All-SEC defensive tackle Bobby Brown heading to the NFL

Jimbo Fisher once beat Alabama for Bobby Brown, but on Saturday lost him to the NFL.

Brown, an All-SEC junior defensive tackle, announced that he would forego his senior season to enter the NFL draft.

There was hope the imposing 6-foot-4, 325-pound run stuffer might opt to return to enhance his chances of becoming a first-round pick. He could rise into the first round this year, though most projections have him as a second- or third-round selection.

Brown certainly played like a first-round pick in 2020. He accumulated 22 tackles in nine games and recorded 5.5 sacks — an impressive total for an interior lineman, especially in a short season.

Brown posted a sack in six consecutive games and generally wreaked havoc along the defensive line. He was literally and figuratively a giant reason A&M is ranked third in the nation in rushing defense.

Brown was perhaps the crown jewel of coach Jimbo Fisher’s first recruiting class at Texas A&M. A four-star rated prospect out of Arlington Lamar High School, he originally committed to Alabama. However, he flipped to Texas A&M on national signing day.

Brown was named to the All-SEC freshman team in 2018 after posting 14 tackles.

As a sophomore in 2019, Brown made 11 starts and made several big plays. He blocked a field goal attempt in a win over Lamar and had a sack against LSU. He finished the season with 21 tackles, a broken up pass and 3 quarterback hurries.

Brown showed great potential, but there were questions about his effort. Those questions were put to rest in 2020.

He dropped about 10 pounds to get quicker, and the results were obvious. He posted sacks against Florida, Arkansas, LSU, Auburn and Tennessee and assisted on a sack against South Carolina.