Texas DT Malcom Brown confirms what scouts already knew
Malcom Brown answered questions for 5 minutes Tuesday, and by the end, one longtime University of Texas beat writer was calling the defensive tackle a “media darling.”
“At this point, I’m just like I know exactly what to say and not to say,” Brown said with a smile.
The 18 queries from the media served as the only questions Brown had to answer at the Longhorns’ annual Pro Day.
After running a 5.05 in the 40-yard dash in Indianapolis and doing 26 reps in the 225-pound bench press, Brown stood by his NFL Scouting Combine workout from last month.
But he did participate in position drills conducted by defensive line coaches from the Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals.
“I thought he did a good job, especially just one guy being able to push through the workload of rapid fire and being able to finish strong,” Lions assistant coach Kris Kocurek said. “I think he did a really good job.”
Last year, for the first time since 1937, UT didn’t have a player selected in the NFL Draft. The scouts returned this year as the Longhorns have a handful of prospects, led by Brown, a likely first-rounder, and linebacker Jordan Hicks.
All 32 teams sent representatives to The Bubble, with New Orleans Saints assistant general manager Jeff Ireland and Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia the headliners. Three linebackers coaches had eyes on Hicks, who already has a workout scheduled with the Houston Texans.
The Cowboys sent two scouts to watch Brown and Hicks.
The 6-foot-2 Brown, who weighed 320 pounds Tuesday, has seen his draft stock rise since he opted to forgo his final season of eligibility to support his wife and two children.
Scouts remain unsure whether Brown will make a better three-technique or one-technique.
“I just know he’s a good football player,” said Green Bay Packers senior personnel executive Alonzo Highsmith.
The Longhorns have had only one first-round draft choice the past four years — safety Kenny Vaccaro. Brown seems a lock as a first-round choice with only USC’s Leonard Williams and Washington’s Danny Shelton ranked ahead of him at the position.
Brown had 165 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and 14 quarterback pressures in three seasons, two as a starter. In 2014, he was named one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy as the nation’s best interior lineman and one of five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation’s top defensive player.
“He put together a really consistent year this year from start to finish,” Kocurek said. “That’s what you like to see when you’re evaluating.
“You don’t like to see guys who are high and then low and in-between. You like to see the consistency week after week. He put together a really consistent year. ... You can tell he’s a hard worker.”
The scouts learned more about that Tuesday as they wore out Brown during the on-field workout. As the only defensive lineman, Brown never stopped during the 15-minute session.
“I just proved I could take the work and I could go under pressure,” Brown said. “When I’m tired, I can also work. It was real fun. The coaches made it real fun, because they were cracking jokes while we were doing it, and they got some work out of me.”
Charean Williams, 817-390-7760
This story was originally published March 24, 2015 at 7:09 PM with the headline "Texas DT Malcom Brown confirms what scouts already knew."