BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Bradford High School senior flag football player Nichelle Brown added to her impressive accomplishments on May 21, signing to play with the best junior-college program in the country and then having her number-five jersey retired.
Brown will take her talents to Lake City’s Florida Gateway College, which has won every National Junior College Athletic Association championship since the postseason format was implemented for the 2023 season.
“I’m very thankful and very grateful and very excited to start this journey,” Brown said.
Florida Gateway, which has a total record of 48-5 over the last three seasons, won its third straight national championship in 2025 by defeating Daytona State College 68-13.
“They’re the Alabama of girls flag football, and they’re getting a five-star player,” BHS Head Coach John Staples said.
Brown led the state this past season (regardless of classification) in receiving yards (2,220-plus), touchdowns (44) and points (266). She finished her four-year BHS career with 144 touchdowns.
Staples compared her to University of Florida football great Percy Harvin — that special kind of athlete that you try to get involved as much as possible.
“It was about creating ways to get her the ball,” Staples said. “That was our offense. We probably had 472 plays we would draw up each game because every team prepared to stop Nichelle.”
When asked what made her so good, Brown said, “Hard work and dedication.”
Brown attended camps at Florida Gateway, with Head Coach Ricky Hufty making an official offer to her after the third one.
“It’s a very good program,” Brown said. “I’m blessed to be able to have this opportunity.”
Since the college is a little more than 30 miles from BHS, it’s easy to imagine that Brown will have quite a fan group cheering her on at games.
“I’m very excited for that,” she said. “I can’t wait for it.”
As for what it’ll feel like when she steps onto the field for the first time as a Florida Gateway Timberwolf, Brown said, “I might be a little nervous. I definitely will be nervous, but I’ll be ready for it.”
Staples said Florida Gateway, which scored an average of 43 points per game last season, will make use of Brown’s talents.
“She will be one of those people who helps them win a fourth (national title),” Staples said.
Because of Brown’s accomplishments at BHS, Staples announced that her jersey number would be retired.
“I don’t know that 144 touchdowns will ever be scored here again,” he said.
The signing ceremony, which took place in the BHS media ceremony, also gave Staples an opportunity to hand out awards for the season. Two were for Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. As you might imagine, Brown was presented with the offensive award, while rising senior Ar’Nayshia Griffin was the top defensive player. Griffin had 25 interceptions this past season, which tied her for first in the state (regardless of classification). She has 57 interceptions total in three years.
Earlier in May, Brown, Griffin and Staples were all honored by FloridaHSFootball.com and Jacksonville Jaguars PREP. The two players were named to the All-PREP 25 Team, with players selected from the 17 schools in the Jaguars area. Staples was named as Coach of the Year.
