AUBURN, Ala. – On the field, senior Tucker Brown has done a little bit of everything during his time at Auburn. He's played all five positions on the offensive line. He's currently at tight end where he serves primarily as a blocker, though he did catch his first pass earlier this month at Mississippi State.
Off the field, Brown is known as the jokester of the football team.
"I take football very seriously, but I don't really take myself seriously," he said. "So I like to have a good time."
Originally from Trussville, Ala., Brown grew up in a family that still bleeds orange and blue to this day. He had a Karlos Dansby jersey that he'd wear every game day. So when it came to choosing a college, it was an easy choice. It didn't matter that he didn't receive a scholarship to play football. He was still going to Auburn.
"My dad always told me to go to the university that you want to attend and then you can play sports there if you want to," Brown said.
Scholarship or no scholarship, Brown still wanted to play football. He saw his older brother, Sam, walk on to Auburn's football team in 2010, and he knew then that his goal would be to follow in his brother's footsteps. So he walked on to the football team in 2015 not knowing that two years later he would be awarded a scholarship for his hard work, perseverance and determination.
Now, four years later, Brown is a senior and can't believe how quickly his time at Auburn has gone by. He still remembers his first game at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
"Running out of the smoke in the tunnel for the first time against Jacksonville State in 2015 was a dream come true," Brown said. "It feels so weird now to be the old guy on the team. I have a whole different perspective now seeing the younger guys go through what I went through. I don't want to miss anything, so I am trying to soak up every last minute of being a senior.
"I am really going to miss having all of my friends close and in the same place after I graduate. It's weird because when you graduate all of your friends go 100 different directions, and it makes it harder to stay in touch with everyone."
After graduating last May with a bachelor's degree in finance from the Harbert College of Business, Brown is now pursuing a second degree in supply chain management. He credits his experience as a student-athlete for helping him achieve his academic goals. While at Auburn, he's been on the SEC Academic Roll and recognized as an Academic Top Tiger.
This summer, Brown received a Hard-Fighting Soldier award from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
"Athletics alone teaches you so many lessons," he said. "It teaches you discipline and gives you a lot of character. Being on your own in college helps prepare you for life after college."
Once Brown completes his second degree in May 2019, he hopes to make his childhood dreams of playing in the NFL a reality.
"After I graduate with my second degree, I would love to give my best shot at the NFL," Brown said. "After that I don't really know, maybe something with logistics… or acting."
He might have been joking about the acting. But one thing is for sure – no matter where Brown goes next, he has set himself up for success through his determination and preparation. And he couldn't have done it without Auburn and the Auburn family.
"Auburn and SEC football wouldn't be the same without our great fans," Brown said. "God bless and War Eagle."
Sanders Reed is a student assistant in Auburn athletics communications.