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ROAD LESS TRAVELED: Kingwood Brown's rise to national recruit has been a journey
From moving across states to overcoming a major injury, Kingwood offensive lineman Kennedy Brown’s road to becoming one of the top players in the country has been anything but smooth. Yet, his perseverance and love for the game have turned every obstacle into motivation.
Brown’s football journey didn’t start like most top recruits. In fact, his first introduction to the game was purely by accident.
“So basically, when I was younger, I knew about football but hadn’t played yet,” Brown said with a laugh. “I had a friend come up to me and ask if I wanted to join his fantasy football team, and I thought it was actual football. So I went out and bought pads and everything!”
He eventually found his way onto the field in junior high while living in Indiana. But it wasn’t until his family moved back to Texas that his passion for football really took off.
“I really started playing in seventh grade in Indiana,” Brown said. “But when I moved back here for eighth grade, I just fell in love with the game. And as we all know, football is king in Texas. To be able to come back here and play was exciting.”
Brown’s potential was clear from an early age. Heading into his freshman year, he was already establishing himself as a force. But just as things were starting to take off, he hit his biggest hurdle—an ACL tear that sidelined him and almost ended his football dreams.
“I tore my ACL my freshman year, and that injury really set me back,” he said. “I was thinking a lot and got down on myself because I had all these standards and goals I wanted to accomplish, and suddenly it was out of my control. I didn’t even know if I wanted to play football anymore.”
But every setback has a comeback. For Brown, his sophomore season was exactly that.
He helped lead Kingwood to its first-ever regional final appearance, anchoring the offensive line and dominating opponents in the trenches. His standout play earned him national recognition as one of the top 10 offensive linemen in the country. Before long, scholarship offers started rolling in from powerhouse programs like Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas, Texas A&M, and USC.
For Brown, that first offer was a surreal moment.
“I just remember getting pulled into the coach’s office during athletic period, hopping on the phone, and getting the first offer,” Brown recalled. “I started jumping up and down, screaming and celebrating with my teammates. It’s a moment I’ve wanted since I first started playing.”
Humble ISD has produced its share of elite offensive linemen—Travis Swanson, Sam Cosmi, Kenyon Green, Kam Dewberry, and Kelvin Banks Jr., to name a few. Being mentioned alongside them is an honor Brown doesn’t take lightly, but he’s setting his sights even higher.
“It means the most to me to be brought up with those guys,” Brown said. “But my goal isn’t just to play college football or make it to the NFL. I want to be more than that—I want to be in the Hall of Fame. I’m not trying to be one of the guys who just makes it to the pros and does the bare minimum.”
As he gears up for his junior season, Brown is locked in on perfecting his craft. But when he’s not on the field or in the weight room, you’ll likely find him tending to his four fish tanks and three geckos.
“Whenever I was in Indiana, for my tenth birthday, I got a fish tank and some fish, and ever since then, I’ve just had a passion for taking care of them,” Brown said. “Now I have four pretty extensive tanks and three geckos. I think marine biology is something I might want to study in college—or maybe interior design.”
Regardless of which path he chooses off the field, there’s no question Kennedy Brown is making a name for himself on it.
SQUAD GOALS: Sheppard Leads Kingwood's Charge For Another State Run
FRESH OFF WHAT WAS EASILY THEIR MOST MONUMENTAL SEASON IN OVER A DECADE, KINGWOOD RETURNS TO THE DIAMOND WITH MORE HYPE SURROUNDING THEM THAN EVER.
Despite the daunting challenge of facing powerhouse Katy in last year’s Region III-6A Finals, the Mustangs didn’t flinch. They swept one of the nation’s most formidable opponents (Game 1: 6-3, Game 2: 7-6), punching their ticket to the State Tournament for the first time since 2013.
The relatively young team went on to finish as State Semifinalists, and four of their athletes earned spots on the Texas Girls Coaches Association (TGCA) All-State team.
Among them was shortstop Addyson Sheppard, who added District 21-6A MVP to her many accolades from a season fueled by a united team effort.
“I think it came down to believing in each other and working hard from the start,” Sheppard said. “We trusted the process all season, and it paid off. The community support played a huge role—it drove us all the way to Austin and helped us visualize our bigger goal for this year.”
While the players deserve most of the plaudits for their historic achievement, Sheppard was quick to acknowledge the impact of first-year head coach Christa Williams-Yates—a two-time Olympic gold medalist—on the team’s success.
“It’s been a blessing to have Coach Yates leading this program,” she said. “There was a different feel to the team, especially with her guidance and emphasis on the mental side of the game. I feel like that mental toughness has become our greatest strength, and it’s what sets us apart from the rest.”
For the senior Mustang, it’s been about the journey. From picking up a bat at age three to being selected for the USA U-18 Women’s National Team in January, Sheppard has never taken her opportunities for granted.
“Everything comes full circle for me,” Sheppard said. “I started with baseball at the YMCA before moving on to softball, and I’ve been immersed in it ever since. I was obsessed with watching the College World Series growing up.”
Sheppard also emphasized the importance of community in softball.
“I’ve learned that softball is about community—you can’t do it alone. I’m grateful for the coaches and my family who’ve helped me get to where I am, and now I get the chance to continue playing in college.”
Speaking of college, Sheppard made headlines in the off-season when she changed her commitment from Arizona to Stanford in October.
“Arizona is a great school, but I was looking for a university with a stronger emphasis on academics,” she said. “Becoming a physician is my goal, and softball has taught me how to push myself toward big aspirations. Once I got the offer from Stanford, it was hard to turn it down.”
Among the many memorable moments from Kingwood’s historic season last spring, the team’s unofficial mascot, dressed in an inflatable unicorn costume, became a fan favorite during their playoff run.
While traditions like this are hard to beat, Sheppard and her teammates are already brainstorming a new way to celebrate in 2025.
“The unicorn during last year’s playoffs was truly amazing, and something I definitely won’t forget,” Sheppard laughed. “But this year, we’re trying to find something new because we have a new identity. It’s going to be something we can all hold on to and have fun with as we make our way through the season.”
The scary part for the competition is that Kingwood brings back nearly all of its star power, and they’ve already proven they have what it takes to reach the State level.
Now the question is: can they go one step further and claim the program’s first-ever title in May?