AUBURN, Ala. -- Auburn made one final case to be called the
nation's best college football team Saturday.
The Tigers became the first team to have an entire offensive
backfield -- two running backs and a quarterback -- selected in the
first round of the NFL draft since the AFL-NFL merger in 1967 and
the first in the Southeastern Conference to have four
first-rounders.
Tailback Ronnie Brown was the second overall pick by the Miami
Dolphins and Carnell Williams went to Tampa Bay three picks later.
Cornerback Carlos Rogers and quarterback Jason Campbell went to
Washington with the ninth and 25th picks, respectively.
Auburn had never had more than two players chosen in Round 1.
The Tigers went 13-0 last season but were shut out of the national
championship game and had to state their case for No. 1 off the
field.
Saturday's draft "showed everyone why we should have been
competing for the national title this year," Campbell said.
Williams and Brown were only the fourth running back tandem
selected in the first round of the NFL draft since the AFL-NFL
merger in 1967. They join former Auburn runners Rudi Johnson and
Stephen Davis in the NFL.
As for the backfield sweep, Tuberville said, "I don't think
it's ever happened before and I don't think it will ever happen
again."
"It's one of those things that you feel good knowing that we
knew we had a good football team and now this puts the icing on the
cake knowing that we are really starting to be recognized by the
efforts of the NFL people who have done all of the background
work," Tuberville said.
Rogers was the Jim Thorpe Award winner as the nation's top
defensive back and Campbell was the SEC offensive player of the
year and Williams was an AP All-American.
But the biggest postseason honor came Saturday.
Campbell didn't become a star until his senior year, blossoming
under the tutelage of new offensive coordinator Al Borges and
having a career year.
"I've grown a lot through all these years," he said. "I've
learned a lot of knowledge about the football game and I've just
been patient. Everything has worked out for me."