How QB Max Brown is elevating Charlotte football: ‘We’re doing stuff we haven’t done before’

Max Brown has felt a great deal of gratitude since joining the Charlotte 49ers.

He understands why a situation like his — becoming a program’s starting quarterback as a redshirt sophomore — could be pressure-inducing. But that’s not how he’s really felt it.

Knowing he is gaining the confidence of his coaches and teammates makes Brown appreciative of the role he plays every day. Starting for Florida during late-season SEC action as a freshman gave him an understanding of what it takes to play his position at a high level, and Brown is constantly setting expectations for himself as both a player and person.

“Coming in with guys who want to continue to represent something that is bigger than them,” Brown said at Charlotte’s football media day on Tuesday morning. “We want to be able to do something that has never been done here. That’s what this group wants to do, and that’s why I came here.”

Brown takes the reins

Max Brown has innate leadership skills.

The new quarterback gained respect from his coaches and teammates early, simply because of the way he commanded himself. A more understated person, Brown was never particularly loud or flashy.

Head coach Biff Poggi explained that Brown never acted like he was of higher stature or somehow more special than anyone else. He’s brought in a hungry bunch that has been motivated this year. They have lofty goals as a team, and Brown leads them by example.

“He doesn’t come in with a big chain and a necklace, driving a Ferrari or any of that kind of stuff,” Poggi said. “And he’s not always the first voice to be spoken. True leaders, in my opinion, are servant leaders. They’re guys who put other the other guys in the building first, and he does that.

“How do you do that? By taking care of your job. Being on time. Don’t miss meetings. Be early. Bring a notebook and a pen. Work as hard as you can in the strength and conditioning program. Be the guy on the field who’s giving everything you have — that doesn’t mean you’re the best player, it means you’re giving it everything you have.”

‘A big little kid’

The Niners’ receivers were enthralled when they initially started running routes with Brown back in January.

Brown was making no-look passes, tossing sidearm and completing off-balance throws from his back foot. No matter how he did it, Brown was getting the rock to his receivers in ways they hadn’t seen.

“We were talking about it watching film the other day: We got quarterbacks who are making phenomenal throws, so it’s our fault if we don’t catch ‘em,” Jairus Mack, the 49ers’ top returning wideout, said. “We’re doing stuff we haven’t done before.”

Mack and Brown have become locker neighbors since the duo connected in University City.

Every day, Mack tells him about how the chemistry has been off the charts. The team was connected last year, but there’s definitely a refreshed mindset entering this year.

Brown is a big part of it.

“His energy is second to none,” Mack said. “He’s like a big little kid. He’s always, like, screaming, laughing, something like that. His energy is infectious from all of us.

“If he’s up, we’re up. If he’s down — he’s never really down — so we’re never really down, either.”