The Next Level: Zach Brown makes plays for UNC

Welcome back to The Next Level. Week 8 of the college football season provided an array of notable performances from former area high school football stars. We'll begin our journey in Miami, where North Carolina linebacker Zach Brown (Wilde Lake) was a defensive force despite his team's 33-10 loss to the Hurricanes.

Brown led the Tar Heels with 14 tackles, including 11 solo stops. The junior also recorded one tackle for a loss when he combined with teammate Kevin Reddick to knock down Miami running back Lamar Miller behind the line of scrimmage. Recruiting Report congratulates Brown on his first Next Level Player of the Week honor of the season.

• Also in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Maryland freshman defensive back Matt Robinson (Atholton) recorded four tackles in the Terrapins' 24-21 victory over Boston College. Junior linebacker Nick Peterson (Broadneck) and senior wide receiver LaQuan Williams (Poly) both assisted on one tackle, while sophomore defensive lineman A.J. Francis (Severn native, Gonzaga graduate), freshman linebacker David Mackall (Edmondson) and sophomore tight end Ryan Schlothauer (Eastern Tech) all received playing time, but did not record any statistics.• Junior defensive tackle Nick Jenkins (Westminster native, Good Counsel grad) led Virginia with eight tackles in a 48-21 victory over Eastern Michigan. Senior tailback Raynard Horne (Overlea) rushed for 44 yards on 11 carries and returned one kickoff 14 yards. He also assisted on one tackle on special teams. Sophomore defensive back Antwan Reed (Carver) participated for the Eagles, but did not have any stats.

• Virginia Tech freshman cornerback Kyle Fuller (Mount St. Joseph) made seven tackles and broke up one pass in the Hokies' 44-7 win over Duke.

Mountaineers sophomore receiver Tavon Austin (Dunbar) scored on a 6-yard reception from quarterback Geno Smith in the first quarter of West Virginia's 19-14 loss to Syracuse. Austin finished with five receptions for 32 yards. Redshirt sophomore Ryan Clarke (Glen Burnie native, DeMatha graduate) ran for a 1-yard touchdown in the first quarter en route to eight yards rushing on four carries. Clarke also returned two kicks for 15 yards. Sophomore defensive back Terence Garvin (Loyola) made six tackles, four solo, and redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Jeff Braun (Winters Mill) assisted on one tackle for the Mountaineers. Last week's Next Level Player of the Week Alec Lemon (Arundel) was targeted three times by Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib, but the sophomore receiver didn't make a catch.

• Redshirt sophomore safety Jerome Junior (Archbishop Curley) made six solo tackles in Connecticut's 26-0 loss at Louisville. Freshman athlete Leon Kinnard (Loyola) ran for 6 yards on his only carry and redshirt sophomore receiver Gerrard Sheppard played, but did not record any stats.

• Baltimore native Matt Brown rushed for 109 yards on 20 carries in Temple's 42-0 victory at Buffalo. Brown – a graduate of the Peddie School (N.J.) – averaged 5.4 yards per carry and stomped through the Bulls' secondary on a 31-yard burst in the first quarter. Redshirt junior quarterback Chester Stewart (Hanover native, DeMatha graduate) lost his starting job for the Owls and saw limited action in Saturday's contest. Senior defensive back Kwame Johnson (Parkville) made one tackle.

• East Carolina freshman defensive lineman Derrel Johnson (Cardinal Gibbons) registered three tackles in the Pirates' 37-10 victory over Marshall.

Arkansas State junior defensive back Darron Edwards (Dunbar) broke up two passes and made five tackles in the Red Wolves' 37-16 win against Florida Atlantic.

• Senior kicker Devin Barclay (McDonogh) connected on all seven extra-point attempts in Ohio State's 49-0 drubbing of Purdue.

• Senior cornerback Shelton McCullough (Randallstown) and junior Jon Rohrbaugh (Howard) both participated in Penn State's 33-21 victory at Minnesota, but did not register any stats.

• Navy senior linebacker Jerry Hauburger (Eastern Tech) made six tackles in a 35-17 victory over Notre Dame.

• Senior receiver Shaky Smithson (Douglass) scored on an 18-yard reception in the third quarter of Utah's 59-6 victory over Colorado State. Smithson hauled in five receptions for 72 yards, returned one kickoff 26 yards and fumbled a punt return to start the second quarter.

• New Mexico sophomore defensive back Emmanuel McPhearson (Columbia native, DeMatha graduate) returned one kickoff 40 yards in the Lobos' 30-20 loss to San Diego State.

• Junior cornerback Brandon Driver (Parkville) made four tackles, three solo in the San Jose State's 33-18 loss to Fresno State. Driver also returned four kicks for 78 yards.

• Remember, this list only focuses on natives of Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County and Howard County who appear on NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision rosters. Feel free to post updates in the comment section below on any other player from the state of Maryland.

Mike Miller is an intern at The Baltimore Sun. He will be providing updates each Monday for Recruiting Report on former local high school football standouts who now play for FBS schools. Mike can be reached at xcxmmiller@baltsun.com.

Getty photo of Zach Brown by Kevin C. Cox / Sept. 4, 2010