When Florida became the first state to recognize girls flag football as a competitive sport in 2003, it opened the door for athletes like Bradford High School senior Nichelle Brown to shine.
Now, more than two decades later, Brown is at the forefront of the sport's growth in North Central Florida. This week, she was named the UF Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Athlete of the Week after leading the state in receiving yards, touchdowns and total points.
"I fell in love with football all the way back in elementary school when I was running circles around the boys in Pop Warner," Brown said. "I'm grateful they had flag and gave so many of us opportunities to be on a football field. It has meant so much to me."
Brown made an immediate impact for the Tornadoes, scoring her first touchdown as a freshman in the program's first-ever win. Since then, she's become one of the most dynamic players in the state. She averaged more than three touchdowns per game her senior season, finishing with a state-best 40 touchdowns and over 2,000 receiving yards.
"It's been amazing," she said. "I've been playing with a lot of these girls for a long time and we have such awesome chemistry together. We hang out on and off the field, and I'm going to miss being around them next year."
Bradford capped off a strong 2025 season with an 11–2 regular-season record. The Tornadoes' only losses came by a combined seven points. After playoff shutouts of Newberry and Santa Fe, they advanced to the regional final before falling to end their postseason run.
"This community has been so supportive," Brown said. "They always make sure we're taken care of. It was fun playing in front of our great crowds and balling out for these amazing fans."
Brown also overcame a serious setback earlier in her high school career, tearing her ACL. She credits her recovery to hard work and staying disciplined during rehabilitation.
"I just stayed the course and did what I was told to get back on the field," she said. "It definitely wasn't easy. Even when I came back, I was iffy about going all out. But once I realized I could still do the things I did before, the fear went away."
One of her favorite memories came in a dominant performance against Ed White earlier this season. Brown scored four touchdowns, tallied 120 receiving yards and added another 65 on the ground.
"It's such a great feeling to make people miss," she said. "I lined up in the backfield and out wide, and it was one of those days where no one could get me. I had a 70-yard score where I kept making people miss and made a big cutback at the end to find the end zone."
Brown's standout year earned her several honors and an opportunity to continue her playing career at Florida Gateway College in Lake City. She finished the season with 242 points — the most in Florida.
Each weekly winner of the Athlete of the Week award is eligible for the UF Health High School Athlete of the Year scholarship, a $2,500 prize to be awarded at the conclusion of the 2024–25 academic year.