Forty total touchdowns, 2,012 yards rushing,  326 yards receiving, three interceptions and 64 tackles.

Not one  Division I offer.

Those are the numbers from last season for Lawrence County’s All-State Athlete of the Year Quitten Brown.

Just to put those statistics into perspective, Dandy Dozen Stephon Huderson of Petal High School rushed for 2,031 yards with 29 total touchdowns, 22 of which were rushing.

Mississippi State commit Kylin Hill, another running back to crack the Dandy Dozen list, rushed for 1,750 yards and 18 touchdowns. He totaled 23 touchdowns on the year.

So essentially Brown rushed for as almost as many yards as Huderson, more than Hill, scored 11 more touchdowns than the highest output of the two and was still not listed as a Dandy Dozen.

Is the picture becoming clearer? By looking at the stats, probably not. If anything, it likely would leave most true football aficionados scratching their heads in confusion.

Brown said he does not quite understand it either.

“I guess I don’t really get it but it does kind of bother me,” he said.

“I don’t know if it’s just the area I’m in or the area they are in,” he said in reference of himself and the Dandy Dozen running backs. “I feel like I deserved to make the list but I guess I will just have to prove it.”

Although running back is where the 5-foot-8, 203-pound dynamo shines he has made contributions at nearly every skill position for his team.

He returned one of his two interceptions for a score, caught 13 passes for four touchdowns and played   some of everywhere on defense from defensive back to linebacker.

Lawrence County head coach Jaymie Palmer spoke highly not only of Brown’s ability on the field but his character off it as well.

“Quitten is an outstanding young man with great character and unbelievable talent. He is one of the best athletes I’ve seen and coached and I’ve coached some SEC players,” Palmer said.

Palmer was an assistant coach at Brookhaven High during the days of the great Jimmy Johns.

“He also has great ball skills at receiver and defensive back and great ball security,” Brown’s head coach said.

Brown’s shiftiness and ability to break tackles, along with his deceptive 4.47 40-dash speed, are the trademarks of his game.

Time and again one will see him briefly disappear into the trenches only to emerge, breaking two or three more tackles before finally being brought down.

“I think I just have good balance,” he said. “I keep my footing and I try to stay  low to the ground.  I’m like a bouncy ball,” Brown said of his abilities.

After enjoying the success of reaching the South State championship last year, the senior said his goals are simple: make it back to South State and win.

As far as individual statistics are concerned, Brown said he doesn’t have a set number of rushing yards he would like to attain.

“I just want to get as many yards as I can every time I touch the ball,” he said. “It’s my senior season so there’s no holding back any more.”

Unfortunately, Brown will have to wait a few weeks to begin his senior campaign at after tearing his ACL back in March during a pickup game of basketball.

Brown’s rehabilitation process is moving smoothly though, and he would like to be back in time to face Brookhaven in week three of the season.

With offers from community colleges such as Mississippi Gulf Coast and Co-Lin, a standout season after a devastating injury could bolster his appeal to Division 1 colleges and universities.

Surprisingly, Brown said his favorite NFL player is Antonio Brown.

“He is just always smiling during the game,” he said. “He acts like he loves the game.”

After suffering the ACL injury though, he has begun to relate more to All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson. He has been reading a book by Drew Brees to keep himself motivated as he rehabs.

“You’re only as strong as your weakest link,” he said. That, Brown recalled was one of the quotes in the book that stuck out to him the most.

He added that his favorite part of the game is the brotherhood.

“There’s nothing like knowing that the players beside you are fighting for you,” Brown said. “I’m gonna miss playing with these guys.”

The Primetime 23 list is a compilation of the top 23 players in the area. The next member of the list will be revealed in Thursday’s edition.