'Game-changer' Derrick Brown named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week

'Game-changer' Derrick Brown named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week'Game-changer' Derrick Brown named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week
Will Flowers/Auburn Athletics

AUBURN, Ala. – After wreaking consistent havoc in No. 7 Auburn's 28-20 win at Texas A&M, Derrick Brown is the SEC's Defensive Lineman of the Week.

Brown tormented the Aggies with a pair of sacks, three tackles for loss among his four tackles, a forced fumble and two pass breakups.

"He changed the game," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. "They were sliding to him every time they passed. He was getting a push every time. He's a game-changer. That was impressive to watch."

An Auburn defender has earned conference honors after each of the Tigers' four victories with Brown joining Jeremiah Dinson (SEC Defensive Player of the Week, Oregon) and Marlon Davidson (SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week, Tulane and Kent State).

"I feel like we try to set the tone for the defense," Brown said of Auburn's D-line, which helped the Tigers limit A&M to 56 rushing yards. "We just played our brand of defense. We're one defense and in order for that one defense to work we have to be able to all hold our gaps and do our job."

Brown, who chose to return for his senior season to earn his Auburn University Harbert College of Business degree before entering the NFL, has 11 tackles this season, 118 for his career, and 12 career sacks.

"You don't want to take this for granted," he said. "I decided to come back and play with my teammates. That's what I'm going to do, I'm going to give them my all."

Brown is a contender for the Lott IMPACT Player of the Week, which a national voter panel and online fan vote will determine. Fans can vote for Brown here: http://lottimpacttrophy.org/player-of-the-week-2019/

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer

Derrick Brown: SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week