Derrick Brown 1st-team preseason All-American

[aubiefifty 18,200]

Auburn’s Derrick Brown named 1st-team preseason All-American

Updated Jul 3, 11:21 AM;Posted Jul 3, 10:33 AM

Auburn's Derrick Brown (5) has been named first-team All-American by The Sporting News. (Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics)

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By Creg Stephenson | cstephenson@al.com

Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown earned a spot on The Sporting News’ 2019 preseason college football All-America first-team announced Wednesday.

Brown (6-foot-5, 318 pounds) totaled 48 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 2018. A second-team All-SEC pick, the senior from Sugar Hill, Ga., is considered a potential top 10 overall NFL draft prospect for 2019.

Defensive end Nick Coe picked up a second-team nod. The 6-foot-5, 291-pound junior from Asheboro, N.C., posted 27 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks in 2018, his first season as a starter.

You can view the entire 2019 Sporting News preseason All-America team HERE.

[Barnacle 9,107]

Could be a huge year for Derrick. He's also one of those rare kids whose character matches his ability. 

[WFE12 9,350]

He trained with Future HOF Demarcus Ware a few days ago. Scary sight.

[McLoofus 35,182]

On 7/3/2019 at 10:16 PM, WFE12 said:

He trained with Future HOF Demarcus Ware a few days ago. Scary sight.

THANK YOU. I saw that post and I thought it was DWare but I wasn't sure. 

So yeah Brown has been doing all of this without having trained with the greatest pass rusher in Broncos history,  I guess he was waiting for his senior year to actually eat an entire quarterback alive, should be pretty cool or whatever.

[Auburn Kev 1,653]

Great interview Derrick Brown had with Draft Wire. 

Quote

Meet Derrick Brown, Auburn's disruptive defensive line prospect

 

 

By: Justin Melo | 4 hours ago

The 2019 NFL draft was loaded with talented defensive line prospects, but one of the best of the bunch decided to return to school for his senior season.

One of the nation’s top defensive prospects for the 2020 NFL draft class, Auburn’s Derrick Brown recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about why he returned to the Tigers for the 2019 season, how he’s working to improve his game before he makes the jump to the pros, and what Auburn fans can expect from him and his teammates this season.

JM: A lot of people felt you were ready to make the jump to the NFL last year. Instead, you decided to return for your senior season. Tell me a little about that decision.

DB: I definitely came back to Auburn to get my degree. I also wanted to compete for a championship at this level. It also allows me to stay close and spend time with my son. Coming back to Auburn has allowed me to be a lot more active in my son’s life right now. He’s young and he needs his father. I’m just getting ready for what comes next.

JM: Last year’s draft class was incredibly deep at defensive tackle. Did that play a role in your decision at all?

DB: No, it didn’t. I’ve played against most of those guys. I know them well. We went through the recruiting process together. I’m very familiar with a lot of them. I’m cool with those guys but they didn’t play a part in my decision. Not at all.

JM: How can this Auburn defense be better this year than it was last year?

DB: We have to step it up. We have to recognize all of the faults we had as a defense last year and learn from them. We have to correct our faults. It’s that simple. When things go wrong, we can’t just look at it as a negative. We have to see it as an opportunity to get better.

 

JM: Defensive line coach Rodney Garner has coached some serious talent at Auburn as of late. Dee Ford, Montravius Adams and Carl Lawson, just to name a few. What’s the biggest lesson he’s taught you?

DB: I love working with him. He’ll test you from the first day you get here. He always expects the best from you. You’re a young guy when you arrive here. This is a big program and you may be doubting yourself when you first step on campus. At that point, you’ll honestly see that coach Garner wants you to be successful more than you do (laughs). That’s the type of support he gives his players. You’re young and second guessing yourself. He gives you that steady push every single day that you need at that point in your life. I can’t thank him enough for that. Him doing that while you’re young and while your confidence is still developing, it’s been huge for the guys he’s coached. He’s been a blessing to every defensive linemen that’s come through here.

JM: What are three traits a defensive linemen must possess in order to be successful?

DB: You have to be coachable, first and foremost. You have to be able to take to different techniques. You have to be able to watch film and break it down. You have to understand what you’re watching and how you can use it to get better. You have to be a dog. Playing down in the trenches is no joke. Playing in the trenches on Saturday is hard work (laughs). That says something about you.

JM: And what’s your favorite part about playing in the trenches?

DB: I love making plays when it matters. I love celebrating when my teammates are out there making plays. It’s not about who makes the plays. We don’t see ourselves as individuals. We have a great bond here at Auburn. We’re a unit. It’s about how we’re gonna celebrate after whoever makes a play (laughs). We’re true brothers here. We’ve completely bought in. We lead the way thanks to coach Garner’s guidance. We wanna be the best defensive line there is. We put that pressure on ourselves.

JM: Do you have a pass rush move that you consider your go to?

DB: I like to use the rip. I like to go to the rip whenever. That’s just one move that I’ve been working with and I’m getting better at it. I’m trying to expand my toolbox though. I need to be able to make different moves.

 

JM: On the topic of expanding your toolbox, say you go with the rip and it gets stopped. How are you working to counter?

DB: I definitely have to be able to pull out of that and get my man back outside. I can use that as an opportunity to get inside. If he bites and starts overlapping me, I have to hip toss him and get back inside.

JM: Playing at Auburn has allowed you to play against some of the best competition college ball has to offer. Who are some of the best offensive linemen you’ve gone up against?

DB: I was blessed to go against Braden Smith every single day in practice (laughs). He’s with the Indianapolis Colts now. I had never seen anybody like Braden in my life. He’s a dog. Braden brings it every single day. He never had a bad day. I’m not even joking with you right now. Braden never had a bad day here. Not one.

JM: He never had a bad practice? (laughs)

DB: Never. He’s so focused all the time. He makes sure of that. He came into the NFL as a rookie starter. He’s been great for the Colts. It can be tough to meet those expectations sometimes but Braden made that happen. He’s done exactly what he had to do. He’s just a stud. He’s so tough. He doesn’t have too many emotions (laughs). He’s a different kind of dude. He’s just a dog on the field.

JM: Do you feel you’re more developed as a pass rusher or run stopper at this time?

DB: Definitely as a run-stopper. I’ve been working on my moves as a pass rusher all off season though. I need to do a better job of helping my team from that side of it as well.

JM: What’s it like playing for Coach Gus Malzahn?

DB: He’s an offensive head coach but he does a great job spending time with the defense as well. We all know that he’s offensive minded at the end of the day. Sometimes we make him a little upset if we stop the offense in practice (laughs). It’s fun playing for him.

 

JM: What’s the culture like in the locker room right now?

DB: We’re a brotherhood. Guys have bought into this season. We had a big off season. It’s been seriously exciting to watch it come together throughout the spring. I’m a senior now and I’m starting to see things through a different lens. I remember being a freshmen and watching the older guys take on a key leadership role. That’s where I’m at right now. It’s an exciting time.

JM: What’s the atmosphere like on game day? Jordan-Hare Stadium is a special place on Saturday.

DB: It’s absolutely crazy. When I say we have the best fans in college football, I truly mean and believe that. That’s not a joke. Our fans literally bleed Burnt Orange and Navy Blue. It’s the best game-day atmosphere you’ll find.

JM: We’ve talked a lot about football, but what are some of your hobbies outside of football?

DB: I don’t really watch television. I’m not a Netflix guy. Every time I get a free second, I’m really just trying to spend time with my son. Being a dad is my best hobby (laughs). It’s crazy being able to see my son grow up. I’m getting to experience what my dad went through with me. I had my dad to lean on and he was able to guide me. I wanna do the same for my son. I’m really enjoying fatherhood. It’s the best feeling in the world. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

JM: What can Auburn fans expect from Derrick Brown in 2019?

DB: They can expect me to have a breakout year. I’m getting back to my old self. I’m pushing forward and giving everything I have out there