Chris Brown (2021) - CU Athletic Hall of Fame - University of Colorado Athletics

Chris Brown

Induction:
2021
Class:
2002

A first-team All-American by the AFCA as a junior in 2002 (second-team by the Associated Press and The Sporting News), when was the runner-up for the Doak Walker Award (presented to the nation’s top running back) … He finished eighth in the balloting for the Heisman, an honor he would have contended for had it not been for a late season injury (he received five first place votes and 48 points) … The Colorado Sports Hall of Fame selected him as its collegiate athlete of the year for the state of Colorado for 2002 … He was having quite a season prior to missing the last two games of the regular season (and most of a third) with a severely bruised sternum, as in 11 games, he rushed for 1,744 yards, which was and remains the second highest single-season total in school history, doing so on the strength of nine 100-plus yard rushing games (he had 14 for his career) … He led the nation in rushing for a six-week period in 2002 en route to finishing third in the NCAA … A unanimous All-Big 12 selection, he led the Big 12 in rushing, scoring and all-purpose yards, with the league coaches selecting him as the offensive player of the year… He has one of the three 300-yard rushing games in school history (309 at Kansas in 2002) … As a sophomore, he led the team in rushing, as his tough, aggressive running keyed late season wins over Nebraska to win the Big 12 North Division and then over Texas to claim the league crown; he had 198 and 182 yards, respectively, in those games, and scored a school record six touchdowns against the Cornhuskers (and added three in the title game) … Despite playing just two seasons for CU after transferring from Northwestern, he finished as CU’s fourth all-time leading runner with 2,690 yards, a figure that is still seventh; his 34 touchdowns tied for the second-most and remain third … Declared himself eligible for the NFL Draft following his junior season, and was a third round pick in the 2003 National Football League Draft (93rd overall) by the Tennessee Titans … He rushed for 3,024 yards and 19 touchdowns in six seasons in the NFL with Tennessee and Houston (his best year was 2004, when he ran for 1,067 yards for the Titans; his 4.9 yards per carry led the league) … Retired from football after the 2009 season, he lives in Houston with his wife and three children, two boys and girl … He was born April 17, 1981 in Winfield, Ill.