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Illinois S Sydney Brown, brother of Chase Brown, drafted by Eagles in 2023 NFL Draft

chris sims, journal star
·2 min read
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Illinois defensive back Sydney Brown (30) breaks up a pass intended for Wyoming tight end Treyton Welch in the end zone during an NCAA college football game, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois defensive back Sydney Brown (30) breaks up a pass intended for Wyoming tight end Treyton Welch in the end zone during an NCAA college football game, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

The Philadelphia Eagles have selected Illinois defensive back Sydney Brown with the No. 66 pick overall in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Sydney Brown Illinois football stats

Brown started all 12 games at safety for the Illini in 2022 and ranked third in the nation for interceptions with six.

Chase Brown in NFL Draft: Illinois RB drafted by Cincinnati Bengals in fifth round of 2023 NFL Draft

According to Pro Football Focus, Brown was eighth in the country with eight forced incompletions and was the highest graded safety in the nation in man coverage (89.9).

Over Brown's career, he amassed 319 total tackles across 51 games. He is tied for eighth in the Illini record book with 10 career interceptions.

  • 2022: 59 total tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 sack, 6 interceptions and 13 passes defensed; played in 12 games.

  • 2021: 81 total tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 1 sack and 3 passes defensed; played in 12 games.

  • 2020: 36 total tackles and 1 forced fumble; played in 6 games.

  • 2019: 88 total tackles, 3 interceptions and 4 passes defensed; played in 11 games.

  • 2018: 55 total tackles, 1 interception and 6 passes defensed; played in 10 games.

Sydney Brown Illinois highlights

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Getting to know Illinois DB Sydney Brown

According to the Illinois website, Brown is the son of Darren Issac and Raechel Brown. He was born on March 21 along with his twin brother, Chase. He also has one sister, Mya.

Brown's mother was a figure skater and his father played for three seasons in the CFL, while Chase also played running back for University of Illinois. Similar to Sydney's path, Chase also opted to forgo his final season with the Illini, skip the ReliaQuest Bowl and enter the 2023 NFL Draft.

The twins were born in London, Ontario, and graduated from St. Stephen's Episcopal Preparatory School in Bradenton, Fla. Sydney majored in recreation, sport and tourism at the University of Illinois.

Chris Sims is a digital producer for the Journal Star. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: NFL Draft 2023: Illinois DB Sydney Brown drafted by Philadelphia Eagles