Throughout high school and his freshman year at Appalachian State University, Brian was a defensive back on his school football teams. In 1995, while he was a red shirt freshman, Appalachian State went undefeated in the Southern Conference, making them the first team in the conference's history to accomplish this feat. Though he finished the season practicing with the team, a severe back injury during practice eventually ended Brian's football career, ultimately prompting him to return to his first love--acting--and join the Theatre & Dance Department at App State.