Texas RB Derrian Brown reaches significant milestone in recovery from stroke

AUSTIN, Texas — After suffering a stroke in February that required emergency surgery, Texas Longhorns running back Derrian Brown is continuing to progress in his rehabilitation.

In fact, head coach Tom Herman said during his Early Signing Day press conference on Wednesday that Brown is improving and even reached an important milestone recently.

“Derrian is getting better,” Herman said. “He was cleared for physical activity so he’s actually doing some modified workouts right now. He’s still going to speech therapy a couple of times a week, but he’s doing really well in all of his classes.”

The latest development continues Brown’s remarkable journey — despite the medical emergency, he was able to graduate from Buford High School in Georgia and enroll at Texas after spending several months in the hospital recovering from his stroke.

Will Brown recover enough to see the field for the Longhorns? It’s still too early to say.

“We’re just kind of playing that one, I don’t know if it’s day by day, maybe month by month, and seeing his progress,” Herman said.

Last December, Brown became the only running back in the 2019 recruiting class for Texas when he signed as the nation’s No. 220 prospect and the No. 12 running back, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. Brown ran for 1,897 yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior.