From the office to the NFL: The story of Les Brown

It was just a few months ago that Les Brown was working in an office in South Florida combing through expense reports.

He gave up his senior year of college basketball at Westminster College in Salt Lake City to take a job with Huntsman Gay Global Capital, a private equity firm. He thought his athletic career was over.

"I thought I was making a big boy decision," he says. "I'm not going to the NBA so I'm just gonna go ahead and take this job offer and hopefully this will springboard my financial career and I'll go on to be a successful business owner someday."

What he didn't know at the time was his pursuit of a successful business career would take him in a completely different path that would lead to the NFL.

He returned to Utah to finish his degree at Westminster and moved back in with his family. His younger brother Braden is a starting right tackle for the BYU Cougars.

Les joined Braden while he was visiting trainers that would help him prepare for the 2013 NFL Draft after Braden finished his four years at BYU. One trainer they visited named Chad Ikei took an interest in Les.

"He said to me ‘hey, what's your deal? You look like an athlete. What are you up to?'" Les remembers. "I said, ‘oh I'm just trying to get my degree. I'm a washed up basketball player working behind a desk now."

Chad told him he has the rest of his life to work. He said "basketball to football is trending right now. You can be a great tight end. I do this for a living and I'd love to take you on as a prospect."

Les was focused on school and didn't think too much of it but his brother Braden continued to encourage him.

"I remember the exact text I sent to Les," Braden says after watching an NFL game. "The fact that you're not playing professional football is an absolute travesty. You are just as talented if not more talented than these dudes that are out here. Give it a shot and whatever happens, happens."

Les traveled to Hawaii to watch Braden and BYU play Hawaii in football. While there he once again met with Chad who asked him again if he was willing to give it a shot.

"He gave me his game plan and he said ‘let's do this man.' Les remembers. "Quit playing around. Let's do this."

Les decided he was going to do it. He dropped out of school again and left for Hawaii to go through three months of training that Les compares to boot camp. The training transformed his body and once his training was complete he returned to the mainland in time for BYU Pro Day in March.

"When I got home I looked at Braden and said ‘Bro, there's going to be some people that are angry at BYU," he says. "So just tell everyone I'm sorry right now. He said ‘what do you mean'. I said ‘I'm going to kill it."

And kill it he did. He stole the show at Pro Day. Weighing 240 pounds he measured a vertical jump of 39 inches and was clocked at 4.43 in the 40-yd dash. His performance stunned NFL scouts who had never heard of him. He did with a grade 3 ankle sprain he suffered while preparing for pro day.

"I turn around and I've got 9 scouts huddling around me," he says. "This is incredible. Who would have thought?"

Les was contacted by several NFL teams and decided to accept a three-year contract offer by the Miami Dolphins. His improbable dream had become reality.

"It hadn't really set in but when Mike (his agent) called me and said ‘I just got the contract from the Dolphins. Do you want to come up to my house and sign it?' That's when it really hit me." Les says.

He was at home when he got the call and shared the moment with his brother Braden.

"I hugged him and I started crying," he says. "That was the first time I really got emotional. It just kind of all set in. I was like, man, this is really happening."

Les understands that there are no guarantees in the NFL and a roster spot still needs to be earned. He doesn't want his story to end here. He wants to have an impact in the league.

"It still feels almost like a dream," he says. "It's been a great ride."

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