At the time of his selection, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound senior quarterback had led the Yellow Jackets to an 11-1 record and a berth in the Class AAAAA, Division 2 Lower State Tournament championship game. Brand passed for 2,358 yards and 27 touchdowns while also rushing for 1,647 yards and 22 scores through 12 games. The 2023 Class 4A Lower State Offensive Player of the Year, he was the MVP of the 2023 Class 4A state championship game for the Irmo basketball team, and also a past team MVP for the Irmo baseball and track and field squads.
Brand has maintained a weighted 3.90 GPA in the classroom. He has made a verbal commitment to receive athletic aid to play football at Virginia Tech next fall.
A drummer in his church choir, Brand has volunteered locally with Young Men United, a mentoring program associated with Irmo High. He has also donated his time on behalf of the Special Olympics as well as by opening car doors as a greeter in drivelines at elementary schools.