So far this season the Boston College Eagles are undefeated in three games at Alumni Stadium (though it’s a different story on the road), and for fifth-year defensive back Bryquice Brown, playing on home turf brings a whole other meaning. 

Brown, who was born in Dorchester, is a graduate student at BC who played football during his undergrad years at Georgia State University. Now, wearing No. 19, he’s helping BC and head coach Bill O’Brien with his stellar defense as they stand at 4-2 six games into the season.

“I grew up off of Blue Hill Ave on Woodrow Ave.,” said the 5-foot-11, 183-pound Brown, “and I lived there for 13 years of my life. I loved it. It was different. It was hard at times, but I got to spend a lot of time with my family.” 

His favorite memories in the neighborhood were visiting parks and playing basketball with his father. He played a bit of Pop Warner football in the South End before he moved to Georgia as a young teen and found himself in a whole new world of football. 

“When I was here for Pop Warner there was a weight-limit rule,” Brown noted. That was something that was a huge difference because when you get down there, you play with your age group. Some kids were a lot bigger, and I went to a really good school, so I had to adjust.”

Brown spent most of his high school years at Lithia Springs High School, where he earned all-region honors as a receiver and collected 561 receiving yards during his senior season. 

“The city would shut down for games on Friday for Friday night lights, and that was pretty cool,” Brown told The Reporter. He added, “After I made the transition down to Georgia, I started to put the pieces together and started to get offers to college. I decided it would be best for me to stick with football because it would help with school, and I could get a degree.”

He committed to GSU, where he notched 136 career tackles during his four years of play. Brown and his classmates were among the final group of student-athletes offered an additional year of eligibility because of Covid restrictions. He took the opportunity to play his final year of football for Boston College near to his boyhood home in Dorchester.

“My four years at Georgia State were lovely. I enjoyed my time there. I got a degree, I played football, I left my mark and I’m grateful for the opportunity. I’m glad to be here at home to finish it off for my last year,” said Brown who is studying for a master’s degree in sports administration.

He sees his time at BC as a “blessing. I get to come home and play in front of my family members who didn’t have the opportunity to come and see me play in Georgia.”