ATLANTA – Derrick Brown enjoyed the red carpet experience Thursday at the College Football Hall of Fame – the autographs, selfies and interviews.
"It's crazy," he said. "A cool opportunity to be here, to be up for these awards."
A finalist for the Outland Trophy and the Chuck Bednarik Award, Brown was named to the First Team Walter Camp All-America team, capping an outstanding career four years after signing with the Tigers.
"I hoped for the opportunity," he said. "It's crazy to see that thing full circle, and being about to graduate, and seeing that come full circle, too."
At the end of the day, this is what I wanted...
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) December 13, 2019
Now I'm excited to be able to live it out.
🗣️@DerrickBrownAU5#WarEagle x #RidefortheBrand pic.twitter.com/CjDlAi9Ct9
Auburn associate head coach Rodney Garner, along with Derrick's parents, James and Martha Brown, accompanied him at the College Football Awards Show.
"Coach G has pushed me to do everything I've been able to accomplish," he said. "Just like my dad, he never took being mediocre, he never accepted it. He always pushes, farther and farther, way more than we thought we ever could go."
A year ago, Brown considered entering the NFL Draft before returning to Auburn for his senior season. He ended up tying fellow senior defensive lineman Marlon Davidson for the team lead with 12.5 tackles for loss and was named the SEC's defensive player of the year.
On Saturday at Auburn Arena, he'll receive his marketing degree from Auburn University's Harbert College of Business.
"I think it was just a testament to my decision to come back," he said. "I got everything done. I'm graduating, got to be in my son's life more for a whole year. Now, I'm just reaping the benefits. At the end of the day, this is what I wanted. I'm excited to be able to live it out.
"Saturday, hearing my name called, getting to walk across the stage, that's my academic mission completed. We're always talking about mission completed on the field. It's just as important to be able to walk across that stage."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer