NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — Playing football is as second nature as breathing to USC wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. 

The playmaking, the work ethic and the determination come together in a unique way, one could almost describe it as being put together in a science lab. Just ask St. Brown's former teammates at Mater Dei High School.

"When we were in the weight room, I was lifting as much as a lineman, sometimes even more," he explained. "All the things I did — speaking different languages, being good in the classroom and on the football field – a lot of the students thought I was built in a lab.”

Like his older brothers Equanimeous, who is a wide receiver with the Green Bay Packers, and Osiris, a receiver at Stanford, St. Brown is as unique as his name. Competition and success were built into everything the three brothers did growing up.

“The competitiveness was real," St. Brown said with a smile. "You name it, whether it’s playing video games, Monopoly, Uno, racing outside, in the weight room — anything you can compete in, we were competing and trying to be first.”

When it comes to athletics, all three take after their father, John Brown, who is a former Mr. World and two-time Mr. Universe and to this day, is never far behind his kids.

He has spent countless hours training and coaching them, and is still a huge influence behind the scenes.

He got them into the gym to begin weightlifting when Amon-Ra was about 7-years-old. It started with learning the basics through lifting a PVC pipe, but Brown went as far as creating his own protein powder, Cane Protein, to help supplement their diets and keep them fueled through the day.

“If you train to be a pilot you end up being a pilot. If you train to be a scientist, you end up being a scientist. They were trained to be athletes and intellectuals," Brown explained. "You are what you train to be, so to say.”

Each of the three brothers were star recruits in high school and each went on to play division one football. Not only were they standouts on the field, but also in the classroom where their mom, Miriam, encouraged them to learn three different languages and help set a solid academic foundation.

“What I hope people remember about me and really take away is how school has propelled me," St. Brown said. "Showing up on time, not being late, getting my assignments in, that all really translated to the field.”

It was all part of the master plan. To the St. Brown's the journey has always been clear, for Amon-Ra it was first evident at Mater Dei, then at USC and now on to the NFL draft.

Hearing his name called has been a dream since he was in high school — a dream first built at home competing with his brothers. Although, to be fair, there is no clear answer on which St. Brown has the advantage. 

“It’s like good music," Brown explained. "Amon-Ra is like good rap music, Equanimeous is like good soul music, and Osiris is like good jazz. All good genres, it just depends on what you like.”

That is unless you ask the same question of St. Brown. To him, the best was saved for last.

“I’m obviously gonna say me," he said. "I think I’m the best. I have always believed I was the best since I was a little kid. That is kind of who we are. We’re competitive.”

St. Brown entering this weekend's draft with an innate sense of competition, a passion for success, and all together characteristics suited perfectly for playing on Sundays.