AUBURN, Ala. – The road that led graduate transfer Brandon Council to the Plains was indirect. An unpredictable and challenging journey has made this offensive lineman the player he is today.
"Iron sharpens iron, simple as that," Council said. "My story has taught me the lessons I needed to learn in order to become as consistent and responsible as I am today."
Council's football career began at the age of 7, competing as a running back up until high school.
Football was not always something he was sure he wanted to pursue, Council says, but his mother, Angel Jones, pushed him to never stop playing. He credits her for always being there for him and encouraging him to keep going not only because she saw that he was full of potential, but also because she knew that football would give him the power to make a better life for himself.
As his football career continued to roll along, Council's desire to be a successful athlete only grew.
"Once I got to middle school, football started to pick up, competition was more serious and practices and preparation became harder," he remembered. "I watched a lot of people quit. I told myself that I never wanted to be one of those people who quit when things got hard."
At West Bladen High School in North Carolina, this commitment became more and more evident. "I wasn't always a big frame. I would say I was like 185 to 200 pounds my whole career up until my junior year of high school, where I put on 100 pounds in a year," he said. "That's when I went from playing linebacker to O-line."
As an upperclassman, Council began the recruiting process with in-state school East Carolina, but a late coaching switch changed everything, so he decided to take a post-graduate year to attend Jirah Preparatory Academy near Charlotte. Council knew he wanted to earn his degree while playing football, so he made the decision to move to Ohio and attend the University of Akron.Double team: Brandon Council and Brodarious Hamm (left) pass protect for Bo Nix in 2020
A versatile three-year starter for the Zips who saw starts at left and right tackle, left guard and center, Council continued to be presented with roadblocks and adversity.
"I spent four years there (Akron), got injured in 2018, and took a medical redshirt," he said. "My last season we went 0-12, so it was more than a year since I had experienced a win before coming to Auburn."
After completing his bachelor's degree in sport management and sport studies at Akron in the spring of 2020, Council knew he wanted to pursue the recruiting process once more. That's when he found a home at Auburn as a graduate transfer, pursuing a master's degree in adult education.
"I decided to come to Auburn after talking to some current and former players," he said. "They told me Auburn felt like home. They told me it was one big family and there was just a winning atmosphere here. You come here to stay here; you come here to win. That was what I was looking for.
"I knew that playing for a high-caliber school like this would help me reach my goal of getting better and going to the next level if God allows it."
Like he has all his life, Council is not looking to take an easy path to the finish line.
"I felt like the best way to better myself and challenge myself was to take it to the best conference for college football, the SEC," he said. "I was looking to be challenged more than I had been before."
After finally getting a taste of what it means to play for Auburn, Council encountered yet another roadblock during the Covid-abbreviated 2020 season. He suffered a season-ending knee injury on the road against Ole Miss. He got to play in only two games inside Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Working tirelessly through rehab, Council is ready to make a healthy return to the field this season.
"Only playing five games in the SEC wouldn't have been enough for me," he said. "I wanted that full season experience. I want a complete senior year."
The Tigers open the 2021 campaign hosting Council's former team, the Akron Zips, at Jordan-Hare Stadium. "It's going to be a fun game, especially since it's against my alma mater and I have good friends still on the team, but I won't take it easy on them," he said. "I'm excited to play against them and compete and see old friends again."
Council is confident that his mantra, "Keep my head down and play hard," along with a fresh environment and skilled coaching staff, will make 2021 a promising season.
After a tumultuous road that led him to Auburn and further challenges upon his arrival, Council has one message for the Auburn family: "The fans need to know that a storm is coming. I'm hungry, and we're going to play hard."
Tucker Cleverdon is a student worker in Auburn Athletics media relations
