Stallions Spotlight: Deonte Brown
Photo courtesy of Heather Jeffcoat
MARCH 3, 2025 - BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
By Jesse Kelley
The Magic City and the state of Alabama are no strangers to one of the top interior offensive linemen in the entire UFL. Decatur native and University of Alabama alumnus Deonte Brown looks to continue his consistent and reliable presence in the Stallions offense this season. Brown has had a football career that many people dream of. Upon his commitment to Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide, Brown played in 48 career games at the collegiate level, starting 26 of them. In his time at UA, Brown was a part of the 2017 and 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship teams, and he won three SEC Championships during his time at the Capstone. Highly considered as one of the more polished offensive linemen in the league, Brown’s success is a testament to the coaching he has received throughout his football career. Coached by Jeremy Perkins at Austin High School, Brown was a member of the 2015 squad at AHS that finished with an overall record of 10-4 and a trip to the AHSAA class 6A semi-finals. Notable wins that season for the Black Bears were a triple-overtime victory in the first game of the season with the eventual 7A runner-ups in the Spain Park Jaguars. Austin also defeated archrival Decatur 9-0 in that same season.
Brown won 6A Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2015, was an Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game selection, was a member of the Super 12 team and participated in the Under Armour All-American Game. Electing to stay in-state for college, Brown attended Alabama and was a vital reason for so much offensive and team success during his collegiate career. Brown became an everyday starter halfway through the 2018 season and was on the Tide’s Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line unit in 2020. It is worthy of note that while at UA, Brown had the great privilege of his two offensive line coaches, Brent Key and Kyle Flood. Both are some of the most knowledgeable teachers of the offensive line and continue their success at Georgia Tech and Texas, respectively. His standout collegiate career earned him a chance in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers. The organization elected to draft him with the 193rd pick in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Brown played for three seasons in Carolina and became a free agent after the 2023 season once his practice squad contract concluded. Brown, or Cornbread as his Stallions teammates call him, was signed by Birmingham on January 19, 2024. Despite battling injuries, he was an instrumental figure in the Stallions’ UFL title run last year. Brown re-signed with the team in August 2024 and is focused on continuing the run of dominance that the Stallions’ organization has been on the past three seasons. Now, learn a little bit more about Deonte Brown.
What is the overall mentality for the offensive unit this season?
“We are just trying to be better than last year. We realize that we have some of those returning weapons coming back, but we will have a lot of new faces on offense so that it won’t be the same group as last year, but that’s ok. The mission never changes; we want to do whatever we can to keep building, keep stacking, and try and win another championship. We want to go out there every week, play good, clean football, and be known as a force on the opposing team’s defensive line every week.”
Where have you seen the most growth in your offseason training?
“My most growth has been through the mental aspect of offseason training. I have been doing my position-specific drills on top of my weight training and conditioning. I wanted to put my body in those awkward and uncomfortable positions that I knew it would be in all season. That has been the biggest thing I have done differently this offseason, and I feel like it will help me out as the season gets here. Another thing that has helped me a lot is swimming. I love swimming, which has been great for my training.”
The entire league will do whatever it takes to ensure the Stallions do not win another title this season. How do you develop and then maintain a chip on your shoulder after three seasons of so much success?
“The key is to have the mentality to hate losing more than you love winning. Winning is great, but that is expected around here. We know that everyone will be coming for us this season, and as a competitor, you should love that you are getting everyone in the league’s best shot. We all have that natural chip on our shoulders; we know we will get the best version of every team we play, so if you prepare the right way, you’ll be ready for it.”
What will fans see when the 2025 version of the Stallions takes the field?
“They will see a hard-nosed, hard-hitting football team. We will be extremely fast, physical, and most importantly, under control.”
What needs to happen from the start of training camp to the first game on March 30 to get the team in the right mental and physical state?
“We have to embrace the challenge. Early on, we have to get out of that “buddy ball mentality,” I mean, we are here to work, and we are here to sharpen each other. We must have that mindset of getting after each other in practice but still knowing that we are all brothers and will have each other’s back no matter what.”
What did you learn during your career at Alabama that you still hold with you today?
“Got to be comfortable with the uncomfortable. I learned to keep going and keep pushing forward without ever stopping. It didn’t matter if I was in class, or practice, or even the game; I knew I had to keep going, keep stacking, and keep chopping wood.”
What’s your hope for this next year?
“To excel at a high level. I want to help our team win another championship, and I believe that team success equals individual success. So, once I help the team accomplish its goals, I feel my goals will align with that.”
What is it like to be coached by Coach Dave DeGuglielmo?
“He is a big ray of sunshine. I love Coach Guge; he is the offensive line coach who gets the best out of all his offensive linemen. At first, he can seem a little touch and go or on edge, but once you get by, he is an excellent dude and an exceptional football coach.”
What is it like to be coached by Coach Skip Holtz?
“Coach Holtz is like a perfectionist. He might never admit that, but he tries to get everything done how he wants. Usually, the results are always pretty good when we do it the way he says. It’s been great playing for him, and we are blessed to have him.”