It's time for Baylor fans to recognize Fran Brown before it's too late

If you know me, you will know that I truly believe that the majority of college football games are won and lost on the recruiting trail for all programs across the country. The bluebloods sign the best of the best and the other successful programs around the country find prospects who fit their system and who they believe they can and will develop into successful players. 

That's how it's always been and will always be. Fortunately for Baylor, they are located in one of the most talent-rich states in America and within a short drive of Dallas, Houston and the numerous small towns East Texas and finding talent to fill a top 25 class isn't an issue.

Also fortunate for Baylor is that they have one of the fastest rising recruiters in America plugged into their Assistant Head Coach position and coaching the defensive backs. That man is Fran Brown, the recruiting ace who had a hand in the recruitment of 12 (and probably more) of Baylor's 21 signees in the 2018 class.

Make no mistake, Baylor's entire staff pulls their own weight, but Brown is being noticed around the country for his ability to be an on-the-field coach and the vein that brings the lifeblood that is high school talent to the program.

Now it's time for Baylor fans to understand what they have in Brown and cherish his abilities as long as they have it. 

"I know people say don't go to a school for the coach, but I've made it clear that the coaching staff had a lot to do with my decision, especially Coach Fran," Baylor signee and early enrollee JT Woods‍ told SicEm365.

"He is one of those coaches that is really involved in his players' life on and, most importantly, off the field, and those are the types of coaches that build men of character, not just football players. I wanted to play for someone that was going to mold me into a great man, not just a great football player."

A safety, Woods won't learn directly under Brown when he arrives in Waco later this week, but that's the case for most all of the prospects that Brown recruited. He had a hand in the recruitment of defensive lineman Joshua Landry‍, quarterback Gerry Bohanon‍ and even running back Craig Williams‍ to only name a few.

One of the biggest that Brown was able to secure not only once but twice was Miami, Florida wide receiver Tyquan Thornton‍. Brown and the rest of the coaching staff identified Thornton as an elite wide receiver when the 6-foot-3, 165-pound prospect only held an offer from Appalachian State. Thornton committed to the Bears shortly after before offers began to roll in from the likes of Florida, Georgia and Miami.

Thornton opted to open up his recruitment and eventually gave his pledge to the Gators, his childhood favorite. It was Brown's persistence and faith in Thornton in the months after, however, that eventually led to the four-star signing with Baylor in the early signing period.

"Coach Fran meant a lot to me in this recruiting process because he saw what other coaches didn't see in me," Thornton said. "I have so much respect for him."

So what's the key?

Brown will be the first to tell you he's never been too high on playing the game within the game that is social media when it comes to college football recruiting. He's more concerned about developing relationships, building trust, and turning great prospects into great humans first and great players second.

Offensive lineman Connor Galvin‍ of Katy who committed to the Bears over offers from TCU, Florida, UCLA and Texas Tech among others, said it was all about Brown's efforts to stay in touch with his family from the start to finish of his recruitment.

"He was awesome," Galvin said. "He really pushed for a close, real relationship, but he was real and just was really cool and always did his best to keep in contact with me and my family."

Brown has made efforts to praise head coach Matt Rhule for taking him under his wing early in his career so it shouldn't be a surprise that what is being done by Brown is being taught from the top.

Fran Brown: Matt Rhule believed in me

“The first thing I’d say if you really kind of find out what a coaching staff is like when you de-commit from a school and how they handle you. One thing you hear a lot of our players say in the recruiting process is we talk a lot about who you are and having a relationship and being a family and caring about who you are beyond just football."

So now when a fan of one of Baylor's opponents ask you how Baylor has pulled of the "recruiting miracles" of the 2017 and 2018 classes you have the specific answers. It's about relationships built on a solid foundation that will last.

And it's about having Fran Brown on the coaching staff.