EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Cam Brown has yet to step into the Giants' headquarters, but he already has a group of strong supporters he can turn to for advice.
It includes a pair of third-year pros in running back Saquon Barkley and cornerback Grant Haley, his former teammates at Penn State. But perhaps no one will help ease his transition to the NFL as much as Sean Spencer, the Nittany Lions' defensive line coach during Brown's four seasons in the program who now holds the same position with the Giants.
They all reached out to Brown after the Giants selected the linebacker in the sixth round of the NFL Draft, No. 183rd overall.
"From the start, honestly, I talked to Grant and Saquon, coach Spence, everybody on draft day congratulated me," Brown said today on Zoom interview. "Just reconnecting with them a little bit. Say and Grant, it was more so asking them for pieces of advice, bouncing quick ideas off them real quick. But I'm pretty sure more communication will go on as long as this goes on, as long as we're away from each other."
Although Spencer was not Brown's position coach, the two became close even before they worked together on the Penn State defense.
"Honestly, coach Spence, that's my guy," Brown said. "I was going to be recruited as a D-end so we had a relationship. Came to see me all of the time during recruitment in high school. It's grown and blossomed. I feel like I became one of the guys he could trust on the defense and one of the guys that I can trust in him, to go to, with problems or things like that. Our relationship is growing, and I hope it continues to blossom.
"Coach Spence, we used to call him the ultimate motivator. He's going to get guys riled up, his coaching style is energetic, he's out there with you, he's going to run around, he's going to crack jokes with you. He's going to yell at you, and he'll get on you hard, but you know it's coming from a loving place. With coach Spence going through different drills, like certain days we had a hunger drills where it was like each day you're working on things coaches feel like we need this week - like maybe tackling, maybe hand work, pass rush. With coach Spence, he was always there to correct those pass rush moves and things like that. I hope and pray we can get some more cross-training there so I keep up that relationship with him."
That will certainly happen, because at 6-5 and 233 pounds, Brown not only has impressive size, he has the big wingspan and good speed to make him a productive pass rusher. And Spencer should know as well as anyone how to get the most out of Brown's skills.
"When you're 6-5 on the second level, and the quarterback is trying to throw a dig, it's kind of hard when you've got to clear about seven to eight feet of height and length in the arms," Brown said. "For me, it's been getting into windows, it helps with the range. Even when you're diving through tackles that length allows you to get a little bit further than most."
View photos of the entire 10-member New York Giants 2020 Draft Class
GEORGIA OT ANDREW THOMAS
ALABAMA SAFETY XAVIER MCKINNEY
UCONN OT MATT PEART
UCLA CB Darnay Holmes
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Oregon Guard Shane Lemieux
(AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File)
Penn State LB Cam Brown
(AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Minnesota LB Carter Coughlin
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
South Carolina LB T.J. Brunson
(AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
Minnesota CB Chris Williamson
(AP Photo/Matthew Putney)
Georgia LB Tae Crowder
(AP Photo/John Amis)
Georgia offensive lineman Andrew Thomas (71) plays against Missouri during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Georgia offensive lineman Andrew Thomas (71) is shown in action against South Carolina in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in Athensw. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Georgia offensive lineman Andrew Thomas (71) is shown in action during the first half of an NCAA college football game against the Murray State Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
FILE - In this Aug. 31, 2019, file photo, Georgia offensive lineman Andrew Thomas (71) plays against Vanderbilt in the first half of an NCAA college football game, in Nashville, Tenn. Thomas was selected to The Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference football team, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Andrew Thomas (71) pursues against the Vanderbilt Commodores during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brett Carlsen)
Georgia offensive lineman Andrew Thomas (71) plays against Vanderbilt in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. Georgia won 30-6. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Georgia offensive lineman Andrew Thomas (71) prepares for action during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Murray State, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Georgia offensive lineman Andrew Thomas (71) lines up against Vanderbilt in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Georgia offensive lineman Andrew Thomas runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
S Xavier McKinney
(AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) knocks the football loose from Auburn running back JaTarvious Whitlow (28) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
FILE - In this Oct. 12, 2019, file photo, Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) calls a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Texas A&M, in College Station, Texas. McKinney was selected to The Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference football team, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Sam Craft, File)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney heads to the bench during the first half of an NCAA college football game against South Carolina Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Southern Miss, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Marvin Gentry)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) reacts to the refs during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Auburn, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Connecticut offensive lineman Matt Peart (65) sets up to block at the line of scrimmage in front of Central Florida defensive lineman Landon Woodson (93) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Connecticut offensive lineman Matt Peart (65) sets up to block at the line of scrimmage during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Central Florida Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Connecticut offensive lineman Matt Peart (65) runs on to the field during senior day festivities before the start of an NCAA college football game against East Carolina Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in East Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Stephen Dunn)
Connecticut offensive lineman Matt Peart runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Connecticut offensive lineman Matt Peart runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Connecticut offensive lineman Matt Peart runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Connecticut offensive lineman Matt Peart runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Connecticut offensive lineman Matt Peart runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Connecticut offensive lineman Matt Peart runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
UCLA's Darnay Holmes (1) returns a kick against Memphis in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
UCLA Bruins defensive back Darnay Holmes (1) warms up before an NCAA college football game against Arizona, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
UCLA defensive back Darnay Holmes returns a kick while Texas A&M linebackers Braden White and Buddy Johnson tackle him during an NCAA college football game, Sunday, Sept. 3, 2017, in Pasadena, Calif. UCLA won 45-44. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)
UCLA defensive back Darnay Holmes walks off the field after an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
UCLA defensive back Darnay Holmes (1) during an NCAA college football game against Arizona, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
UCLA defensive back Darnay Holmes (1) in the second half during an NCAA college football game against Arizona, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz. Arizona defeated UCLA 20-17. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
UCLA defensive back Darnay Holmes (1) during an NCAA college football game against Arizona, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
UCLA defensive back Darnay Holmes runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Oregon offensive lineman Shane Lemieux (68) in between drills before the start of an NCAA college football game against Stanford on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Oregon offensive lineman Shane Lemieux (68) blocks against Stanford during the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, in Stanford, Calif. Oregon won 21-6. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Oregon offensive lineman Shane Lemieux runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Oregon offensive lineman Shane Lemieux runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Oregon offensive lineman Shane Lemieux runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Oregon offensive lineman Shane Lemieux (68) in the first half during an NCAA college football game against Arizona State, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Oregon offensive lineman Shane Lemieux runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Oregon offensive lineman Shane Lemieux runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Oregon offensive lineman Shane Lemieux runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Rutgers' Gus Edwards (13) gets knocked out of bounds before crossing the goal line by Penn State's Cam Brown (6) and Parker Cothren (41) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017. (AP Photo/Chris Knight)
Penn State linebacker Cam Brown (6) hits Indiana running back Ricky Brookins (33) to break up a pass play during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) gets off a pass under pressure by Penn State linebacker Cam Brown (6) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Minnesota linebacker Carter Coughlin (45) plays against Purdue during the second half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. Minnesota defeated Purdue 38-31. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Georgia Southern quarterback Justin Tomlin (17) passes while under the pressure of Minnesota linebacker Carter Coughlin (45) in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Minnesota linebacker Carter Coughlin (45) plays against Purdue during the first half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Minnesota linebacker Carter Coughlin (45) on field against Penn State during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Minnesota linebacker Carter Coughlin (45) plays against Purdue during the second half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. Minnesota defeated Purdue 38-31. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Minnesota linebacker Carter Coughlin (45) plays against Purdue tight end Garrett Miller (88) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. Minnesota defeated Purdue 38-31. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Minnesota linebacker Carter Coughlin (45) plays against Purdue during the second half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. Minnesota defeated Purdue 38-31. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Minnesota linebacker Carter Coughlin (45) plays against Purdue during the second half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. Minnesota defeated Purdue 38-31. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Minnesota linebacker Carter Coughlin (45) during an NCAA college football game against New Mexico State,Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Missouri wide receiver Emanuel Hall, right, runs past South Carolina's T.J. Brunson, left, during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017, file photo, Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant (2) scrambles from the pocket against South Carolina linebacker T.J. Brunson (6) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Columbia, S.C. Clemson's Kelly Bryant and Miami's Malik Rosier are longtime backups blossoming as starters. One of them will celebrate an ACC championship when the top-ranked Tigers faced No. 7 Hurricanes on Saturday night. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford, File)
North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell (7) scores a two-point conversion against South Carolina linebacker T.J. Brunson, left, and defensive lineman Jabari Ellis in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019. North Carolina won 24-20. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks (13) looks for a receiver as he is rushed by South Carolina linebacker T.J. Brunson (6) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
South Carolina linebacker T.J. Brunson (6) celebrates an interception during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
Minnesota's defensive back Chris Williamson (6) during the first half of a college football game Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, in Minneapolis, Minn. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Minnesota's defensive back Chris Williamson (6) sacks Northwestern quarterback Clayton Thorson during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, in Minneapolis. Northwestern won 24-14. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Minnesota defensive back Chris Williamson (6) tips the ball in the end zone away from the arms of Penn State wide receiver KJ Hamler (1) during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in Minneapolis. Minnesota won 31-26. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Iowa wide receiver Nico Ragaini, left, dives into the end zone for a touchdown as Minnesota defensive back Chris Williamson trails during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney)
Baylor running back Trestan Ebner (25) loses the ball on a pass play while being hit by Georgia linebacker Tae Crowder (30) which Georgia intercepted in the first half of the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game in New Orleans, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. Left is Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean (17). (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
Georgia linebacker Tae Crowder (30) moves near Notre Dame offensive lineman Tommy Kraemer (78) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Georgia linebacker Tae Crowder (30) comes up celebrating after Missouri wide receiver C.J. Boone (10) is brought down during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Brown played in 51 games with 26 starts at Penn State, including 24 starts in his final two seasons. His career totals included 199 tackles (99 solo), including 15 stops for loss, 5.0 sacks, 11 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Brown had a career-high 72 tackles (28 solo) as a senior and a career-best 41 unassisted stops in his junior season.
His ascendance took a path followed by many college players. Before he became a defensive standout, Brown made his most significant contributions on special teams.
"Freshman and sophomore year, it was how I made my money, honestly," Brown said. "It was how I got on the field. Freshman year, I played every special teams, kickoff, kick return, punt, punt return. Made some plays on kickoff and punt return. Sophomore year, I still was playing a lot of special teams, that was more so kickoff, punt, a little bit of punt return there. But that year, or those two years, I was getting my feet wet, trying to get the experience, trying to understand the flow of the game. Just going against different players, I mean every game at kickoff you really get to size people up. The game always starts and ends with a kick so it's kind of what I got used to and kind of how I started my progression in college."
Playing special teams is a job requirement for NFL backup linebackers. So, does Brown anticipate his Giants career will mirror his time at Penn State?
"Yeah, I do," Brown said. "I definitely understand that as a rookie coming in that I'm going to have to do and play all special teams. I mean it's a 53-man roster, you've got to play your role and that role might be in multiple places. I'm willing and ready to play."
Brown could line up at any number of spots, as he did at Penn State.
"My freshmen year I played the Will, the boundary backer for us which gets a lot of action," Brown said. "Sophomore year I moved to the Sam position while playing Will still. The Sam for us is almost like an NFL nickel. We sit on top of two, we're rerouting receivers, we're not really in the run game. Junior year I stayed at Sam and played Mike on third downs. Mike for us on third downs is our pass coverages, our dollar (coverage), we're mixing stuff up, blitzing whatever it may be. Senior year, it was the same combination. I bounced around. Even at the Sam position, there's no two wide, but I was playing the wide guy. Honestly, I played a little bit of everything. I haven't put my hand in the dirt but outside of that, everything on the second level I have played.
"I was doing whatever was needed, whatever (Penn State defensive coordinator/linebackers) coach (Brent) Pry asked me. If that was jumping from positions - from Will to Sam, to back to Mike, I feel like that versatility and that diversity in positions I've played has only helped me. I feel like I don't mind if people may have overlooked me, that's fine. I made my way to the NFL and I'm ready to show what I can do there and whatever the coaches want me to do there, pass rush, drop, coverage, whatever it may be, I'm ready to do it."
That's just what his support system – and the other Giants coaches – want to hear.
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