GUYTON — The impressive statistics compiled by South Effingham’s Malcolm Brown aren’t limited to the football ledger. His academic prowess is one of the reasons that the University of Georgia offered him preferred walk-on status. 

“He’s a part of the National Honor Society, the Beta Club, a Mustang Mentor and Junior Achievement,” South Effingham head coach Nathan Clark said May 12. “He is extremely smart. He has a 4.0 GPA and he was named All-State All-Academics, and I’ve never have a player anywhere ever do that.

“So that’s quite an accomplishment with that.”

Preferred walk-ons can earn a scholarship going into their second season but nothing is guaranteed. Brown’s brother, Matthew, walked on at Georgia in 2018 and has shined at linebacker, earning the designation as the 2019 Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year, and in the classroom. 

“This was probably the best of my options just because it probably sets me up better for the rest of my life after football,” said Malcolm, an aspiring pharmacist who spurned scholarship offers from other schools. 

“I’m really, really glad to see Malcolm get the opportunity to continue to go play college athletics and football,” Clark said. “He really grew up as a senior. He did a lot of great things. I’m really proud of his willingness to buy in, to doing right and becoming a leader. 

“He was the captain in several different football games this year. He was also the player of the week on several different occasions.”

Brown’s South Effingham football numbers are stout. Over the last two years, he logged more than 75 tackles, including 10 for a loss. He also had seven knockdowns and a two-point grab as a tight end.

The 6-foot, 270-pound lineman started on both sides of the ball and was named first-team All-Region 2-AAAAAA.

“He pretty much never came out of the game,” Clark said. “He didn’t come off the field very often at all with what we were doing and he did a great job.”