GAINESVILLE, Fla. – For every defensive lineman who dreams of being an open-field runner, Derrick Brown served as a role model – twice.
Brown returned two fumbles for 53 yards Saturday against Florida, showcasing running skills he said he'd last exhibited in high school.
On the final play of the first quarter, Brown picked up a Florida fumble at Auburn's 23 and returned it 42 yards to Florida's 35, displaying remarkable agility for someone who's 6-5, 318 pounds, going to the ground before pursuing Florida players made contact.
"I tackled myself, apparently," Brown said.
Marlon Davidson stripped the ball from Florida quarterback Kyle Trask, leading to Brown's scoop-and-sprint, Auburn's third fumble recovery in the first quarter.
"That boy's special," Davidson said of his fellow senior defensive lineman. "If they don't pick him first pick, I don't think they made the right decision. He had a terrific game today. He made a great play. That showed the athleticism of Derrick Brown."
In the fourth quarter, Brown did it again, dislodging the ball from the Gators' QB and returning it 11 yards to Auburn's 40.
"I was just able to get some push, be able to put my hands up and reach out for the ball, got lucky and my hand touched the ball and it came back to me," said Brown, the first Tiger to recover two fumbles in a game since Montravius Adams against Mississippi State in 2016.
Despite recovering four Florida fumbles, the Tigers suffered their first defeat after opening the season with five consecutive wins, falling 24-13.
"Just go back and get better," Brown said. "Because nobody says if you get four turnovers, you're guaranteed to win the game."
As dominant as Brown was – four tackles, a sack, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries – he refused to answer affirmatively when a reporter asked Derrick if he thought he was the game's best player
"I don't," he said. "I had a lot of falls out there, just as well as everybody else. We came up short today. You've got to let it go. You've got to keep playing ball."
Auburn coach Gus Malzahn was less reserved in his assessment.
"Derrick Brown is one of the best players in college football," Malzahn said. "He played his heart out. He carried it a long way. He's an impact player in big games and he got it done today."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer