FAYETTEVILLE — As Montaric Brown’s playing time has increased at the University of Arkansas, so has his voice.
Brown, a defensive back from Ashdown and one of the prized signees in the Razorbacks’ class of 2017, is trying to take on more of a leadership role during the strange summer of 2020.
The Razorbacks were not afforded the standard 15 practices of spring due to the coronavirus pandemic, but they were allowed back on campus in June and began weight lifting workouts and agility drills with the strength coaches starting June 8.
Brown, who underwent surgery for a sports hernia in January, would have been held out or limited if the Razorbacks had gone through spring drills in March and April. Now he’s back and trying to be more assertive as a junior.
“My goal for the team is to be more vocal as a leader,” Brown said on a videoconference with reporters on Tuesday. “Coming in my freshman and sophomore year, I didn’t play that much and I wasn’t being vocal. So my goal is to be more vocal and more involved for my team.”
Brown perhaps underplayed his value to the Razorbacks as a redshirt sophomore in 2019. The 6-foot, 190-pounder started all 10 games he played in at cornerback and posted 760 plays, an average of a hefty 76 per game, which included special teams snaps.
Brown, nicknamed “Busta” in high school, tied for fifth on the team with 39 tackles along with defensive lineman McTelvin Agim and linebacker Grant Morgan.
He posted three pass breakups, a fumble recovery and his first career interception.
First-year coach Sam Pittman, asked about Brown’s value on the video chat, started his remarks by saying, “I’m so happy he’s on the football team. I mean, Busta Brown is a great kid and works his tail off.
“He had a little bit of an injury back in January and the next day he was ready to go. He loves the game of football and I’m glad that you guys are going to be able to talk to him and Rakeem [Boyd] because those guys are great ambassadors for our football team.”
Brown’s numbers could be on the rise for his junior season opposite returning starter Jarques McClellion in an Arkansas defensive backfield that seems to be growing in numbers and talent.
He was asked if he felt he could retain his starting job with a good group of freshmen joining the program.
“Of course, that’s always my mindset you know,” he said. “My mindset is to dominate at my position and make sure I do what I have to do.”
Brown notched the first interception of his career last September against Texas A&M, picking off Kellen Mond in the end zone. It turned into an immediate learning experience.
He admitted he made a mistake trying to return the pick out of the end zone against heavy traffic with Arkansas holding a 24-21 lead.
His return went only 12 yards, giving the Razorbacks tough field position that got even worse after a third-down sack back to the Arkansas 2.
The Aggies returned the ensuing punt to the Arkansas 34-yard line and completed a go-ahead touchdown drive that ended with 12:21 left in the game.
Still, Brown’s talent level ranks among the best on the Arkansas defense in 2020, even if it took him a while to start producing in college.
The No. 1-ranked recruit in Arkansas as a senior, Brown was a late qualifier academically and got off to a slow start on the field while redshirting in 2017.
He made three starts as a redshirt freshman in 2018, playing behind McClellion and Pulley, recording nine tackles and a pass breakup.
Brown thinks the influx of a solid incoming class, added to returners like he and McClellion, LaDarrius Bishop, Malik Chavis and others will begin to bode well for the Hogs.
“We’ve got a lot of freshmen coming in, thanks to Coach Pittman and his staff for recruiting a great class,” Brown said. “We’ve got freshmen coming in that have got a chance to play early. They’ve got a chance to play big roles. I’m ready to see those freshmen come out.”
Brown said Turner, transfer Jerry Jacobs from Arkansas State, Chavis and Bishop have performed well during the workouts.
“Those guys are working hard,” Brown said.
Pittman applied the same description to Brown.
“He’s a hard worker, a guy that you can count on,” Pittman said. “He’s loyal. You can trust him, and therefore that’s why I asked for you guys to talk to him today because I think that he’s a special person.”