On Bobby Brown’s first trip to Kyle Field, he got something of a private lesson in Texas A&M traditions.
A junior defensive end prospect from Arlington Lamar at the time, Brown sat back to enjoy an Aggie game and check his cell phone.
“I didn’t know they stood the whole game,” Brown recalled after a spring football practice session on Monday night. “So, I’m sitting down and this old lady tapped me with her cane and she was like: ‘What are you doing son? Stand up.’
“I said ‘Yes ma’am.’ I didn’t know. I was sitting there on my phone. Then, I sat back down and she tapped me again and said ‘I’m not going to tell you again – you better get up.’ Yes ma’am I’m sorry.
“She probably would have beat me with (the cane).”
Three years later, Brown is projected to also bring Aggies to their feet by raising Cain on the defensive line.
Once a defensive end prospect slated to replace All-American Myles Garrett, he’s grown into a 6-foot-4, 330-pound sophomore defensive tackle on the verge of a breakout year. He and junior defensive tackle Justin Madubuike figure to give A&M one of the nation’s most powerful interior line combinations this season.
“Those two inside guys are pretty dad-gum good now,” coach Jimbo Fisher said after a recent practice. “I mean really good. Those two inside guys are disrupters.”
Madubuike was a disruptive force last season. Meanwhile, Brown was an effective backup at defensive tackle and defensive end. He posted 14 tackles, including one for lost yardage, and was named to the Southeastern Conference’s All-Freshman team.
Brown reportedly made giant strides this spring, though he said he can’t — or won’t — contemplate just how much he’s improved.
“I never worry about my improvement,” Brown said. “I always work hard every day. If you worry about your improvement too much you’ll get complacent with where you’re at. I just focus on things to improve on each day. This day I need to do this. This day I need to do this.
“Coach E (Mike Elko) will let me know the things I need to work on. I don’t worry about my improvement because it will show up on the field.”
The Aggies are just glad he showed up in College Station. He was recruited heavily by Alabama and former A&M assistant coach Jeff Banks.
However, Brown had developed a strong relationship with Defensive Ends coach Terry Price. He also liked the idea of replacing Garrett, another former Arlington star.
"When I was in high school I didn’t think, personally, I was (Division I) material, so I used to look at smaller schools,” Brown admitted. “But then I saw Myles and then I realize this school is recruiting me basically to replace him. I was kind of like ‘Yeah, I want to come to this school.’”
Although he put on about 60 pounds — and it’s not fat — to grow out of the defensive end position, Brown has maintained his speed and agility.
“(It’s) core workouts and working on my get-off all the time,” Brown said. “And just working on explosiveness in my hips. Not trying to be cocky, but I’ve always been naturally quick and fast. I just need to keep progressing with that.”
He also said that he’s gotten better by working against the A&M offensive linemen. Although reports are that he and Madubuike have been dominant this spring, Brown gave his offensive counterparts a favorable evaluation.
“Ryan (McCollum) is nasty. He’ll be hurting, but he’s fighting every day,” Brown said. “(Colton) Prater is not the biggest guy, not the strongest, but he’s going to give his all every play.
“We’ve probably got two of the smartest tackles in the SEC. Dan (Moore) and Carson (Green) calling out plays, recognizing blitzes and picking up on things. They’re pretty smart. And (Jared) Hocker is so strong it’s ridiculous.
“It makes us work that much harder if we don’t want to hear coach Elko’s mouth the whole time.”
Brown seems to be playing well enough to keep Elko reasonably quiet. However, it will come as no surprise next season if those following the SEC are talking about how Brown is raising Cain.
Kind of like that old lady did.
