Rhode Island is looking to compete for their 1st CAA Championship in 2022 after a Top-5 finish last season. The expectations for the Rams are extremely high going into the 2022 season and Rhode Island has landed multiple impact players this offseason. The Rams landed a major transfer in former Saint Francis defensive lineman Jalen Brown who announced his commitment on social media this morning.
Wanna be rich like Russell, mama said “You will-son, one day.” Done deal #3MoreFeet pic.twitter.com/lAzuCiOwMD
— Jalen Brown™ (@jbsmooth__) June 17, 2022
Brown was a 2-star prospect out of Hyattsville, MD and ranked as a top-40 prospect in the state of Maryland in the class of 2018. Brown ranked as a top-170 defensive tackle in the country. He was a 1st Team All-Conference selection as a senior and led DeMatha Catholic to back-to-back conference championships. Brown committed to Saint Francis over offers from Rutgers and Temple.
Brown made an immediate impact for Saint Francis as a true freshman as he was named NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year. The 6-foot, 285-pound defensive lineman totaled 47 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble in over 32 games for the Red Flash. Brown announced his transfer in January and immediately received interest from multiple FCS programs including Robert Morris, Eastern Illinois, Monmouth, and Rhode Island. He will have one year of eligibility for Rhode Island as a graduate transfer.
The Rhode Island defensive line return multiple top contributors from the 2021 season including Andre Bibeault, Westley Neal Jr., Malachi Burby, and Matt Thomas. The Rams return four of their top-5 sack leaders from the 2022 season and Brown should have a huge impact on the pass rush next season. Brown will be immediate contributor on the interior of the Rhode Island defensive line next season and should be one of the senior leaders for the Rams.
Rhode Island opens the 2022 season on the road against Stony Brook on September 1st in an important CAA matchup.
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