2016 ETSN.fm East Texas Football Super Team Offensive Newcomer of the Year: Aaron “Poppy” Brown, Gilmer

The legacy of quarterbacks at Gilmer High School is a long and impressive one. The modern-day boom began in the mid-2000’s with future Oklahoma star and NFL’er Manuel Johnson, and continued in a big way in 2016.

It didn’t take long for Buckeyes junior quarterback Aaron “Poppy” Brown to make an impression.

In his first start, in the season opener against Liberty-Eylau, Brown shattered the school record for passing yards with 577 and six touchdowns.

The train kept on moving until he eventually became the school’s single-season record-holder for yards, finishing with 5,013 to go with 48 touchdowns.

So it should come as no surprise that Brown was selected as the 2016 ETSN.fm East Texas Football Super Team Offensive Newcomer of the Year.

He follows last season’s recipient, Waskom’s Dylan Harkrider.

Brown eclipsed the 300-yard passing plateau nine times, and threw at least one touchdown pass in all 15 Gilmer games.

It all added up to Gilmer’s seventh appearance in the state semifinal round of the playoffs since Johnson’s 2004 team captured the first of three state titles.

The future should be bright for Brown and the Buckeyes next season as well.

Despite losing leading receiver and Oklahoma State signee LaMarcus Morton, Gilmer returns the duo of Red Jones and Qua Heath, who combined for 120 receptions, 1,768 yards, and 18 touchdowns in 2016.