AUBURN, Ala. – Sitting in a classroom at NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis, Auburn defensive linemen Derrick Brown and Nick Coe gathered information that will help them navigate their careers in professional football.
"It was an unbelievable experience," said Brown, who delayed his NFL debut to return to Auburn to complete his degree during his upcoming senior season.
Coe and Brown were two of 30 invitees to the NCAA Elite Student-Athlete Symposium in early March, a training session for football players with NFL potential.
Being the CEO of your own company, managing social media and branding were the takeaways, said Jorrell Bostrom, Auburn's Director of Player Development who accompanied Brown and Coe in Indy.
"I was very proud of them," Bostrom said. "They handled themselves like pros while we were there. It was fun to see them interact outside of Auburn and outside of football."
Speakers presented on topics including selecting agents and financial advisers, preparing for careers after football, and money management.
"What it takes to budget for the year when you're only getting paid during the season and you have seven, eight months left to live off that," Bostrom said. "That was an eye-opener for them. "
The student-athletes also visited the NFL Combine on the day former teammate Ryan Davis competed.
"Just to give them a teaser for what they'll see next year, to help prepare mentally," Bostrom said.
The student-athletes learned the vast difference between their gross salary and the amount they take home after taxes and fees.
"When you get to that level, you move into a whole different tax bracket," Brown said.
Brown found the teaching on money matters particularly beneficial.
"Especially the part where we discussed financial advisers," he said. "They made sure that you understand that they can't do anything more than you allow them to do. Don't ever let anybody talk you into putting your money into this thing or that thing unless you feel a certainty about it."
Through training exercises and question-and-answer sessions with former NFL players, the symposium empowered student-athletes to take charge of their careers, during and after pro football, information Brown and Coe plan to share with their Auburn teammates.
"Learn how to do for yourself so you don't have to count on somebody else to manage your whole life," Brown said.
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer