Although teammate D.K. Metcalf stole the show at the Combine, the most consistent producer at Ole Miss over the past three years has been A.J. Brown. After back-to-back seasons of 1,000 yards, 75-plus catches and receiving grades over 80.0, Brown is a receiver that shouldn’t be slept on in late April.
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One of Brown’s best traits is his ability to make defenders miss using his instincts and speed in space. He forced 17 missed tackles last season and has been efficient in that category in all three years at Oxford, as he has forced double-digit missed tackles each season (10 in 2016, 23 in 2017).
Brown’s ability to take advantage of his matchups no matter the alignment is a valuable trait NFL teams look for. Of his 33 explosive plays (20-plus yards) this season, 19 came while aligned in the slot, but after an injury to Metcalf, Brown moved outside without his production suffering, as he still managed 21.2 yards per catch and 2.88 yards per route run.
Brown simply shines after the catch and makes the most of them as he gets in space and can either make tacklers miss or take them on with his 6-foot, 226-pound frame. Over his career at Ole Miss, he averaged 7.3 yards after the catch per reception and can take it the distance on each and every touch.
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