Brown selected to national football committee

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University football junior Robert Brown (Palmetto Bay, Fla.) has been selected to the Student-Athlete Connection Group for the NCAA Football Oversight Committee.

The goal of the Student-Athlete Connection Group is to gather broad-based feedback from Division I football student-athletes on issues the Football Oversight Committee is reviewing.

"I want to start off by thanking God for allowing me to have this opportunity," Brown said. "I want to thank President Machtley, Bill Smith, Beth Wandyes, Sue Pressler and my coaching staff for believing I would be a great candidate for this position. It is truly an honor to be recognized by the faculty and staff in such a manner. Finally, I want to thank the NCAA committee for choosing me as one of the student-athletes in the NEC to be a part of this committee."

Brown is coming off a huge year on the gridiron that saw him post 70 tackles, six tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, an interception and five pass breakups. He returned one of those fumbles 46 yards for a touchdown in Bryant's win over league champion Duquesne and also blocked a punt that was recovered for a score at Sacred Heart.

Off the field, Brown has is a three-time NEC Academic Honor Roll selection and has been a part of various community service events, including reading at La Perche Elementary.

Brown has received high praise from both President Machtley and Bill Smith, the Director of Athletics. Machtley currently serves on the NCAA Board of Directors and NCAA Board of Governors, while Smith is the president of the FCS Athletic Directors Association.

"We are very proud to have one of our student-athletes on this prestigious national committee," Machtley said. "Robert's role is very important and I am confident he will represent himself and Bryant exceptionally well in his newly selected national role."

"Robert has proven to be a leader on the field and in the classroom throughout his time at Bryant," Smith said. "He embodies not only what it means to be a Bryant Bulldog, but what it means to be an FCS student-athlete. We are proud of Robert and excited to have him represent Bryant and the Northeast Conference at the national level."

Brown will serve a two-year term on the committee.

For more on the NCAA Football Oversight Committee, click here.