Diamond in the Rough: Tyrone Brass

Tyrone Brass is a 2021 running back from Iowa High School in Iowa, La. The 5’11 180 pound athlete is a work horse for the Yellow Jackets. Having rushed for nearly 1,000 yards through only four games in 2020, Brass is definitely out playing his opponents on the field. However, Tyrone doesn’t only excel on the field, he currently holds a 3.6 GPA and even with COVID restrictions still had a 22 on the practice ACT. He tells me his bench is 225, clean is 235, and squat is 405 and he runs a 4.5 40.

CHECK OUT HIS FILM HERE.

When did you start playing football?

I started playing when I was seven, but, I started with nine and ten year olds. So I got a little extra head start. I was asked to bump up and play with them. I was the youngest of my respective group.

Any reason why you bumped up to nine and ten year olds?

My mom talked to the coach, and they were like ‘sure we can get him in there.’ I ended up starting at running back, and we did pretty well. We actually got to play in the New Orleans Super Dome. That was pretty fun. That was for the Iowa Sharks, a rec team down here in Iowa.

What do you love about football?

I love that you can actually hit people without getting in trouble. Say in basketball you hit someone, you get a technical foul, you can get tossed out the game. But when it comes to football you can deliver the hit and hit them, and don’t get in trouble for it.

Did you play any other sports growing up?

I played basketball and I currently still run track.

What style of play best describes you?

I’d like to think I’m a pretty smooth ball player when it comes to football. I want to study my technique, and pretty much anything I can do to win the football game and take care of my players I’m going to try to do.

Going back to last year, what were your goals?

I actually sat down with my coaches about my goals last year. How many yards I want to have at the end of the season, and how many touch downs? At the end of it I had to make sure I don’t fumble, I had to make sure I protect the football.

Did you meet those goals last year?

Yes sir, I committed myself to have no more than five fumbles I only had two. I had 16 touchdowns and over seven-hundred yards rushing.

What are some of the goals you set for this season, but may have had to readjust due to COVID?

I had several goals that I had set at the beginning of this season, like how many yards I wanted to rush for, and how many touchdowns I wanted to score. But once COVID hit and those two hurricanes came through I had to kind of adjust those goals. So basically I had to do more to reach those goals. I wanted to have 20 or more touchdowns and over 1,000 yards rushing. My coach said I was getting really close to 1,000 yards rushing.

How many games have you guys played so far?

We had a scrimmage and four regular season games.

So four games this year, and you’re already at almost a thousand yards rushing?

Yes sir.

Who would you say some of your biggest influences are?

One would be my parents, they are always pushing me to go beyond what I’m capable of, and be better than what I can. Then another person I looked up to is Walter Payton, he was one of the best running backs ever in the NFL.

What do you think is a strength in your game play?

My vision, when I run the ball I immediately know where I am going with it. I know what cuts I’m going to make. My coaches say it’s a God given talent, just knowing immediately where I’m going.

Do you feel that attitude is a factor in winning?

Most definitely! When it comes to football, you got a positive attitude and you go into the game knowing you’re going to win you have your head held high. Same thing with a negative attitude, you go into a game thinking you’re going to lose and you will. At the end of the day you have to have a positive attitude to have success.

At the end of this season, what would want your coaches and teammates to say about you?

That I’m a team player. I am going to do what I am going to do, but I am also going to make sure that everybody else does what that have to do so we can make it to that Dome this year. I just want to make sure that we are all doing our job.