A big #WarEagle to Derrick Brown! Welcome to the #Auburn Family! #AUNSD16 pic.twitter.com/cQvVKtzxZ6
— Auburn Football (@FootballAU) February 3, 2016
It was quite the race between teams down the stretch for the signature of Buford, GA's Derrick Brown, but the Tigers were able to hold off the Vols, Dawgs, and Tide. He visited Auburn, Georgia, and Tennessee in the final three recruiting weekends prior to signing day. At various points there were message board warriors on each teams' boards claiming he was going to their school, their rivals school, or elsewhere.
Signing Brown, a 6'4, 317 lbs 5* Defensive Tackle, is a huge victory for Auburn. The Tigers need depth at the defensive tackle slot, and Brown definitely provides that. The Tigers will lose four key tackles following the 2016 season, and Brown has the type of body and talent that he can be an immediate contributor this coming season and prepare to take over in 2017.
He doesn't look the quickest in some of his highlights, but he's definitely got brute strength. He's also got good vision and hands. There's a Fat Guy Touchdown early on in that film!
Auburn has three good to great defensive tackles in Adams, Russell, and Lawrence. Maurice Swain, a JUCO addition last year, provided good depth when needed, but wasn't as dominant as we hoped. Brown could - and probably will - immediately step into the two-deep at defensive tackle. He's not going to start, but he's going to be in the rotation early and often.
War Eagle, Derrick! You made the right choice!