Former Auburn Tigers star Derrick Brown, the program's highest-rated draft pick since blindside tackle Greg Robinson also went No. 2 overall in the 2014 draft, recently graced the Plains with his presence during the Carolina Panthers defensive tackle's offseason.
While appearing at spring practice, Brown gave what sophomore DT Jourdin Crawford described as pointers from one of the best defensive tackles to ever play SEC football in Lee County, Alabama. Crawford was extremely grateful he got to hear from Brown.
“He was just giving us tips for what could be better, what could possibly help us, stuff he works on, stuff that we work on, just showing us different stuff that he does,” Crawford said. "I feel like it means a lot because he’s been here before and he played on the same field. So, him giving us tips is just helping us try to get to where he’s at.”
Crawford took a medical redshirt during the 2025 season, appearing in two games against the Texas A&M Aggies and Mercer Bears. He had two tackles, both assisted, during the 16-10 loss in College Station, Texas, and the 62-17 win at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Brown, meanwhile, had 73 total tackles, five sacks, seven pass deflections, and five TFLs for the Panthers in 2025.
Alex Golesh aiming to be intentional in honoring Auburn football legends
As Brown's fellow legendary Auburn defender, Takeo Spikes, one of the all-time great versatile linebackers that either the Tigers or the NFL has ever seen, put it, new head coach Alex Golesh is aiming to be intentional about honoring the program's lineage and legends.
“Some key takeaways that I walked away understanding: No. 1, he made it clear, and it was unsolicited. He wants to embrace the history of the success that Auburn has had in the past… I said, ‘Coach, we kind of heard this before.’ And he was like, ‘No.’ He was like, ‘The reality of it is this place would not have been as prestigious as it is if it wasn’t for you guys, yourself, me,'" Spikes said.
“He was very intentional when it comes to building the culture or rebuilding the culture. He was like, ‘Look, every year we are in, you have to build a team every year… It’s a year-to-year process.’ I thought he did a wonderful job explaining that, and then just explaining the method of how he’s going to do it… I was very impressed.”
Golesh is bringing back top draft picks from the 2020s, in Brown, the 2010s, in Cam Newton, and the 1990s, with Spikes. Several eras of AU football are being represented in East Central Alabama under Golesh's watch.
It's anyone's guess who else will pop up next this offseason. Golesh is clearly not turning the guys who built this program away, so it won't be long before another Auburn man is at the Woltosz Football Performance Center.