Like any normal college kid, Bralon Addison spends his time playing video games and watching Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, his favorite movie series. But Addison also spends his Saturdays in the fall out-performing some of the best teams in college football.
Widely considered the Ducks’ most improved player from last year, the sophomore wide receiver has had the best spring and fall camp on the team according to Oregon’s coaching staff.
“The only thing that will hold Bralon back is Bralon,” wide receivers coach Matt Lubick said. “His upside is through the roof, but to be the best he can be, he has to continue to get better every day.”
Oregon player Bralon Addison is tackled by Washington defensive players Thomas Tutogi and Sean Parker. (Tess Freeman/Emerald)
Apart from Addison’s freshman campaign, in which he caught 22 passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns, there is much more to the Texas native than football.
“I’m just a real cool, laid back kind of guy,” Addison said.
Addison grew up in Missouri City, Texas, under the care of his father Julias Addison and mother Sonya Swindell.
He was a three-year letter winner in football for Fort Bend Hightower High School, starting as the team’s quarterback while being selected as a U.S. Army All-American wide receiver after his senior year.
Apart from starring on the football field, where he amassed over 7,000 total yards of offense in his high school career, he was the starting point guard for the basketball team.
Generously listed at 6-feet-2-inches in high school, the 5-foot-10 athlete averaged 8.8 points and 4.4 assists per game his senior year while guiding the Hurricanes to a 29-8 overall record and a No. 23 final ranking in the state polls.
“If I wasn’t playing football, I’d probably be playing basketball at some other school,” Addison said. “I play recreational basketball a lot so it’s fun to stay a part of the game.”
Addison attributes his temperament to both his parents and his role model: his uncle Bubba McDowell, who played college football at the University of Miami before playing for the Houston Oilers — before they moved to Tennessee and became the Titans — and Carolina Panthers as a safety.
Addison says his uncle taught him how to be a professional and how to approach every game mentally and physically.
“I’ve grown up watching him, being a man around the house, and him doing certain things was a big eye opener for me as a kid,” Addison said.
While Addison considers himself calm and laid back, his coaches and teammates tell a different story.
“He’s definitely quite the character — especially when you catch him on a good day,” senior wide receiver Josh Huff said. “He’s always the one helping people laugh and making sure they have a good day if they aren’t.”
Oregon wide receivers coach Matt Lubick was quick to note that Addison is pretty relaxed and has a good sense of humor, especially during team meetings.
“He’ll keep me on my toes – he’s not afraid to crack a joke on me,” Lubick said. “He does it in front of the other players, so you know he has that type of respect of being able to do that.”
Addison’s humor relaxes his teammates, never being too stressed out. But, as Huff said, Addison knows when to shut it off and get things done on the field.