Image courtesy of Brown Athletics

Despite being picked last by the media in the 2023 preseason Ivy League poll, the Brown Bears believe they can surprise a lot of people this year.

Head coach James Perry, receiver Wes Rockett and QB Jake Wilcox participated in the league’s virtual Media Day.

PERRY ON THE STATE OF THE PROGRAM ENTERING CAMP

“Before I start, I did want to say that everybody at Brown – especially me – we’re thinking about Buddy Teevens and wishing him and his family a quick recovery. He’s meant a ton to the league and me personally, both QB’s in the league and what he’s done for so many people. Thinking about him from that perspective and the whole program is. Then, simply with Al and his retirement, I just want to say I how much respect I have for him…he’s been a terrific influence on so many players. A good role model for all of us in the changing landscape of college athletics. That’s how you do things right over a very, very long period of time. Congrats to him and thinking about Buddy. As far as ’23 goes here at Brown, this is my favorite time of year. We’ve done a couple things recently whether it’s cookouts at your house with guys that are here this simmer or the staff and everyone’s just counting it down until Thursday when we get it going. It’s especially so at Brown in 2023 because we’ve built this roster clawing and fighting to a really healthy depth. I’m really proud of the kids. They’ve stuck together really, really well. We’ve got a very deep senior group that have handled the rigor that we attack football here with at Brown very well, fed off it and I think positioned themselves to have a great year. This is a junior and senior league. It always has been. You can see it. You can see it in the way we practiced last spring. You can see it the way these kids attacked the summer. We’ll do our best to keep that momentum going and put our best foot forward in 2023 and I’m thrilled to be leading it.”

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING TEAMS LED BY JUNIORS AND SENIORS THAT HAVE GROWN UP WITH THE PROGRAM RATHER THAN TRANSFERS

“Well, I think we do it right. I think other people, honestly…there’s people who look for quick fixes, transfers, there’s lunacy going on nationally right now as it pertains to some of that. This league has always done it right. (The League) has always put the student athlete first, their interests firsts, making them the best ballplayer they can be while still being a student. Making sure in the recruiting process that you’re recruiting guys that are going to be four-year players. As a former coach at a scholarship school, the money goes in, the money comes in. There’s a little less skin off your back when that happens. We’re all building players properly, making sure they have the tools so they can be the best players that they can be. Having done this a couple times whether it’s at Brown as an assistant or working for Bob at Princeton as an assistant, I really believe that. This is the right way to do it. You should be developing players over time. Recruiting players that are going to buy-in to that and getting the four-year experience here at Brown is second-to-none. Every time I recruit a guy I say that, and when I look at the two kids on the call with me today, I’m really proud of them.”

ON IF THERE’S ENOUGH DEPTH TO COMPETE AGAIN

“We’ll see in ’23. We’ll see, that’s what we’re working on. One thing with me, as we’re building the depth, there were great kids. We always had Brown football players, but it was wild to see 87 (members of the team) there. Disappointing because I love Brown, I love the school and the experience. (The kids) were awesome. I pushed them and the staff pushed them as hard as anybody else. But, football is football. When you have 110 guys you can create competition in ways that you just can’t with 87. It’s just literally impossible. As we attack August, we’re going to be able to have wideouts competing for positions in a way that’s much healthier. Having defensive back, same thing. So, when they take the field it’s a lot easier to get better. It’s more fair to the kid, to be honest with you. We’ll be pushing them. We always did, but it is just…it’s a more productive way to attack training camp when you’re full steam ahead with 110 than where we were a couple of years ago.”

ON PLAYING FAST DEFENSIVELY IN 2023

“We try to play fast in all three phases. So, on defense, it’s a little harder for people to grasp, but we want to be themes aggressive and attacking defense on the planet. On offense, it’s easy to see visually. We are no huddle, so that link can be made, but we want the same thing on special teams and defense…we want to lead the league in turnovers. We want to lead the league in sacks. I think it’s easy to see. Jake wants to throw more touchdowns than anyone on the planet, but we want to do the same thing on defense. We want to lead the league in turnovers. We want to lead the league in sacks. We want to lead the league in tackles. We want every player that puts on a Brown defensive jersey to think about ways they can attack and dictate.”

ON ISAIAH REED

“Isaiah’s really been the embodiment of (the defense). Our defensive back rising junior, played a ton of football for us. That’s what playing fast looks like at the DB position. He’s always looking for ways to dictate, to make plays on the ball, to attack the offense or attack this, attack Wes. We get some good, healthy, strong competition there with the wideout group…he’s really taken a leadership role this offseason. You need those juniors and seniors.”

ON EJ PERRY SIGNING WITH HOUSTON & MIKE HOECHT  STARTING FOR THE RAMS & THE NATIONAL EXPOSURE THE UNIVERSITY IS GETTING

“…I’m like, light-years away from any of these guys as players now. EJ is in with the Texans. Michael’s starting for the Rams. I’ve listened (to other coaches and players) throughout the day and you mention the national exposure, we’re at a point in this league that if you want to be a First Team All-League’r at your position, always implicit in that is you’re an NFL-caliber player. Almost every school in this league is producing guys yearly. Those are two great examples with (Hoecht & Perry), but you’re seeing a lot of them. As these guys here are around them and think about what it takes in this league right now, that’s the bar. It’s fun to see all those guys. I always root for Ivy guys and especially for those two.”

ROCKETT ON WHY BROWN CAN BE BETTER IN 2023

“Depth, that’s huge obviously. 120 guys, that’s competition at it’s peak. But, also just since I’ve been here, we’ve had four years, five years now set in stone with this culture of ‘play fast, get bigger, faster, stronger,’ so I think that culture is being very engrained into each guy. You kind of can just feel the energy oozing out of guys super bought in, super ready to roll. That kind of environment of this culture is just natural now. I think it’s really what’s going to take us to the next level.”

ON WHAT KIND OF SCOUTING REPORT HE’D GIVE ON THE OFFENSE

“Be ready to run. We really like to be up-tempo. We’re all in unbelievable shape thanks to coach and all the strength coaches. Just that philosophy of playing fast, being very-up tempo and putting the pressure on the defense. Always being aggressive, always being in offensive mode and making sure people are on their heels. If I were a defense, I’d put the focus on trying to bring that back to us, I guess. But, that’s why you strap it up on Saturday’s and see what happens, right?”

WILCOX ON THE QB LINEAGE AT BROWN

“First off, I’m so grateful to play under Coach Perry, who’s obviously one of the greatest QB’s the Ivy League’s seen. Then, learning under guys like Mac McGovern and EJ Perry, they really paved the way for me. Like Wes said, we did a good job of my class and the class below me, really creating the culture that everyone’s bought into. we have 120 guys that are down to ride for each other and I’m really excited about the opportunity. It should be a great year.”

ON BUILDING THE CULTURE

“I think that starts in the winter with winter workouts and then leading into spring ball. Then, having a great summer, which we did have. We had a great amount of kids here and like I said, everyone was really bought in. I think my responsibility this year is to get the ball into the playmakers’ hands and we have a good amount of them. It’s a responsibility I’m excited about and ready to take on.”

ON WHAT POSITION GROUP IS UNDERRATED/MOST IMPROVED

“I’d definitely say receivers. We have some amazing guys in all classes at the receiver position. I’d be wrong if I was to short the O-line as well. We’ve got guys up front that are working really hard and can’t wait to attack the opportunities we have this season.”

ON WHAT SCOUTING REPORT HE’D GIVE FOR THE BROWN DEFENSE

“I get the privilege of playing against those guys every day. Like Wes said, you better be ready to run and you better be ready to hit because our guys are ready to go and they…again, this spring was a huge stepping stone for them as well. The defense really molded together and began to work as one. I think now that that’s going, and the passion they play with, I think they’re going to be a very good defense this season.”