WEST PALM BEACH – Later this week, Nevell Brown will officially be a high school graduate of Palm Beach Lakes and focused on his next move.

The outgoing senior offensive lineman has made a lasting impression on his coaches, teammates, and everyone else around him. He went from being a relatively unknown talent to a Top 10 overall player in Palm Beach County.

Brown (6-foot-4, 285 pounds) ended his senior year as the undisputed No. 1 offensive lineman in Palm Beach County. His level of consistency on the offensive line helped Palm Beach Lakes emerge as the No. 1 team in our area (9-0 in regular season; 10-1 final record) and the Lou Groza Team of the Year.

“Definitely the best season I had,” Brown said. “This past year showed me that hard work really does work out. We were a close team, everybody knew everybody. We had coaches that believed in us, but also tested us every day on the field and in the classroom. I played with a couple winning teams, but at Lakes how we did it was different. Every second I enjoyed it.”

The Rams leader topped it off with a full scholarship to play college football at Alabama A&M. He signed his letter of intent with the HBCU institution on Feb. 5.

“When I went on my visit, I loved the energy and vibe I got in Huntsville,” Brown said. “I got to meet all the coaches and watched film with the OL coach. I got to pick his brain, understand his coaching style and see if he knew what he was talking about. My OL coach (Markus Lawrence) just reminds me of previous coaches I have been coached by, and with him I felt comfortable and trusted every word he said.”

There was more on what went into Brown’s final college decision.

“I also have family living in Alabama and family in Atlanta a couple of hours away,” Brown said. “I could always go see family cause that’s big for me…I just felt at home, to be honest. I have everything I need, and I have a couple of friends going to Alabama A&M with me. I believe in the coaches to mold me into the best player I can be.”

Brown will team up with former Dwyer teammate and Glades Central outgoing senior wideout Jim Davis, as well as Atlantic (Delray Beach) outgoing senior tight end Bryson Clark. All three of them are in the Class of 2020.

“I feel like we’re going to put on for Palm Beach,” Brown said. “I never played with Bryson Clark, but when I watch his highlights I can tell he’s not someone to play with on the field. He’s gonna ball out. And Jim (Davis), he’s my dog. We had classes together and played with each other at Dwyer, so I know he’s gonna put on for Palm Beach. I’m happy that my city got so much talent, we can send multiple Division 1 athletes to the same college. Alabama A&M got three people on the team from Palm Beach already, so it just made the decision much easier.”

As Brown closes out one chapter and opens up the next one, the current coronavirus pandemic will stay with him. He and his fellow seniors will be having their virtual graduation ceremony on Thursday (June 4).

“The pandemic has pushed and affected a lot of things for me,” Brown said. “As a senior I was really looking forward to crossing the stage. Sadly I can’t. The pandemic also pushed back my football process. I was suppose to be on campus right now at A&M, but because of corona it has been pushed back. I will get through this adversity. I gotta stay focused and see the bigger picture.”