Senior John Brown is among the many Pinecrest football players who have helped rebuild a tradition in the sport at the school over the past four years.

Soon the playmaking defensive back will be continuing a family tradition when he goes to Winston-Salem State to play for the Rams and pursue a college degree. On Friday morning, he reenacted the signing of a national letter of intent with his parents David and Margo Brown, coaches and teammates looking on.

As an All-Southeastern Conference performer for the Patriots last fall, Brown was credited with 46 tackles, led the team in passes broken up with 11 and shared the team lead in interceptions with four.

“He has tremendous measureables as a cornerback — long arms, great speed and great ball skills,” Patriot head coach Chris Metzger says. “Some teams really didn’t want to throw to his side. He has put on a ton of weight and he’s basically going to be one of those guys that become a big cover corner.”

David Brown is a member of the teaching staff at Pinecrest and Margo Brown teaches at Aberdeen Primary. Both attended Winston-Salem State as under grads. David earned his Master’s at Fayetteville State and Margo got hers at UNC-Pembroke. One of John’s three older brothers, David, Jr. also went to Winston-Salem.

The family resides in Pinebluff and includes two more sons in Daniel, a twin of David, Jr. and Timothy.

“John had other opportunities,” Metzger says, “but his older brother went there and that’s where he wanted to be.”

Brown is the ninth Patriot senior from last fall’s squad to commit to play football at the college level. He plans to major in business administration and would like to become a small business owner someday.

“I’ll remember all the coaches and the things they taught me,” he said upon being asked to reflect on his experience with the Patriot football team.

Contact Charlie Berg-mann at cbergmann@nc.rr.-com.