"I would say I'm a pure cover corner. I love covering guys, and being out on that island, it takes my brain to a different place."

That's the mentality Nevada cornerback Daniel Brown took into 2018 that helped him put together a career year for the Nevada football team. But before he became a household name for Wolf Pack fans, he had to learn to love the game of football, and more importantly start playing it.

"I was a basketball kid my whole life," said Brown. "I didn't play football until I was around 12."

After going to one of his brother's games and citing the excitement he saw in him while playing, Brown wanted to try it for himself. He played his first season in seventh grade, suiting up as the quarterback for the Carson Colts.

His second year playing pop warner, and playing under a new coach, Brown made the switch to corner where he found his home on the defensive side of the ball. However, the Harbor City, Calif. native had to learn patience when he reached high school.

"After my junior season, I wasn't getting any calls, letters or anything like that." The frustration grew, but he was able to work through it and keep himself motivated through the recruiting process even after not getting any offers after three years.
Brown tried not to compare himself to other players, and used his mom and dad as his support system during the process.

"They just kept telling me that my time was going to come…If you're a baller they'll come find you."

It all paid off in March the following semester, when Brown received a call from Nevada. His first offer.

"I just felt so comfortable with them. They were the first ones to believe in me, and that's why I'm here now."

And he made his presence felt his junior season. Brown was named an All-Mountain West Honorable Mention following the regular season after leading the team and ranking fifth in the conference with 11 pass breakups. He also set a career-high with 53 tackles, but it took him a couple years to get to this point.

Brown played as a true freshman due to injuries in the Wolf Pack secondary. Brown was forced to "grow up really fast," and realized that going against veterans at the time such as Hasaan Henderson, Wyatt Demps and Jerico Richardson was only going to make him better.

When his sophomore year came, Brown again felt frustration but this time due to not playing as much as he wanted. "I was going through some things and had to get myself right."

By his junior year, he was more than right. Brown spent extra time in the weight room with strength coach Jordon Simmons and worked on the technical aspects of being a cornerback, specifically his feet, which he believed to be the most important aspect.

Safe to say, it paid off.

In the 2018 season opener, Nevada welcomed Portland State to Mackay Stadium. After the Vikings got off to a 9-0 lead in the first quarter, Brown put the first points on the board for the Pack.

In his head, he told himself, "I'm going to be the playmaker this year."

Shadowing his man in a cover one, the Pack was able to apply pressure and force the quarterback to roll out. Brown was able to bate him, and 42 yards later found himself in the endzone with not only his first-career interception, but touchdown.

"That play was so big for me because my family was in the stands. I was thinking about them and how special it must feel for them. Those people are my motivation."

The pick-six shot Brown's confidence through the roof, and eliminated the fear factor of being a full-time starter for the first time in college. For Nevada, it wasn't just Brown's confidence that was elevated, but the entire defense's thanks in large part to defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel.

"I feel like the first year we weren't as comfortable in the defense as we should have been. That summer, the entire defense was focused."

After losing veterans that helped turn the defense around such as Malik Reed, Dameon Baber and Asauni Rufus, Brown now knows he has a responsibility to step up to maintain the Pack's defensive success from last year.

As someone who has always led by example instead of vocally, Brown faces a new challenge with motivating and leading the younger players on the team.

"Being more of a vocal leader has helped my game in a way. Vocalizing what the defense is trying to do to the younger guys, it helps me understand the entire defense as a whole more rather than just specifically what I'm doing."

So, after a career year and one season of eligibility left, what does Daniel Brown see for himself in 2019?

"I just want to be the best player that I can be for my teammates. I love those dudes, and I just want to do my job the best that I can for them."

And as for the team?

"We're coming."