Catawba's Brown Selected as SAC Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Catawba College's Preston Brown was voted as the 2025 South Atlantic Conference Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the conference announced today.

The South Atlantic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year award is presented annually to one student-athlete in each of the Conference's championship sports and is voted on by the SAC's Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee. The winners are selected based on their achievements in academics, athletics, service and leadership.

Brown, a graduate student majoring in Business Administration, owns a 3.922 cumulative GPA at Catawba. He is a multiple-time Dean's List honoree and has earned recognition on the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll during his career. His academic success reflects a strong commitment to leadership and excellence in the classroom.

On the field, Brown has been a key contributor for the Catawba football program at quarterback. After earning All-Piedmont Division honors in his first season of action, he produced one of the top passing seasons in the South Atlantic Conference as a senior. Brown threw for 2,755 yards and 26 touchdowns with just four interceptions, adding six rushing touchdowns, while leading Catawba to its first seven-win season since 2017. He led the SAC in passing touchdowns and points responsible for and ranked among the top 10 nationally in passing efficiency and completion percentage. Brown was also named SAC Offensive Player of the Week and earned National Offensive Player of the Week honors during the season.

Off the field, Brown has demonstrated strong leadership and commitment to representing Catawba University with integrity through his involvement in team and campus initiatives. His dedication to excellence beyond competition reflects the core values of the South Atlantic Conference.

Through his combined accomplishments in academics, athletics, leadership and service, Brown exemplifies the ideals of the SAC Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year award.

2025 Football Scholar-Athlete Finalists

Preston Brown, Catawba

Anthony "AJ" Burgess, Emory & Henry

GW Clemmer, Wingate

Rio Little, Tusculum

Sean Johnson, Anderson

Tate O'Bryan, Lenoir-Rhyne

Zane Whitson, Carson-Newman