Jack Brown wants to leave Howell Central on a winning note before heading to Mizzou: No. 2
Francis Howell Central tight end and linebacker Jack Brown is the No. 2 recruit on the Post-Dispatch Super 30 countdown of the area’s top senior college football prospects. Brown has verbally committed to the University of Missouri.
Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Jack Brown made a lasting impression on Francis Howell Central head football coach Malach Radigan.
Especially because it was a moment of adversity.
"I'll never forget his freshman year at Troy," Radigan said of a GAC South game Sept. 15, 2023. "What's their No. 1 play? Counter. And they're so amazing at it, credit to them. Our coaches said, 'Put Jack in.' Jack went out there and did it. He didn't stop everything, but he wasn't afraid of the refrigerators at Troy running counters against him."
A tight end and linebacker, the 6-foot-5 and 215-pound Brown has been the complete package as a football player from the start of his high school career.
Now he's an elite college recruit who has high hopes of a successful senior season with Howell Central.
"I would say I always had confidence in myself," Brown said. "I don't think there was a realization moment. I just think I've always had confidence and known what I can do. And I've shown that."
Brown, No. 2 on the
Post-Dispatch Super 30 football recruiting countdown of the area's top senior college recruits, verbally committed to the University of Missouri in March.
He'll join a program that includes Brett Norfleet and Jude James, a pair of tight ends from the Spartans' main high school rival, Francis Howell.
"I grew up watching those two, and those guys are great role models," Brown said. "On my visits, I hung out with them."
Francis Howell Central's Jack Brown gets past an offensive lineman during football practice on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at the Lou Fusz Athletics Complex in Bridgeton, Mo.
Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Brown also received offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona State, Auburn, Florida State, Houston, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas State, Kent State, Lindenwood, Louisville, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi, Missouri State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Purdue, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, UNLV, USC, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin.
He mentioned new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey and tight ends coach Alex Atkins as key factors in his decision to head to Columbia.
"They told me from Day 1 that I was their guy, (that) I was the guy they'd come after," Brown said.
In three years, Brown has 1,009 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. He's also collected 142 tackles and six sacks on defense.
Brown is such a large target on offense that he's a safety valve for Spartans quarterback Brody McAlister.
"He's always open and always makes the tough catches," McAlister said. "A lot of teams will put him in triple coverage, and he'll still make the play."
Brown pointed out that if teams do throw multiple defenders at him, he's confident his open teammates will make the plays.
And ultimately, Radigan said Brown would be over the moon if that happened.
"What I love is that Jack wants to win so badly that he'll take that if we win," Radigan said. "He'll take that no pass for a win. That's who he is."
Francis Howell Central senior Jack Brown makes the reception during football practice on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at Francis Howell Central High School in Cottleville, Mo.
Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Brown echoed that sentiment when asked about his goals. He didn't care how his tackles, touchdowns and sacks add up.
All of that paled in comparison to his goals of team success.
"All my high school career, we haven't had a winning record, and I want to change that," Brown said.
The last time the Spartans had a winning record was in a 7-4 finish in 2013.
It's a trait that Brown shares with the rest of his senior class.
"For them to show up and say, hey, history won't repeat itself, they're doing everything they can to make sure that doesn't happen," Radigan said.
Having a leader like Brown on both sides of the ball will help that endeavor.
Tight end is where he's expected to play at the collegiate level, but Radigan knows Brown can affect the game in many ways.
"When you have a guy like that and try to focus offensive and defensive schemes around him, he is our guy and there's only a select group of people who are like that," Radigan said. "He's a unique human. He's built different. He trains different. He's preparing his body to carry that load."
Radigan was quick to point out that he and his coaching staff won't run Brown into the ground and will keep an eye on his workload before he heads to Mizzou.
The Spartans open the season at 7 p.m. Aug. 28 by playing host to Northwest Cedar Hill.
"He's 10 times the young man that he is a football player, and he's a pretty good football player," Radigan said. "He's one of a kind who will be greatly missed, but I'm just thankful for the time we had with him."
