Brian Bratton Class: Senior Hometown: Martinez, Ga. High School: Lakeside Height / Weight: 5-10 / 185 Position: FLK Experience: 3L

Furman: Versatile, All-Southern Conference receiver and All-America return specialist who is poised to firmly etch his name into Furman's record book as one of the school's all-time leaders in both categories...combines with fellow senior Isaac West in forming one of the most experienced and potent wide receiving combinations in the Southern Conference...is also a proven threat as a runner out of different offensive sets...helps form a contingent of 10 returning offensive starters...will serve as a team captain along with Ben Bainbridge, Mike Killian, and Cam Newton...heads into the 2004 campaign ranked 16th on Furman's career receptions chart (76) and just 150 yards shy of 15th place on the school's career receiving yards ledger...already owns five school kickoff return records, including most returns, game (7), season (36), and career (74); most return yards, season (705) and career (1728); and most yards per return, season (37.2)...shares Furman's standard for most touchdown returns in a season (3) with former great Des Kitchings (1996-99) and is only one touchdown return shy of Kitchings' career record (4)...finished second on the team with a vertical jump of 39" in spring testing...pound for pound ranks as the sixth strongest player in program as rated by the team power index, which factors in body weight and lifts in the bench press, squat, and power clean...participates in Furman's track and field program...finished fourth in the high jump in the 2004 Southern Conference championships with a leap of 1.85m, helping the Paladins to a fifth place team finish...recorded a fourth place showing in the 4x100 meter relay, teaming with Jon MacDonald, Alonzo Johnson, and Isaac West to run a 42.21...also competed in the 100 meters. 2003 -- Named All-Southern Conference in voting by league media...paced Furman in receptions (45), receiving yards (596), and touchdown catches (4) in his second season as a starter...finished third in the SoCon in all-purpose yardage (114.0 ypg), fifth in receptions (4.1 rpg), and sixth in receiving yards (54.2 ypg)...45 receptions ranked as the fourth highest season total in Furman history...caught passes in all 11 games, including season high eight receptions for 92 yards versus Wofford...recorded touchdown receptions in the Paladins' first three games: Elon (24-7 win), Clemson (28-17 loss), and Richmond (31-17 win)...fourth touchdown catch covered 37 yards in 30-10 victory over East Tennessee State (30-10 win)...ran 21 times for 156 yards and two scores, including a 52-yard sprint in 45-0 triumph over Gardner-Webb...rushed 11 times for 41 yards and a touchdown against Clemson...20-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter versus Clemson represented first Furman touchdown against the Tigers since the 1961 season, snapping a streak of eight-plus games (33 quarters) without a TD...averaged 20.9 yards on 24 kickoff returns...had a season best 49-yard return versus Appalachian State...took home Furman's Best Receiver Award following the season. 2002 -- Emerged as an outstanding receiver in his second season of play, catching 29 passes for 398 yards and five touchdowns while serving as the primary backup to All-Southern Conference and South Carolina Player-of-the-Year honoree Bear Rinehart...stepped in to earn three starts at split end for Isaac West, who sustained a fractured collarbone versus Richmond (17-7 win)...receptions total ranked third on the team behind Rinehart and West...five touchdown catches trailed only West's seven scores...played a significant role in Furman setting a new school season passing yards standard (218.3 ypg) on the way to an 8-4 record and No. 9 final national ranking...helped Furman secure a program record fourth straight NCAA I-AA playoff bid with a game winning 7-yard touchdown catch with 29 seconds left in the game in the Paladins' 23-21 triumph over Wofford on a rain-soaked, muddy Gibbs Stadium field in Spartanburg...had a pair of season high five-reception performances versus Richmond and Western Carolina (24-23 win)...caught three passes for a season best 94 yards against VMI (55-28 win), including a career long 76-yard scoring strike...scored one touchdown on a nine-yard reverse against Elon (57-7 win)...finished ninth in conference in kickoff returns, averaging 19.6 yards on a school season record 36 kickoff attempts...established a school single game kickoff returns standard with seven attempts (for 125 yards) versus Villanova in NCAA I-AA playoff action...registered a season long 48-yard return against Appalachian State. 2001 -- Captured Southern Conference Freshman-of-the-Year honors and all-league laurels as a return specialist after leading NCAA I-AA in kickoff returns, averaging a conference record 37.2 yards per return on 14 attempts...ran back three kickoffs for touchdowns, tying a Furman season standard set in 1999 by Des Kitchings...two kickoff returns covered 100 yards: versus fifth-ranked Appalachian State (28-22 win) and Wofford (45-14 win)...had 91-yard return for score versus VMI (65-7 win)...league freshman-of-the-year honor was only the second in Furman history (Stanford Jennings, 1981)...was a second team All-America selection as a return specialist by the Sports Network and a third team pick by Associated Press...took home Furman's Specialist Award following the season. 2000 -- Captured Furman's Most Valuable Offensive Scout Team Award...awarded redshirt and extra year of eligibility.

High School: 2000 graduate of Lakeside High School...football coach was Steve Crislip `71, the first single season 1,000-yard rusher in Furman history...played quarterback, wide receiver, and safety during his prep career...took home team MVP honors as a senior after accounting for 1,350 all-purpose yards, 16 touchdowns, 75 tackles, and five interceptions...earned first team all-area honors as a receiver and All-Metro Augusta laurels as a defensive back for the second consecutive year in 1999...also starred in track and basketball...recorded a high jump of 6'8" as a senior...averaged 14.3 ppg on the basketball court his junior year.

Personal: Full name is Brian Cornell Bratton...son of Stephen and Helen Bratton...born July 31, 1982, in Wheeling, West Virginia...communications major.