Top Auburn Football Players of the 2000s

As the AuburnTigers begin their football season, here is a look at the best players from 2000-2009 (Cam Newton only played for the Tigers in 2010, so he does not count). Fans with Tigers football tickets will remember these players fondly:

1.) Carnell Williams – Few running backs across the country over the past decade were as successful as “Cadillac”. A starter for the Tigers by the end of his true freshman season, Williams finished his career No. 2 in school history in rushing with 3,831 yards, trailing only 1885 Heisman trophy winner Bo Jackson, and also holds the school record for rushing touchdowns with 45. He did this despite splitting carries with fellow 2005 first round pick Ronnie Brown. Unfortunately, after earning Rookie of the Year honors in 2005, his promising pro career was derailed by several serious knee injuries, and he was never able to return to the form that made him the No. 5 overall pick.

2.) Karlos Dansby – There are few linebackers to ever play that game that are as versatile as the athletic Dansby, who make an impact in multiple aspects of the game on defense. A three-year starter at outside linebacker for the Tigers, Dansby racked up 219 tackles, 36 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 15 pass deflections and eight picks, and was named an All-American as a senior in 2003. A two-time All-SEC pick, Dansby was a tremendous force on the defensive side of the ball. He went on to have great success in the NFL, starting for the Arizona Cardinals for six seasons before signing one of the largest contracts ever for a linebacker with the Miami Dolphins.

3.) Marcus McNeill – Offensive lineman rarely get the credit they are due, but McNeill was so dominant that he is impossible to leave off this list. A four-year starter for the Tigers, McNeill received both All-SEC and All-America first team honors in both 2004 and 2005, as he did not allow a sack in either season and paved the way for huge years from Williams, Brown and Kenny Irons. A mammoth presence on the line at 6-foot-7 and over 330 pounds, McNeill was one of the best college offensive lineman of the past decade, and enjoyed a brief but successful career with the San Diego Chargers before retiring due to recurring neck issues.

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