I would have thought the NFL would have had more interest in Auburn players during the recent NFL Draft. After all, the Tigers just won college football's biggest crown. Only four players were drafted off this year's championship team. Cam Newton and Nick Fairley were taken in the first round and Zack Clayton and Lee Ziemba were taken in the seventh round.
This year, three SEC teams produced more draft picks than Auburn; LSU and Georgia with six each and Alabama with five. Auburn beat all of them on the field. Florida and Mississippi State joined the Tigers with four players drafted.
Auburn's undrafted players represented the heart of their championship season. Darvin Adams was Auburn's leading receiver the past two seasons. Linebacker Josh Bynes led Auburn in tackles during the past two seasons. Zac Etheridge tied Bynes for the team lead in interceptions. Antonine Carter made the huge play against Alabama causing Mark Ingram to fumble that started the comeback to beat the Tide. Wes Byrum was a reliable kicker and had the winning kick in the title game. Ryan Pugh was essentially a four year starter on the offensive line. Byron Isom and Mike Berry both started three years. All these players were Undrafted.
I'm not sure what all this means but I do know that there were 23 undrafted free agents in the last NFL Pro Bowl.
This year, three SEC teams produced more draft picks than Auburn; LSU and Georgia with six each and Alabama with five. Auburn beat all of them on the field. Florida and Mississippi State joined the Tigers with four players drafted.
Auburn's undrafted players represented the heart of their championship season. Darvin Adams was Auburn's leading receiver the past two seasons. Linebacker Josh Bynes led Auburn in tackles during the past two seasons. Zac Etheridge tied Bynes for the team lead in interceptions. Antonine Carter made the huge play against Alabama causing Mark Ingram to fumble that started the comeback to beat the Tide. Wes Byrum was a reliable kicker and had the winning kick in the title game. Ryan Pugh was essentially a four year starter on the offensive line. Byron Isom and Mike Berry both started three years. All these players were Undrafted.
I'm not sure what all this means but I do know that there were 23 undrafted free agents in the last NFL Pro Bowl.