For Carolina Panthers DT Derrick Brown, There’s No Place Like Home

Carolina Panthers defensive lineman Derrick Brown enjoys returning home.

Recently, the second-year pro spent time at home talking with youth and high school players in Gwinnett County in suburban Atlanta. Brown was the keynote speaker at the Gwinnett County Public Schools Media Day. He spoke to coaches and players from ten high school programs in the county.

Brown was a 5-star recruit at Lanier High School in Gwinnett County. He starred at Auburn, earning All-American and SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2019. He was picked seventh overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. 

Before his talk, Brown spoke with High School Football America’s Jeff Fisher about giving back to the game of high school football.

In June, Brown teamed-up with the Gwinnett Sheriff's Department for a free youth football camp at his alma mater. Nearly 175 players, aged seven to 15, attended the camp where they took part in football drills, were given food, and received free giveaways.

Lanier High head coach David Willingham also spoke with Fisher about how much he loves to see Brown make a concerted effort to return home and give back.

During his rookie season in 2020, Brown was named the Week 6 NFLPA Community MVP for hosting a drive-thru Halloween event that provided more than $50,000 worth of Halloween costumes, accessories, and gadgets to underprivileged Charlotte youth.

The donations kicked-off Brown’s Project Universal Love, a monthly initiative by The Derrick Brown Foundation and The Family Institute of Health & Human Services to give back to the greater Charlotte community. Each month, Brown’s foundation works to create pop-up villages around Charlotte that distribute more than $50,000 in needed resources.

Photo: AP/Ben Liebenberg