Tyler Brown has got a smile so big that it can lift up anybody’s mood. Yet beneath it all, he’s carrying a heavy heart. A heart that is heavy with grief. Grief that rose from the demise of Louisiana OL coach, D.J. Looney. It has been two years since the coach passed away, yet Brown still continues to bear the burden of sorrow.

After all, he had a close bond with the coach. While according to Phil Loadholt calls Brown the strongest player he has ever been around, he has a tender side. 

Brown’s emotional response to Looney’s demise

August 1, 2020, had been a Black Day for the University of Louisana. On that day, they lost their offensive line coach, Looney at the age of 31. The coach was amidst a team workout when he suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away leaving behind a strong legacy. Before the Cajuns, Looney served as the tight ends coach at Mississippi State in 2017 after his stint with the Bulldogs as an offensive lineman from 2007 to 2010. In Ragin’ Cajuns history, under Looney’s reign, the program enjoyed the most successful season in the program, going 11-3 and winning the LendingTree Bowl. This was no less than a personal loss for Brown.

On Reach The People Media, on July 21, the offensive guard shared about how he coped up with the loss and even underwent a nervous breakdown. “Really gotten attached…coach Looney passed away…we had a rocky relationship at first but then when coach Looney passed like we really became almost like father and son and when he left I remember just crying in the car,” shared Brown. But gradually he has recovered from the loss and has evolved as the strongest player in the Buffs hood.

Brown might shine at center this season

On July 6, Colorado Buffaloes’ insider, Uncle Neely dropped a huge confession. It’s about something that Buffs OL coach Phil Loadholt confessed to Neely. On the DNVR Buffs podcast, Uncle Neely informed quoting the coach, “Strongest player [Brown] I have been around in any level.” That’s some high praise coming from somebody who started 89 career games at right tackle. 

Back in April this year, it was the same Uncle Neely who drew parallels between Brown and Dwayne “Rock” Johnson. “You’re talking about Tyler Brown Rock who transferred from Jackson State…will be playing this year for Colorado. I think you will see Rock at Center…I’ve seen Rock work out after practice at Center. I’ve also seen him take on some of the Guard positions…So, we’re gonna wait and see, but as the summer unfolds, I wouldn’t be surprised if you see Tyler Brown more and more at center. That’s ‘The Rock,’” commented Neely on Thee Pregame Show. 

Brown is all set to rise from the ashes. Last season he was denied immediate eligibility by the NCAA because of his two-time transfer. This season he has cleared all the roadblocks. The offensive guard is all guarded up to “go to war with him [Shedeur].” All eyes on Brown!