On Saturday, senior defensive end Courtney Brown of Penn State University was taken and signed by the Cleveland Browns as the No. 1 overall selection in the NFL draft. And for good reason.

	Polite and talented, Courtney Brown is almost too good to be true.

This past fall, Brown recorded 55 tackles, 29 of them for losses, and 13.5 sacks. The 6-foot-5, 270-pounder was named an All-America for the second straight year, was the Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Year and earned Penn State MVP honors. The 1996 graduate of Macedonia High (Macedonia, S.C.) is a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.

Phillip Morgan, Brown's former football coach at Macedonia, which consolidated with St. Stephen and is now called Timberland High, spoke to SchoolSports.com about Brown's game and big-time performances during his scholastic career.

SS.com: What allowed Courtney to become a major Division I college football star?

Coach Morgan: He, of course, has a lot of natural ability, but he has great intensity. At practice, he'd go 100 percent. At games, he'd go 100 percent. Even in the classroom, he'd go 100 percent. Did you know he graduated with a 4.0' He never got anything less than an A. He was such an intense worker.

SS.com: How far did Courtney carry the Macedonia High football team during his high school career?

Coach Morgan: His junior year, we went 11-1 and won the regional (Region 8-AA) title. And his freshman year, we went 11-1 and won the regional title.

He also won a state championship with the basketball team his senior year. He was an All-State center.

Following Courtney's senior football season, he was a South Carolina All-State and USA TODAY All-America selection, as well as Gatorade Circle of Champions South Carolina Player of the Year. He recorded 132 tackles that fall, had three interceptions and recovered four fumbles.

SS.com: Name one thing about Courtney's game back in high school that most people don't know.

Coach Morgan: He played linebacker and tight end his junior and senior year. He was a great tight end ' the best we ever had. He ran a 4.5 and had great hands. He could have played tight end in college.

SS.com: What part of Courtney's game have you seen improve drastically since high school, and in what way has it served him?

Coach Morgan: I think the strength factor. He just got so much stronger. He's grown about an inch and used to be only about 230 (pounds). And his maturity level, too. He grew up over the past four years.

I think he'll be very successful in the NFL. He has the potential to be a Hall of Famer if he stays healthy. He'll be in a situation in which he can't be double-teamed all the time, like he was at Penn State.

SS.com: Did you ever think Courtney would be where he is today?

Coach Morgan: Well, we always thought he had the potential to be a good college player. I just never thought he'd be the No. 1 pick in the (NFL) draft.