There was an air of disappointment around the country on National Signing Day when #1 overall prospect and top target Rashan Gary ultimately chose Michigan, but there's no reason for fans of teams like the Auburn Tigers to fret or get down. In fact, the best defensive tackle in the class may not be Gary at all. Here's 3 Reasons Why Auburn Commit Derrick Brown Will Be A Bigger Star Than Rashan Gary.
1. Upside
Rashan Gary is a more polished product than Derrick Brown, but Brown has the better athletic upside. If you watch Brown on tape, his explosiveness is held back by a learning curve when it comes to technique. Don't get us wrong, Gary has TREMENDOUS upside. But, Brown has a bigger reserve of talent that will be unlocked with the right "coaching up."
2. Don't Believe The Hype
If you believe the press, Gary is the type of transcendent defensive line talent that only comes once in a generation. That may be true, but it'll be a lot to live up to -- especially under the unforgiving media microscope surrounding Michigan football. Auburn fans (and media members) are generally more forgiving when it comes to learning curves, so Brown has an environment at his disposal which will be conducive to growth as a man and as a player.
Gary, on the other hand, has the weight of an entire program rebuilding process on his shoulders. Talk about pressure...
3. Kevin Steele
The new Auburn defensive coordinator has a track record of getting the most out of his charges, giving playing time based on effort and grounding blue-chip talent in basics just like everyone else on the squad. Brown's going to get a crash course in top-level FBS football right off the bat, and that's going to be huge for his development.
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