LIVE OAK, Fla. — He’s the first player you notice when looking at the Suwannee High School football team. 

After all, it’s hard to miss the mountain of a man that wears No. 73 for the Bulldogs.   

Josh Braun is that player. And he’s been drawing attention with his size (6-foot-7, 335 pounds), and electric play, for the past three seasons at SHS.  

Braun has been the man up front for Suwannee since his freshman season in 2016, leading the charge for the Bulldogs’ offense. The present, and the future, looks bright for Braun, who has already been touring different parts of the country to take a look at college football programs. 

“It’s fun to travel,” Braun said. “It’s the first time I’ve ever spent time in Miami. 

“I went to California. It’s where my grandfather grew up, so it was interesting to see that whole side of the family and where they came from. It’s been a fun experience.”

Fun and also informative.  

“It’s definitely an eye-opener,” Braun said. “The college way — the schedule and the practices — are so much different than high school. To see it early it shows you that you’re going to have to work as hard as you can to get there.” 

Braun has been extra busy lately. 

After competing in Suwannee’s game against Hamilton County on Friday, Sept. 7, just a few hours later he was on the road for a jam-packed Saturday of college football. 

First it was off to Tampa to watch his brother Parker, a lineman at Georgia Tech, play against the University of South Florida. Braun left Live Oak at 7 a.m. and stayed in Tampa until around 6 p.m. 

After that, he stopped by the University of Florida to watch the Gators take on Kentucky.    

In the family 

Athleticism runs in the Braun family.   

Parker, a junior, is a standout offensive lineman for the Yellow Jackets. The oldest Braun brother, Trey, played at Georgia Tech from 2011 to 2015. And father Mike Braun, assistant football coach and athletic director at SHS, played football at Army.

“It’s reassuring because you have people in your family who have done it,” said Josh. “I’ve been given all the tools I need. 

“It’s up to me to go do it.”  

Running behind the big man

A look at some of the offensive numbers Braun has helped the Bulldogs achieve during the past two and a half seasons (25 games). 

4,664 – Yards rushing 

5.32 – Yards per carry

25.2 – Points per game

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This season, Braun and the rest of the O-line have been excellent when the Bulldogs need some tough yards.

On third or fourth and short, SHS has converted 92 percent of the time (12 of 13). 

Student-athlete 

Braun’s athletic ability goes beyond the gridiron.  

He was an outstanding basketball player for the Bulldogs as a freshman. Armed with a soft touch and some good post moves, Braun was difficult to guard and also led SHS on the boards. As a sophomore, Braun switched courts, moving from basketball to tennis. He’s also been a part of Suwannee High’s weightlifting teams.  

With all the time Braun has dedicated to athletics and becoming one of the top lineman in the country, he still remains an excellent student.   

Braun is an ‘A’-student with high test scores, and was recognized recently for making a perfect score on the FSA ELA test. 

Pro future 

With his size and potential, Braun could be adding to the list of Suwannee Bulldogs to play in the NFL.