Kansas City,
10
January
2017
|
13:39 PM
America/Chicago

Fox 4: Student athlete battles back from injury to earn spot at Blue-Grey All-Star Game

Marcus B. & Michael Denning

No setback was going to stop Raytown South Linebacker Marcus Brown.

“Congratulations Marcus Brown, Blue and Grey All-American,” Brown read aloud from a letter.

The Raytown South Senior knew hard work could bring him back. It was Oct. 16, 2015, and Brown's Cardinal club was meeting up with Platte County High School. When Brown went to make a tackle in the game’s third quarter, he got the worst of the hit.

”I came across the edge and made a tackle in the backfield. As I was turning to get up, my kneecap went in the wrong way, and I physically dropped down to the ground.” 

The morning after the injury, he couldn't walk on the injured leg. Brown, who was 16 at the time, had torn the meniscus in his left knee.

“I was really scared. I thought my football career may have been over,” Brown, now 17, said.

Brown will be in uniform on January 14th, playing in the annual Blue-Grey All-Star Game in Jacksonville, Florida, one of the most prestigious games for college football hopefuls.

It didn't take long for Brown to start his comeback, rehabbing his knee for a year with sports therapist Michael Denning at Children's Mercy, who says Marcus came to workouts ready to win.

“This kid's clearly a good athlete,” Denning said.

“(Brown’s attitude) is one that, 'I'm going to get after this. I'm going to take this as a challenge and I'm going to accomplish my goals the way I can.”

“He pushed me to my max potential,” Brown said.

 

See the full story via Fox 4.

Learn more about the Center for Sports Medicine at Children's Mercy.