Former Penn State football running back Journey Brown will join former Penn State head coach James Franklin as part of the Virginia Tech staff, he announced on Instagram on Sunday.

Brown played for the Nittany Lions in 2018 and 2019 before medically retiring from football in November of 2020 due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a heart condition that results in the muscle wall becoming thick and stiff.

After his shortened career playing college football, Brown found a new life in a NASCAR pit crew, operating the air gun and changing tires.

He has also since advocated for increased EKG and ECG screenings in youth athletes, the same test that ultimately led to Alex Manske’s open heart surgery this offseason.

While it’s unclear what exact role Brown will hold with the Hokies, the now 27-year-old will undoubtedly relish the opportunity to get back into the sport he loves.

He may not be steamrolling defenders into the end zone of AT&T Stadium anymore as he did in the 2019 Cotton Bowl, but being back on the sidelines with his former head coach is perhaps the next best thing in Brown’s young career.

About the Author

Jamie Lynch

Jamie is a fourth-year economics student from Chappaqua, NY. He loves to swim and is a member of the club team here at Penn State. Jamie is also in the Schreyer Honors College, and wishes there was an advanced course in college football fandom (scored 118/133 on the mascot quiz). He’s an avid ping-pong player, dairy lover, and has met two U.S. Presidents. If you have anything to share, or want to debate the AP Poll with someone, follow him on Twitter/X @jamielynchpsu or email jml8342@psu.edu.

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