Even diehard Gophers football fans are more likely to know the man who mentored the U safety who had two interceptions in Saturday’s 27-0 win over Nevada than the playmaker himself.

Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Edgerrin James helped coach Minnesota redshirt freshman safety Kerry Brown as a youth player in south Florida.

“1 of my Pop Warner Kids…” James posted in a comment on a Gophers Instagram post of Brown on Saturday.

Brown became more of a household name with two first-half interceptions that led to 10 points in the U’s shutout win in their final nonconference game this season at Huntington Bank Stadium.

“I knew him since I was a little kid,” Brown said of James postgame. “Me being able to learn from him and him teaching me to be a bigger man today helps a lot.”

James hails from Immokalee, Fla., and went on to rush for 12,246 yards and 80 touchdowns in 11 seasons in the NFL, while Brown attended nearby Naples High School and was a three-star recruit in the 2023 class.

Brown played only five defensive snaps during the 2023 regular season, but was in for 60 plays in the season-ending Quick Lane Bowl last December. He came off the bench Saturday, but started against Rhode Island and has played 86 snaps through three games this fall. None of the snaps were bigger than the two that led to interceptions Saturday.

Brown’s first interception was a diving grab and the second included a 17-yard return. Brown thanked his defensive line for providing pressure: Jah Joyner had a quarterback hit on the first pick, and Antony Smith pressured on the second one.

Even head coach P.J. Fleck said Brown, who is listed at 5-feet-10, 190 pounds, wouldn’t be considered a Big Ten player if spotted on the street.

“Kerry Brown is an electric player,” Fleck said. “He is not the biggest guy. … But he practices so hard. He is an unbelievable person.”

The Gophers have a stunning seven interceptions through three games, which is second-best in the nation so far this season. Cal has nine.

All of the U’s picks have come from defensive backs. Brown leads with two, while it’s one apiece for Jack Henderson, Ethan Robinson, Justin Walley, Aidan Gousby and Koi Perich.

Coming into the season, the Gophers safeties were asked to step up with the U’s all-time leader in interceptions, Tyler Nubin, now with the New York Giants. Nubin had a career 13 interceptions, including two in the 2023 season opener against Nebraska.

Brown is the first Gophers player to have two picks in a game since Nubin and is the first Gophers freshman to have two INTs in a game since at least 1990.

“You know why Antoine Winfield Jr. is as good as he is?” Fleck asked. “Because he smiles all the time. He loves playing the game of football. You know why Tyler Nubin is so good? He loves playing the game and he smiles all the time. And they have short goldfish memories. Kerry Brown is a young player, but he’s the exact same way.”

With Saturday’s performance, Brown is becoming a known member of the Gophers football team, and his famous mentor has helped put him on the map.

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