Football: Stone Bridge Grad Devon "Ylou" Brown Signs with Washington Redskins

By Dan Sousa
Viva Loudoun Editor

Ashburn (May 2, 2012) - Stone Bridge High School grad Devon "Ylou" Brown, who played wide receiver at Wake Forest before finishing up his collegiate career at West Virginia this past season, confirmed Wednesday that he has signed with the Washington Redskins. (While Brown is not listed by the Redskins as one of 12 undrafted free agents signed this week, we expect he is one of 36 players in camp today, most likely on a tryout contract).

"Growing up in the area, the Redskins were my favorite team, the home team. It really hasn't hit me yet," said Brown, who had more than 1,500 yards receiving and 12 overall touchdowns in college. "I was talking with a (WVU) teammate and we said that this is the opportunity we have been working for our whole lives."

Brown said it probably won't sink in totally until he hits the practice field and that will be soon as he said the Redskins will hold a mini-camp for rookies, and undrafted free agents May 4-6.


"From high school to college it was a different game and from college to the pro's it is a different game. I want to get better and do what I can to help the team," said Brown.

Brown spent three years at Wake Forest with his sophomore campaign of 2009 a career season with an ACC-best 61 receptions for 671 yards and six touchdowns. He also rushed for 150 yards and another score.

Already graduated, he was able to transfer for his senior season to West Virginia for post-graduate studies, where he averaged a career-best 13.9 yards per reception on a total of 29 catches for 404 yards and a score.

"Statistically last year was not my greatest year but I gained a great deal of knowledge from the coaches and players. They really pushed me," said Brown.

Brown caught five passes for 71 yards, including a 33-yarder, in the Mountaineers 70-33 wipeout over Clemson in the Discover Orange Bowl in January.

The 5-foot-10, 188-pound Ashburn native started his prep career at Bishop O'Connell before transferring his senior season at Stone Bridge. He was the Northern Region Offensive Player of the Year for the Bulldogs, gaining 1,730 yards in 2006 including 312 yards against James Madison.

Brown and Bulldogs were upset in the regional finals by Edison, 31-17, with Brown and quarterback Terrence Glenn both missing most of the second half with injuries and Jeron Gouveia-Winslow (Virginia Tech) already sidelined with an injury before the game.

As a junior he had rushed for 1,282 yards at O'Connell.

Brown had kept in constant touch with Stone Bridge coach Mickey Thompson and his family and said he plans a dinner out with the Thompson's by early next week.

Brown has some insight to what it takes to play in the NFL with contact through former teammates  and he has been training with former Washington Redskin Eddie Mason (MASE Training) since his prep days.