Player Profile: Derrick Brown
Derrick Brown is one of the top defensive linemen in the class of 2016. When he gets to a college this fall, Tennessee’s coaching staff will be plenty happy to have him.
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Biography
Derrick Brown (class of 2016) is a defensive tackle from Buford, Georgia. Brown, one of the top defensive players in the class, attends Lanier High School. His explosive play makes him one of the most coveted players in the country, and his offer list validates that.
Rankings
247Sports: No. 3 DT, No. 5 overall player in the class of 2016
Rivals: No. 3 DT, No. 23 overall player in the class of 2016
ESPN: No. 13 in the ESPN300 for the class of 2016
Offers
Brown has an impressive offer list of 26 schools. His SEC offers came from Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. Among his other 16 offers, the most notable were from Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Stanford, Texas and Wisconsin.
Film Review
Derrick Brown plays like a mini Demarcus Ware. In the second play of his junior season highlights (above), Brown demolishes an attempted seal block and blows up the running back before he can get to the goal line. So many things stand out about him on film; his speed, his strength, his knack for the ball… all of it. Start with his speed: Brown can chase down just about anybody on the football field. His size makes his speed quite surprising, something that shows when quarterbacks or running backs think they have an easy angle to run around him. His speed and athleticism allow him to chase ball carriers down and make plays that linebackers would normally play.
Moving on to his strength: much like the before-mentioned play, Brown often uses his explosive first step and upper body strength to blow past offensive linemen. To counteract that, he also uses a nice swim move to finesse his way into the backfield. Finally, his knack for the ball: whether he is in contain or just has his eyes in the backfield, Brown always seems to find his way to the ball. His instincts are among the best of any defensive player in the class of 2016. When quarterbacks scramble or try to make extra yards by getting upfield, Brown is there to limit the damage. He will make Bob Shoop a very happy man this fall.
Edited by Cody McClure
Nathan is a junior at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. He spends most of his free time eating meaningless foods and watching sports. If you wish to contact Nathan, you can email him at wodom3@vols.utk.edu or find him on Twitter, @NathanOdom11.
