Ronnie Brown (running back, born 2000)

Ronnie Brown (born April 12, 2000) is a Canadian football running back and return specialist for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Shepherd Rams before signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2023.

Early life and high school
Brown grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and attended Dundalk High School. He would commit to play college football at Shepherd University.

2019 season
Brown joined the Shepherd Rams in 2019 and made his college football debut against Mercyhurst. During the game, Brown had three carries for 12 yards while returning two kicks for 44 yards. Against Lock Haven, Brown scored his first career rushing touchdown while also tallying a career-high 14 carries for 96 rushing yards. A week later, Brown had six kick returns for a career-high 105 yards against Shippensburg. In a blowout win against East Stroudsburg, Brown had his first multi-touchdown game, rushing for both on 12 carries for 80 yards.

Shepherd ended the season with a 9–2 (6–1) record, finishing second in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East Division. They would advance to the 2019 NCAA Division II playoffs as the 5th seed in Super Region One. During both of their playoff games, Brown had 100+ kick return yards but didn't record a single carry.

Brown finished the season with 41 carries for 209 yards and three touchdowns. He also had 28 kick returns for 668 yards.

2020 season
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the PSAC suspended the 2020 fall season and opted out of in-conference play during the 2021 spring season. On April 10, 2021, Shepherd played Mercyhurst for their only game of the season. Brown had four carries for 13 yards and one reception for seven yards during the game.

2021 season
Brown started the 2021 season against Ohio Dominican, finishing with eight carries for 71 yards and a touchdown as well as four receptions for 59 yards. The next week against Gannon, he had five carries for 72 yards and a touchdown.

2022 season
Brown was promoted to being the starter before the 2022 season. In his first start against Southern Connecticut State, Brown had 10 carries for 113 yards and two touchdowns. Brown had a career performance the next week against Edinboro, rushing for 278 yards and three touchdowns. He earned his first career PSAC East Offensive Athlete of the Week award for his performance. Against Kutztown, Brown returned a kickoff for a 100-yard touchdown, breaking the school record for longest return in the process. He would then earn PSAC East Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Against Shippensburg, Brown had 196 all-purpose yards and two rushing touchdowns. He then earned his second PSAC East Offensive Athlete of the Week award.

After finishing the regular season with a perfect 10–0 (7–0) record, Shepherd would win its first-ever PSAC East title, advancing to the PSAC Championship Game against No. 19 IUP. During the game, Brown rushed for a touchdown, but they would fall 24–21. On November 16, Brown earned his second-straight All-PSAC First Team selection as a running back and return specialist.

Shepherd was then granted the No. 2 seed in Super Region One for the NCAA Division II playoffs. In the First Round against New Haven, Brown had 21 carries for 228 yards and two touchdowns in the 16–13 win. Brown proved even more effective in the Second Round matchup against No. 20 Slippery Rock, finishing with 23 touches for 270 all-purpose yards and two total touchdowns, helping Shepherd advance with a 37–27 win. The Super Region One Championship would be a PSAC Championship rematch against No. 15 IUP. Brown would get 29 touches in the game for 161 all-purpose yards and three total touchdowns. Shepherd would capture their second straight Super Region One title with a 48–13 revenge victory. During Regional play, Brown had 80 touches for 718 all-purpose yards and seven total touchdowns, earning him D2CCA All-Region First Team honors. Shepherd was granted the No. 3 seed in the National Semifinals, matching up against No. 10 Colorado Mines. During the game, Brown had 17 carries for 173 yards and a touchdown but the Rams would be eliminated 44–13.

Brown finished the season ranking first in all-purpose yards (2,999) and yards per carry (8.47), second in rushing yards (1,864) and all-purpose yards per game (199.93), fourth in rushing attempts (220) and total touches (295), fifth in total touchdowns (25) and total points scored (150), sixth in rushing touchdowns (19), eighth in total points per game (10.0), and ninth in rushing yards per game (124.3). For this, Brown was awarded Division II All-American First Team honors by the Associated Press, Second Team honors by the D2CCA, and an honorable mention by the Don Hansen Football Committee. He was also named to the D2Football.com Elite 100 Second Team.

Brown was selected to be a part of the 2022 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl after the season. He then declared for the 2023 NFL Draft on December 17.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
On May 12, 2023, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Brown as an undrafted free agent. Brown played all three preseason games, racking up 12 carries for 33 yards while also having three catches for 38 yards. On August 28, Brown was waived.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers
On January 5, 2024, Brown signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). On May 15, Brown was released.

Ottawa Redblacks
On May 16, 2024, Brown signed with the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

PSAC records

 * Highest average yards per carry in a career (min. 3,000 yards): 8.2 (2019–2022)
 * Highest average yards per carry in a single season (min. 1,400 yards): 8.5 – tied (2022)

Shepherd Rams records

 * Highest average yards per carry in a career (min. 2 years and 100 carries): 8.19 (2019–2022)
 * Most all-purpose yards in a single season: 2,999 yards (2022)
 * Highest average yards per carry in a single season (min. 70 carries): 9.01 (2021)
 * Most kickoff return touchdowns in a single game: 1 – tied (September 24, 2022, vs. Kutztown)
 * Longest kickoff return touchdown: 100 yards (September 24, 2022, vs. Kutztown)