Fantastic Fifteen: Monroe’s Kohlin Brownlee focused on earning his shot

The dream started in a front yard.

As a young boy, Kohlin Brownlee watched his older cousins, family members and neighborhood friends throw a football around after his family moved to Albany. Before long, he wanted to be part of every game.

Then came a family trip to Ohio when he was 10 years old.

Meeting several well-known football players transformed a childhood interest into something much bigger.

Today, Brownlee is entering his senior season at Monroe with one goal in mind — earning the opportunity to continue playing football in college.

“I want to do well enough to earn a scholarship,” Brownlee said.

For Brownlee, however, individual success means little if it doesn’t translate into team success.

The Golden Tornadoes endured a difficult season a year ago, missing the playoffs after struggling to find consistency. Brownlee admits that was the toughest part of the season.

“Not winning and not making the playoffs,” he said.

This fall, he believes Monroe has the opportunity to change that.

His favorite part of football isn’t necessarily making spectacular catches or scoring touchdowns. It’s spending Friday nights with teammates, riding the bus to games and celebrating victories together afterward.

Winning, he says, makes all of those moments even more meaningful.

New Monroe head coach Bo Daniels quickly recognized Brownlee as one of the players capable of helping restore that winning culture.

“Kohlin is a very high-character football player,” Daniels said. “He wants to win and he works for it.”

Daniels was impressed long before the first official practice.

“When I first came over to Monroe, he was there every time, even when he didn’t really have to be there,” Daniels said. “We were doing conditioning and he didn’t have to come because he was involved in other things, but he was here.”

That commitment is one reason Daniels expects Brownlee to become one of the area’s most dangerous playmakers this season.

At 6 feet tall, Brownlee has developed a reputation for his speed and his ability to make difficult catches in traffic. His favorite route leaves little doubt about the kind of receiver he wants to be.

“I like going deep and catching the ball,” Brownlee said with a smile.

Daniels believes those deep routes often end the same way.

“When he catches the ball, he’s gonna score,” Daniels said. “I’m excited for him. He’s a kid I’m pulling for.”

The son of Natasha Godwin and Caelton Brownlee, Brownlee understands this season represents more than one final opportunity to wear Monroe’s purple and gold.

It’s a chance to show college coaches he belongs at the next level.

Daniels has little doubt his senior receiver will be successful wherever life takes him.

“He has shown a lot of character and leadership,” Daniels said. “He is going to be successful.”

Brownlee hopes that success begins with helping Monroe return to the postseason.

If he can do that while turning long receptions into touchdowns, the scholarship offers he’s chasing may not be far behind.