PRO: The Titans acquired former North Carolina Tar Heels linebacker Zach Brown in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft to compete for an immediate role on the defense and also provide an impact on special teams. Brown’s athleticism allows him chase the ball from sideline to sideline and he utilizes his leaping skills to be disruptive in the passing game. The outside linebacker’s agility and quickness allow him to cover the whole field and play on special teams coverage units.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
• As a senior, Brown was a Butkus Award semifinalist and earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team honors, as he led the team with a career-high 105 tackles. He also ranked second on the squad with 5.5 sacks and 13.5 stops for loss.
• Brown’s 70-yard interception return against Virginia in 2010 ranks as the 11th-longest interception runback in North Carolina history.
TITANS TIDBITS:
• At the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine, Brown showed his speed and athleticism by posting times of 1.52 seconds in the 10-yard dash, 2.55 in the 20 and 4.44 in the 40-yard dash. He again performed the drills in front of teams at North Carolina’s pro day. The linebacker was timed at 4.37 seconds in the 40-yard dash and also improved his vertical jump, producing a 35-inch leap on campus after coming up with a 33 1/2 inch jump at the Combine.
• As a sophomore at North Carolina, Brown set the Tar Heels school record in the indoor 60-meter dash with a time of 6.72 seconds.
• Since his childhood, Brown has always been interested in deep sea creatures. Eventually, he would liked to have a huge circular fish tank in his home with a few small sharks.
• Brown was a unique athlete in high school. He was a state champion wrestler and a two-time state champion sprinter in Maryland. As a senior, he posted a 29-0 record on the wrestling mat, recording 17 pins and five technical falls. He also captured the state class 3-A title in the 100-meter dash (10.67 seconds) and 200-meter dash (21.52), becoming the first player in school history to win a state title in track.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS:
• The Columbia, Md., native was selected by the Titans in the second round (52nd overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft.
COLLEGE:
• Started 23 of 47 games at North Carolina, including 11 starts at weakside outside linebacker and 12 starts at the strongside spot. Recorded 230 tackles with 5.5 sacks for minus 37 yards, 19 stops for losses of 64 yards and six quarterback pressures. Also caused three fumbles, posted a fumble recovery, deflected four passes and intercepted seven others for 137 yards in returns (19.57 avg). His 70-yard interception return against Virginia in 2010 ranks as the 11th-longest interception runback in school history.
AS A SENIOR (2011), the Butkus Award semi-finalist was named All-Atlantic Coast Conference by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association. Was named All-American honorable mention by The NFL Draft Report and was the recipient of the 2011 Elite Linebacker Trophy from the College Football Performance Awards. Named the Tar Heels Most Valuable Player after starting 12 games at strongside outside linebacker. Led the team with 105 tackles, ranked second on the squad with 5.5 sacks for minus 37 yards and 13.5 stops for losses of 49 yards. Added six quarterback pressures, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, four passes defensed and three interceptions for 24 yards in returns. Finished seventh in the ACC with an average of 1.04 tackles-for-loss, ninth with 8.08 tackles per game and 10th with 0.42 sacks each contest. Recorded at least 10 tackles in five games, including his final three contests.
• At Clemson (10/22), posted seven tackles and two sacks for 14 yards.
• Against Wake Forest (10/29), finished with a team-best nine tackles, including 2.5 for losses of 11 yards, an interception and a forced fumble.
• Against Missouri (12/26), had a season-high 14 tackles to go along with two tackles for losses and an interception in the Independence Bowl.
AS A JUNIOR (2010), played in all 13 games with five starts and finished second on the team with 72 tackles that included 1.5 stops for minus four yards and a trio of interceptions for 113 yards in returns (37.7 avg). Earned enough points to be named a special teams captain (Carolina awards points throughout the year on special teams and the player with the most points are named captains).
• Against Clemson (10/9), started and had 14 tackles, including 10 primary stops, in a big win over the Tigers.
• At Virginia (10/16), recorded 10 tackles and returned an interception 70 yards to set up a score in Carolina’s first win at Virginia since 1981.
• At Miami (10/23), produced his third-straight double-digit tackle game by matching his career-high with 14 tackles.
• Against Tennessee (12/30), posted four tackles, including one tackle for loss, and had one interception for 43 yards in the Music City Bowl win.
AS A SOPHOMORE (2009), started the first six games at weakside outside linebacker after playing primarily on special teams as a freshman. Finished the season with 47 tackles, including four for losses of 11 yards.
• Against Georgia Southern (10/10), posted an interception in a 42-12 win.
AS A FRESHMAN (2008), as a true freshman played on special teams and as a reserve linebacker, recording six tackles.
• Against West Virginia (12/27), had one tackle in Meineke Car Care Bowl.
• Was an African-American studies major at North Carolina.
PERSONAL:
• Single, and resides in Columbia, Md.
• In 2007, attended Hargrave (Chatham, Va.) Military Academy prior to enrolling at the University of North Carolina. Played outside linebacker for renowned head coach Robert Prunty. Rivals.com regarded the four-star prospect as the 12th-best prep school player in the country and Scout.com also awarded him a four-star rating and ranked him among the nation’s Top 10 linebacker recruits.
• Attended Wilde Lake High School in Columbia, Md., playing football for head coach Doug Duvall. The standout 210-pound tailback and weakside outside linebacker was an All-Howard County selection as a senior, as he rushed for 1,537 yards and 20 touchdowns and collected over 90 solo tackles.
• Also starred in wrestling and track. During his 29-0 record on the wrestling mat, he recorded 17 pins and five technical falls. Captured the state class 3-A title in the 100-meter dash (10.67 seconds) and 200-meter dash (21.52), becoming the first player in school history to win a state title in track.
• List of favorites: (movie) “The Wood”; (TV show) “Family Guy”; (music artist) T.I.; (school subject) math; (car) Audi; (restaurant) Outback Steakhouse; and (sports team other than the Titans) Boston Red Sox and N.Y. Knicks.
• Follow Brown on Twitter at @ZachBrown_55.
• Born Zachery Vinzale Brown on Oct. 23, 1989 in Beaufort, S.C.
PRO: The Titans acquired former North Carolina Tar Heels linebacker Zach Brown in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft to compete for an immediate role on the defense and also provide an impact on special teams. Brown’s athleticism allows him chase the ball from sideline to sideline and he utilizes his leaping skills to be disruptive in the passing game. The outside linebacker’s agility and quickness allow him to cover the whole field and play on special teams coverage units.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
• As a senior, Brown was a Butkus Award semifinalist and earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team honors, as he led the team with a career-high 105 tackles. He also ranked second on the squad with 5.5 sacks and 13.5 stops for loss.
• Brown’s 70-yard interception return against Virginia in 2010 ranks as the 11th-longest interception runback in North Carolina history.
TITANS TIDBITS:
• At the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine, Brown showed his speed and athleticism by posting times of 1.52 seconds in the 10-yard dash, 2.55 in the 20 and 4.44 in the 40-yard dash. He again performed the drills in front of teams at North Carolina’s pro day. The linebacker was timed at 4.37 seconds in the 40-yard dash and also improved his vertical jump, producing a 35-inch leap on campus after coming up with a 33 1/2 inch jump at the Combine.
• As a sophomore at North Carolina, Brown set the Tar Heels school record in the indoor 60-meter dash with a time of 6.72 seconds.
• Since his childhood, Brown has always been interested in deep sea creatures. Eventually, he would liked to have a huge circular fish tank in his home with a few small sharks.
• Brown was a unique athlete in high school. He was a state champion wrestler and a two-time state champion sprinter in Maryland. As a senior, he posted a 29-0 record on the wrestling mat, recording 17 pins and five technical falls. He also captured the state class 3-A title in the 100-meter dash (10.67 seconds) and 200-meter dash (21.52), becoming the first player in school history to win a state title in track.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS:
• The Columbia, Md., native was selected by the Titans in the second round (52nd overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft.
COLLEGE:
• Started 23 of 47 games at North Carolina, including 11 starts at weakside outside linebacker and 12 starts at the strongside spot. Recorded 230 tackles with 5.5 sacks for minus 37 yards, 19 stops for losses of 64 yards and six quarterback pressures. Also caused three fumbles, posted a fumble recovery, deflected four passes and intercepted seven others for 137 yards in returns (19.57 avg). His 70-yard interception return against Virginia in 2010 ranks as the 11th-longest interception runback in school history.
AS A SENIOR (2011), the Butkus Award semi-finalist was named All-Atlantic Coast Conference by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association. Was named All-American honorable mention by The NFL Draft Report and was the recipient of the 2011 Elite Linebacker Trophy from the College Football Performance Awards. Named the Tar Heels Most Valuable Player after starting 12 games at strongside outside linebacker. Led the team with 105 tackles, ranked second on the squad with 5.5 sacks for minus 37 yards and 13.5 stops for losses of 49 yards. Added six quarterback pressures, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, four passes defensed and three interceptions for 24 yards in returns. Finished seventh in the ACC with an average of 1.04 tackles-for-loss, ninth with 8.08 tackles per game and 10th with 0.42 sacks each contest. Recorded at least 10 tackles in five games, including his final three contests.
• At Clemson (10/22), posted seven tackles and two sacks for 14 yards.
• Against Wake Forest (10/29), finished with a team-best nine tackles, including 2.5 for losses of 11 yards, an interception and a forced fumble.
• Against Missouri (12/26), had a season-high 14 tackles to go along with two tackles for losses and an interception in the Independence Bowl.
AS A JUNIOR (2010), played in all 13 games with five starts and finished second on the team with 72 tackles that included 1.5 stops for minus four yards and a trio of interceptions for 113 yards in returns (37.7 avg). Earned enough points to be named a special teams captain (Carolina awards points throughout the year on special teams and the player with the most points are named captains).
• Against Clemson (10/9), started and had 14 tackles, including 10 primary stops, in a big win over the Tigers.
• At Virginia (10/16), recorded 10 tackles and returned an interception 70 yards to set up a score in Carolina’s first win at Virginia since 1981.
• At Miami (10/23), produced his third-straight double-digit tackle game by matching his career-high with 14 tackles.
• Against Tennessee (12/30), posted four tackles, including one tackle for loss, and had one interception for 43 yards in the Music City Bowl win.
AS A SOPHOMORE (2009), started the first six games at weakside outside linebacker after playing primarily on special teams as a freshman. Finished the season with 47 tackles, including four for losses of 11 yards.
• Against Georgia Southern (10/10), posted an interception in a 42-12 win.
AS A FRESHMAN (2008), as a true freshman played on special teams and as a reserve linebacker, recording six tackles.
• Against West Virginia (12/27), had one tackle in Meineke Car Care Bowl.
• Was an African-American studies major at North Carolina.
PERSONAL:
• Single, and resides in Columbia, Md.
• In 2007, attended Hargrave (Chatham, Va.) Military Academy prior to enrolling at the University of North Carolina. Played outside linebacker for renowned head coach Robert Prunty. Rivals.com regarded the four-star prospect as the 12th-best prep school player in the country and Scout.com also awarded him a four-star rating and ranked him among the nation’s Top 10 linebacker recruits.
• Attended Wilde Lake High School in Columbia, Md., playing football for head coach Doug Duvall. The standout 210-pound tailback and weakside outside linebacker was an All-Howard County selection as a senior, as he rushed for 1,537 yards and 20 touchdowns and collected over 90 solo tackles.
• Also starred in wrestling and track. During his 29-0 record on the wrestling mat, he recorded 17 pins and five technical falls. Captured the state class 3-A title in the 100-meter dash (10.67 seconds) and 200-meter dash (21.52), becoming the first player in school history to win a state title in track.
• List of favorites: (movie) “The Wood”; (TV show) “Family Guy”; (music artist) T.I.; (school subject) math; (car) Audi; (restaurant) Outback Steakhouse; and (sports team other than the Titans) Boston Red Sox and N.Y. Knicks.
• Follow Brown on Twitter at @ZachBrown_55.
• Born Zachery Vinzale Brown on Oct. 23, 1989 in Beaufort, S.C.
