victories on the field last year, he cheered for a different type of win.

While recovering from knee surgery for torn meniscus, rehab was the arena where he competed.

“Sometimes you feel like you’re not getting any better,” said the fifth-year senior safety at Southern Illinois. “You’re not making any gains and you’re feeling down. I just had to learn to get excited over little things.”

When Brown saw even minor improvement each week, he celebrated.

“Any little progress, I used it as motivation,” he said. “Just celebrating the little wins.”

As SIU prepares for its season opener Saturday in Carbondale against Austin Peay, Brown is back and ready to make an impact as the starting free safety.

“I feel great,” he said. “I’m very grateful to be getting ready for a game. This is easily something that can be taken for granted. It can be gone in a minute.”

Brown is one of four Fresh Faces at Southern Illinois this fall. The annual Prairie State Pigskin series introduces readers to newcomers to the roster and returnees who will play expanded roles.

After starting his career at Illinois State, Brown was preparing last fall for his first season in Carbondale.

“It was our first full scrimmage,” he said. “We started off practice with a little warmup tackling drill. I was getting off the ground and I pivoted off my foot, then it popped.”

His left knee immediately stiffened up to the point where he could barely walk.

“It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever been through,” Brown said. “I wasn’t able to be our there enjoying things with the guys when we won.”

Brown is confident that his fifth college season will be one of his best. He is part of a veteran secondary that includes three seniors and two juniors at SIU.

“I expect us to be a very high-level defense,” he said. “I expect us to force turnovers. I expect people to see us on film and think that we play really hard.

“I expect to leave everything I can on the field every single game,” he said. “I don’t want to come out of a game, hear the final whistle blow and have regrets.”

SIU’s other Fresh Faces include:

Defense

Dune Smith, LB, Junior

Smith has shined in fall camp this season among the linebacker group.

He played three seasons at FBS Pittsburgh after a standout career at Miami Northwestern, a powerhouse prep football program in south Florida.

Last season in Carbondale, he played in seven games for the Salukis, including a start against Western Illinois. He posted a season-best two tackles and one sack in SIU’s upset victory at Northwestern.

Offense

Vinson Davis III, WR, Sophomore

A second-team All-Big South selection last season at FCS Charleston Southern, Davis could be a hidden gem in this year’s recruiting class.

He redshirted in 2021, then led CSU with 56 receptions last season as a slot receiver for 425 yards and four touchdowns. The Florida native caught a Big South-record 97-yard TD pass and returned punts.

“I’m quick, very fast and I’m a route runner,” Davis said. “I like to take my one-on-one matchups and make something happen with them.”

Davis added that he has the ability to help the offense in multiple ways.

“I feel like once you get the ball in my hands, I’m able to do anything with it, whether that’s in the backfield, outside, and in the slot for sure.”

Jay Jones, WR, Sophomore

In an offense that is proficient at moving the ball down the field via the air, Jones is a unique body type at 6-foot-4 and 204 pounds.

Want an example? One of Jones’ two receptions last season was a 42-yard catch from Nic Baker on the final play of the game in SIU’s 37-36 loss to Northern Iowa.

A St. Louis native, Jones played in six games last season after redshirting as a true freshman in 2021. He caught 10 touchdowns as a junior in high school at Carnahan High School of the Future.

Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and a 19-year veteran of three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.

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