Auburn football: Ranking top 10 Tigers through first four games of 2018
By Rob Maxwell
5. Derrick Brown
Like Marlon Davidson, Derrick Brown has been very good this season.
On running plays, he clogs lanes, forces offenses to change direction and find ways around him. In the passing game, he also can be disruptive. He’s a lot to handle for the interior of an offensive line.
He’s tied for third on the team with 18 tackles, he has 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack. Those are solid numbers, but Auburn needs even more from him the rest of the way.
At 6-5, 325 pounds, Brown looks the part of an NFL defensive lineman. He plays the interior, but he can bounce outside if needed.
Certainly there were some Auburn football fans who hoped Brown would jump to Nick Fairley levels this season. That hasn’t happened. Opponents are looking for ways around Brown.
As Auburn gets into the teeth of its schedule with strong running teams like Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Georgia and Alabama, the Tigers are going to need Brown to play like a future first-round pick.