Copyright M Live Michigan
KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI — Portage Northern Football Coach Kurt Twichell hosted orientation for freshman players at the end of the 2025 school year. A senior defensive lineman popped through the door. “He says, ‘Love you, coach. Have a good day,’” Twichell said. Just like that, Emmanuel Browning, Number 58, left a lasting impression on the team’s culture that the younger players would later mention. It’s now a bittersweet memory as Browning, 18, was tragically killed in a crash this weekend. While driving on U.S. 131 around 1 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, a vehicle headed in the wrong direction crashed into the Ford Fusion Browning was driving, killing him, along with two others in the car. The driver of the wrong-way Subaru also died and two other passengers riding in the Fusion with Browning were seriously injured. Browning’s grandfather, Carl Browning Jr., 54, said he was a mature and outgoing young man. They went hunting together, spending time in a deer blind. They were together for Emmanuel Browning’s first successful hunt. They were gearing up to go rifle hunting again this season on Nov. 15, opening day, Browning said. His grandson loved his family and was a leader everywhere he went, Browning said. He brought their blended family together, Browning said, and would often help resolve issues. “I had a super special relationship with him,” Browning said, as he watched his grandson become a leader. Emmanuel Browning was an entrepreneur with plans to scale up a window washing business, among other ideas, his grandfather said. He had been playing football under a partial scholarship at Davenport University, Carl Browning said. He recently decided to decommit to make sure he was headed to where he wanted to be in life. He came home and immediately got a job at Gridhawk, a company that stakes underground utilities. “The kid just got his first paycheck,” Browning said. “He was excited about that.” Twichell said Browning had an infectious personality and he was a loyal friend and teammate. “Extremely popular with our staff,” the coach said. “Tons of friends.” Joy and love Emmanuel Browning had a strong bond with his teammates on and off the field. The Portage Northern High School football team made memorial posts about Browning online Wednesday. When Browning transferred in from Jackson after his freshman season, it meant he was ineligible to play in games at Northern for his sophomore year. But he still practiced as hard as anyone, pushing his teammates, Twichell said. “He was a culture enhancer,” the coach said. Browning would elevate others around him. Gregory Patrick, 17, a current senior at Portage Northern, played alongside Browning as an offensive/defensive lineman. Patrick is headed to Notre Dame on a scholarship next year, Twichell said, and he looked up to Browning during their two years playing together. In April, Browning posted on X: “Proud of You Bro💚 Be great," replying to Patrick announcing his plans to commit to Notre Dame. Browning could turn tough football practices into great memories by cracking jokes with the coaches, Patrick said. Off the field, he was an outgoing and genuine family-oriented man, Patrick said. He was always offering to help people and put others before himself, Patrick said, lending his muscles when Patrick’s family moved to a different house. Patrick admired his work ethic and said Browning was a mentor to him — he was one year ahead of Patrick at Northern. They had a lot of good conversations about life and the future this summer, Patrick said. They shared advice. They both enjoyed deer hunting, Patrick said, and he regrets they never had a chance to go together. “Eman,” was what his friends called him (pronounced Eee-man). He lived in Comstock Township with his family, Twichell said. Jackson Altwies, 19, is a 2024 Northern graduate and plays football at Ferris State. He spent a lot of time working out with Browning, working out and helping him learn the ropes of the program. “He was always excited,” Altwies said, and he would spread positivity and joy to others. “He really tried to take what I taught him and applied it to life,” Altwies said. If Browning got in over his head emotionally during a game, Altwies would help calm him down and bring him back into the moment. Their chemistry, and the ability to physically dominate opponents, made them a force together on the field, Altwies said. “He took his job very seriously,” Altwies said. Browning graduated from Portage Northern High School in the spring 2025. He earned a scholarship and played at Davenport University before being injured, Twichell said. He was in a transition period and trying to decide where he was headed in life, the coach said. The tragic crash came as a shock to everyone. After an initial investigation, police said Browning did nothing wrong as he was driving in the correct direction on the highway before the crash. A wrong-way driver ended his life on the highway, where typical vehicle speeds severely limit reaction time, according to police. An 18-year-old male passenger was also killed, police said. His name has not been released. Alayiah Lazzara, 17, was in the back seat of the vehicle and she died later at the hospital, according to friends of hers who held a vigil Tuesday. Browning said he was proud of his grandson for making the decision to decommit to football. He was still enrolled with plans to get a business degree. He was committed to his faith, his grandfather said, which is very important to the family. “I asked him where he was at in his heart in his relationship with God,” Browning said. “He told me he had that commitment in his heart.” Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 14, at Galilee Baptist Church at 1216 North Westnedge Ave., in Kalamazoo. ‘The ultimate Husky’ Fans and students may have seen Browning recently. He had been coming to Portage Northern’s home football games, and some away games, after graduating. “He was the ultimate Husky,” Twichell said. ”He really loved this place.” His friends and family said they won’t forget him or the positivity he brought to his promising life. His grandfather and Twichell both agreed: “I love you” were some of his favorite words. It was no surprise to Twichell when Browning interrupted the freshman orientation in a roomful of 35 younger students to say the words of love, which he used to end virtually every conversation they had together.
