INDIANAPOLIS — The New England Patriots could be looking for Vince Wilfork’s eventual successor in the 2015 NFL draft.
The Patriots have a formal interview scheduled with Texas defensive tackle Malcom Brown on Saturday night at the NFL Scouting Combine. The 6-foot-2, 319-pound defender is a versatile prospect who played nose tackle in his early career with the Longhorns and moved to three-technique defensive tackle for his junior year. He recorded 72 tackles and 6.5 sacks during his final season at Texas.
Brown is married with a daughter and step-daughter, which played into his decision to declare for the draft early.
“It just gives me more motives,” Brown said Friday. “I’m not just playing for myself anymore. I’m playing to support my family. I can’t just think about myself when I make decisions. I have to think about my daughters and my wife being supportive, so I have to give it my all.”
Brown’s size makes him an appealing option at nose tackle, but like Wilfork, his versatility is valuable.
“You can put me anywhere,” Brown said. “I already know how to play the positions. I played end, stand-up end, all that last year. I played nose the previous two years, freshman and sophomore years. I can do it all.”
Brown is projected to be drafted near the end of the first round, where the Patriots are picking at No. 32 overall.
Check out which other players have met or are scheduled to be interviewed by the Patriots:
Memphis DE Martin Ifedi (informal interview on Thursday night)
Houston DT Joey Mbu
UCLA DE Owa Odighizuwa
Kentucky DE Bud Dupree, according to MassLive.com’s Kevin Duffy
Washington OLB Hau’oli Kikaha
Check out the Patriots’ combine contact lists from Day 1 and Day 2
Thumbnail photo via Trevor Ruszkowski/USA TODAY Sports Images
