WIL, Switzerland - Anthony Brown '23, a five-year member of the Saint Anselm College football program, has signed his first professional contract with Switzerland's Helvetic Guards of the European League of Football (ELF).

Brown becomes the second American import signing on offense for the Guards, joining former Pace University quarterback and 2022 Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Year Carlton Aiken, Jr., who played for the Barcelona Dragons of the ELF last season and signed with the Guards in December.

"I am very excited to be going to play professionally in Europe with the Helvetic Guards in Switzerland," stated Brown. "I have always dreamed of playing professional football ever since I was little and to see my dream come true is truly a gift from God."

Brown completed his final season of eligibility with the Hawks in the fall of 2023 and graduated at the conclusion of the fall semester with a degree in Criminal Justice. He started all four seasons that he played in for the Hawks as a wide receiver and return man and joins an exclusive club of Saint Anselm alumni including Elad Covaliu '16, Ray McLean '40, and Marc Wilson '12 (among others) who have signed to play some level of professional football.

The Belton, Texas native was a three-year captain for Saint Anselm and is the only player in program history selected to a Northeast-10 All-Conference team in every season of their career.

"I would not be where I am today if it wasn't for the coaching staff at Saint Anselm preparing me for this moment and I am extremely grateful for my time with the Hawks," Brown remarked.
 

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BROWN THROUGH THE YEARS:

A Third Team All-NE10 wide receiver and return specialist as well as an All-Rookie Team pick as a freshman in 2019, Brown recorded 50 catches, 1,296 all-purpose yards, and three total touchdowns in 11 games during his first season on the Hilltop.

After the COVID-19 pandemic canceled his sophomore season in 2020, Brown returned in 2021 and had the best season of his career as a junior captain. The wideout finished third in the conference with a career-high 812 receiving yards and led the league with both 56 catches and 90.6 receiving yards per game. He also brought in a career-high nine receiving touchdowns, returned a punt for a score, and was subsequently named to the NE10's First Team All-Conference.

As a senior in 2022, Brown matched his previous season total with 56 catches, had 721 receiving yards, caught six touchdowns, and rushed for a score in 10 games played. As a second-year captain, Brown led his team to its first winning record (6-4) since the 2014 campaign and was a First Team All-Conference selection for the second straight year.

With one season of eligibility remaining, Brown decided to return for a fifth year in 2023 where he was named a team captain for the third straight year. Battling injuries throughout the season, he only played on offense in three games, but his presence was undoubtedly felt. Against the conference powerhouse the University of New Haven, Brown caught a pass for 63 yards and rushed for two scores to lead his team to a road victory against the Chargers for the first time in nine years. He was named the NE10's Player of the Week for that standout performance.

The fifth-year senior also caught two touchdown passes in a win over Bentley University and contributed a game-clinching fourth down conversion in a win over Assumption University, helping the team secure back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in modern-day program history and its best ever finish (5-2 NE10 record; second place) in the conference. Throughout the season, Brown additionally served as the place holder on special teams. At season's end, he was honored with Second Team All-Conference recognition despite his shortened season.
 

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THE CAREER OF ANTHONY BROWN:

Brown is featured all over the Saint Anselm football record book with multiple single-game, season, and career statistics ranking in the top 10 in program history.

He has the second-most yards per catch in a career (13.8), the third-most receiving touchdowns in a career (18), the fourth-most receiving yards in a career (2,273), the fifth-most receptions in a career (165), and the sixth-most receptions per game in a career (4.46). Additionally, Brown amassed 3,673 all-purpose yards in his 37-game career (fourth-highest total in program history) as well as 99.27 career all-purpose yards per game (sixth-most in program history). He finished with 23 total touchdowns (seventh-most in program history), scored 140 total points (10th-most in program history), and at one point recorded a streak of 30 straight games with at least one catch (fourth-longest streak in program history). The wide receiver also accumulated seven multi-touchdown games and 10 100-plus receiving yard contests, recorded two of the team's 23 all-time 150+ receiving yard games, and is tied for the most touchdowns scored in single game in program history with three.

On top of his vast success as a pass catcher, Brown also sits in the top 10 in various kick and punt return categories despite only being the team's primary return man for his first three seasons. He is the program's all-time leader with an average of 24.31 yards per kick return (min. 20 attempts) in his career. He also has one of only nine 150-plus kick return yard games in the history of the program, holds the longest kickoff return in team history (94 yards), and sits in fourth place in the all-time record book for career punt return yards (414) and ranks seventh in career kick return yards (851).
 

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HOW WILL BROWN HELP THE HELVETIC GUARDS?

The Guards are hoping the tandem of Aiken, Jr. and Brown will prove to be a dynamic connection on the field to strengthen their passing game and offense as a whole, which among the worst in the ELF last season.

After a 3-9 finish in their debut campaign as a franchise in 2023, the Guards are hoping to vastly improve this year. The team is still looking to sign some key contributors on both sides of the ball, but bringing Brown is a key addition for the offensive unit.

"Helping change the culture at Saint Anselm and turn it into a winning program has taught me so much," Brown concluded. "I am hoping to do the same in Switzerland. Go Guards!"