Madison’s Aaron Green and Steele’s Malcolm Brown have become close friends through a common bond as two of the top-ranked running backs in the nation. Brown and Green meet for the first time on the field at 6 p.m. Saturday, when Steele and Madison face off in an ESPN-televised game at Heroes Stadium.
Before their game kicks off, the duo sat down together with Express-News staff writer Lorne Chan to discuss their experiences as blue-chip recruits living 10 miles apart.
Are you ready for ESPN?
AG: I probably won’t remember the game’s on ESPN while we’re playing. People are making this game out to be me against Malcolm, but there are 20 other guys on the field. I hope Malcolm and I don’t act like it’s me vs. him.
MB: I’m not getting stressed about it. We’re two kids trying to do what we do.
This is all a lot of hype. It’s going to be another non-district football game. ESPN just makes it a little bit bigger than what it is.
A little bit?
MB: OK, a lot bigger.
AG: I haven’t seen Malcolm play much, so I might give in to the hype myself. In a falsetto voice: “Oh my gosh, it’s Malcolm Brown. I just want to touch him.”
I hope it’s standing room only, and it’s going to be crazy. It comes with the territory, though. We’ve had a lot of attention and a lot of expectations.
How have you dealt with the attention?
AG: It’s a blessing, but at the same time, it’s a burden. Some people treat you differently. They put you on a pedestal, and I’d rather be treated like everybody else. I don’t like all the attention.
MB: My friends will joke around about it, and that makes me feel better. When they’re making fun of me and doing things like going, “Ooh, Malcolm Brown just walked into the building,” it helps you stay normal.
I don’t want to be anyone’s idol or anything. I’m only 17.
AG: I was leaving church one time, walking by some 8-year-old kids. One kid goes, “How do you not know Malcolm Brown? He’s a beast.”
That just put a smile on my face. It made my day to hear some little kid looking up to Malcolm.
MB: It’s one of the coolest feelings when the little kids know who you are. But like Aaron said about being on a pedestal, I’d rather everybody thought of me as a regular person.
How has your friendship grown?
AG: We were on the same track team in seventh grade. He was quiet and was one of the youngest people. I remember him, but I don’t remember him saying anything. Now we’ve gotten to know each other really well.
MB: We were roommates for a week (at July’s Top Gun camp in Virginia). Aaron’s real cool. Sometimes when you don’t know somebody, you don’t know if it’s going to be weird. But we got along right away.
AG: Malcolm was singing or watching cartoons the entire time. He seems quiet, but once you know him, he’s goofy.
MB: Aaron’s a good friend and a great guy. He’s a really humble, Christian man.
Has talking to each other helped?
AG: It lets you know you aren’t in it alone. There are other guys around here getting recruited, but not the same way Malcolm and I are.
We don’t really talk about recruiting now, but we used to early on. It never hurts to hear from someone else who’s going through the same thing as you are.
Do you consider being teammates in college?
AG: That would be cool. Malcolm committing doesn’t really affect what I pick, but it does put some pressure on me. Malcolm picking Texas makes me want to go to Texas more.
MB: I’m not going to put any pressure on him. Playing on the same team isn’t something we really talk about that much. It’s more of a “what if” type thing.
Aaron, how close are you to committing?
AG: I’m kind of close, but I’m going to take my time. It’s not as hard to make a decision when you’ve got it down to four schools. I’m just going to take my college visits first.
If I’m picking a team, who do I want at running back?
MB: Aaron. Speed and quickness.
AG: Malcolm. Take the speed and power.
How many yards will your opponent have on Saturday?
AG: I hope Malcolm gets 50 yards. That’d be nice.
MB: Aaron will be in the negatives. This is the Knights’ defense we’re talking about.
