STATESBORO – A player's "why" is what gives meaning to every snap – the driving force behind their effort and purpose. For Camden Brown, it is the memory of his sister that fuels his determination to be the best player, teammate and person he can be.
 
After entering the transfer portal in December 2024, Brown was drawn in by the consistent zeal from the coaching staff – a group that helped him reinvigorate his passion for the game.
 
"Their energy never dropped after my first visit," Brown said. "On my first official visit, I could already feel that same energy we'd had on the phone. With (Ryan) Aplin, BJ (Johnson) and (Clay) Helton, it felt like we'd known each other for years – it was always comfortable. That bond has only grown, and it means a lot knowing someone believes in you. The culture here stood out too – seeing the guys flying around at practice made me think, 'Dang, I can add to this!' The biggest thing was realizing I could just be myself."
 
Leadership begins with the coaching staff, and their influence trickles down to the players. Within the wide receiver room, Johnson's authenticity paved the way for Brown to embrace his veteran role by staying true to himself.
 
"The coaching staff is genuinely authentic, and when you have people like that around you, it makes those tough conversations easier," Brown said. "When our coach grades us, he's only hard on us because he sees our potential. Having a leader like that shows me what I need to do. If I'm getting bad grades, how can I expect the guys who look up to me to do better? It's all about leading by example and standing on what you believe in."
 
That same authenticity has translated throughout the room, where Brown says confidence and chemistry set the tone.
 
"We've been together since the moment we stepped into the room," Brown said. "It's not always easy to be all in, but here, everyone's bought into the same goal. We help each other, if I mess something up, I know the guy behind me will correct me and have my back. Everyone in that room is different and explosive in their own way, and that's what makes it special. We've all got that swag about us, and it starts with Coach BJ. When you have a 'why' behind your story, it gives you confidence and reminds you you're playing for something bigger."
 
For Brown, that why is held close to his heart.
 
"I lost my little sister on Aug. 13, 2021, and she was the world to me," Brown said. "It happened during my senior year of high school, and having to go to her funeral and then play on ESPN that same day made me realize I was playing for something bigger than myself. Because if she can do anything and never complained, then why should I?"
 
In the Southern Miss game, he etched his name into program history being just the second Eagle to record over a 100 receiving yards in three-consecutive games – 118 against Maine, 111 against JMU and 158 against Southern Miss.
 
Despite physical and mental fatigue, his sister's memory fueled him with the strength to finish the game.
 
"I was exhausted in the fourth quarter, but I told myself, 'I have to catch this ball,' because I know who's watching over me," Brown said. "I forget the tiredness and remember who I'm doing it for. So why would I complain about being in this position, doing the job I love, when I could be anywhere else right now?"
 
Though he's always been a fan of the No. 5, his why explains the deeper meaning behind why he wears No. 4 today. 
 
"All the great receivers at St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) wore No. 4 – guys like (former Georgia receiver) Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint," Brown said. "He was an incredible athlete and a genuine person, so I thought, 'Man, I'm going to wear No. 4.' Then my sister passed away, and that number started to mean even more. I wanted to always have No. 4 on my jersey because it stands for something bigger than me. It all clicked my senior year when I understood my why – so four means a lot."
 
Before coming to Statesboro, Brown spent three seasons at Auburn appearing in 37 games, with six starts, recording 289 yards on 26 receptions.
 
His time on The Plains not only helped further shape his why but also how he refined his approach.  
 
"Knowing who you are as a person and never changing for anybody – attacking each day and not taking it for granted: that's been my mindset," Brown said. "There were times I did take things for granted, but being here has helped me grow closer to God and find joy in what I do again. My junior year was completely different from my sophomore season and brought back my spark. I also learned so much about coverages and schemes – just watching (former Auburn teammates) Cam Coleman and Rivaldo Fairweather handle bracket coverage. Seeing how they worked made me think, 'This could be me one day.'"
 
With the season reaching a pivotal stretch, Brown's message to Eagle Nation is simple – we're each other's why.  
 
"It's time to turn this thing around," he said. "Believe in what we're building and trust what's ahead. It doesn't matter how things look right now — just let us finish. I understand everything you all are dealing with, but the best way to help us is by showing up and being there for us."
 
Game Seven will be played at Paulson Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. ET. Tune in on ESPN+ or the Georgia Southern Sports Network. Tickets are available through GSEagles.com/Tickets.