McKendree University Athletics

Brandon excelled as both a kick return specialist and running back as he helped McKendree return to football prominence in the late 1990s. A four-year varsity team member, Brandon burst onto the scen as a freshman in 1997 by earning NAIA first-team All-American honors. That year, he averaged a whopping 36.1 yards per kickoff return and was a big factor in guiding the Bearcats to their first-ever NAIA Football Championship Series berth. Brandon scored three touchdowns as a freshman on kick returns, which still stands as a McKendree team record. Included in that season total was a school-record 100-yard return. Brandon returned at least one kickoff for a score in each of his four seasons and finished his Bearcat career with seven, which is tied for the NAIA all-time record. He also tops the Bearcats’ list for career kick return (47) and kick return yards (1,508). As a running back, Brandon became the first Bearcat running back to rush for 2,000 career yards, and his 2,239 yards currently sits second on the program’s all-time list. In addition, he ranks among McKendree’s career leaders in total offense (2,239 yards), rushing attempts (292) and rushing touchdowns (21). Brandon still holds the Bearcats’ single-game record with 213 rushing yards in a 2000 game at Iowa Wesleyan college, which included a team-record 90-yard scoring run.