As of February 2nd, 2022, the class of 2022’s, Alijah Brown officially committed and signed to the University of San Diego. In the fall of 2022, he will be playing football for San Diego’s Division 1 team. 

At the start of the pandemic, Alijah reevaluated his goals as an athlete. He has always wanted to play college football and have the ability to obtain a college degree with little to no tuition. Because of the lockdown, he put a lot of his downtime into achieving his goals. Alijah worked out with an explosive trainer to get his body in better shape for the upcoming season. He explains, ” I didn’t know when I was going to be able to play football again but I worked really hard until I was able to play again.” During this time of uncertainty, Alijah noticed significant results in his physical appearance as well as his strength and speed. 

This fall, Alijah was able to play football for his senior year. He started the season as a defensive end and tight end, as he proved himself to be faster and stronger. In previous seasons, he has played O-line. Alijah had a phenomenal season, reflected through his hard work in the off-season. During the peak of the season, college coach’s began to come to O’Dowd to check out Brown and his season’s highlights. During his junior spring season, the University of San Diego had a showed interest in Alijah, so he went to an unofficial visit during the summer to get a better feel for the campus and coaches. After his senior season, he had several conversations with the coaches and much more interest in the school. 

In December of 2021, Alijah began receiving offers. His very first offer was from Whittier College, then Pacific Lutheran University, and his first D1 scholarship was from the University of San Diego. Rocky Mountain College and Black Hills State University then offered him in the month of December and January. Alijah says, “I was super grateful for all of these offers but from the developed relationship with USD so far, I saw my top choice in San Diego.” During the months of December and January, Alijah continued to go to official visits to look at different schools and make his final decision. 

Alijah Brown signed on February 2nd, 2022. He states, ” First off I would like to thank God for putting me in this blessed position. My family, friends, and teammates for supporting me to get to this moment in my life. The coaches I have had throughout all sports are basketball, lacrosse, track, and last but not least football. Who has pushed me to be the young black man I am today. My counselors and teachers supported me throughout my academic career. My mother and my father, none of this would be possible without them as they have been a place of unwavering support throughout all of my endeavors whether it be the early morning or late night pick-ups or the many life lessons they have taught me. The colleges and coaches that have recruited me thus far, I thank for the support, interest, and love as they give me opportunities that most student-athletes don’t. Lastly, I would like to thank the O’Dowd and St. Leo’s community for their unwavering support. Without further ado, I am blessed to announce my commitment to The University of San Diego. Thank you to the USD football staff for believing in me. GO, TOREROS! “

Not only is Alijah’s family proud, but also, the O’Dowd Community. Alijah is a devoted Dragon and very well-rounded student-athlete. He is a consistent helper and leader in the community.