Chris Graythen/Getty Images Defense has been the driving force for successful Auburn football teams in the past. When the Tigers have success stuffing the run and suppressing the pass, championships tend to follow.
The 1957 Auburn Tigers championship team didn?t allow a rushing touchdown all season. The 2010 team was No. 9 in rushing defense and finished the season with the best showing of the year against Oregon in the national title game.
Looking at past success for the Tigers, there have been some very talented Tigers that have led the charge for the lauded defenses. Looking back through the year?s at the bone-crushing hits and pick sixes, here are the top 20 defenders in Auburn Tigers history.?
Zeke Smith: DL, 1957-59
Zeke Smith was a stud defensive tackle for the 1957 Auburn Tigers national title team. He also was the first Auburn Tigers player to win the Outland Trophy for the nation?s top defensive lineman.
Smith was also a consensus All-American selection following the 1958 season, as well as a preseason Playboy All-American in 1959.
Smith played both offense and defense, but his biggest impact was along the defensive line. The 1958 Tigers defense led by Smith held the Tennessee Volunteers to minus-33 yards of offense and no first downs in their annual conference showdown.
Smith is ingrained in Auburn history with the annual awarding of the Zeke Smith Award. It has been awarded to the Auburn Tigers defensive player of the year since 1977.?
Jackie Burkett: LB, 1957-59
Jackie Burkett was a member of the Tigers national championship team in 1957 and was a multi-sport star for the Tigers. In football, he played center and linebacker.
Burkett earned All-SEC honors in 1958, and was an All-American during the 1958 and 1959. Burkett was the defensive captain during the ?59 season, calling the signals for the defense.
Burkett was considered to be a part of one of the most dominant tandems in football alongside Zeke Smith. Burkett helped lead a Tigers defense that did not allow a rushing touchdown during the 1957 season, eventually becoming the national champion for that year.?
Buddy McClinton: DB, 1967-69
Buddy McClinton was one of the few Tigers that started every game of his career for the Tigers. McClinton earned All-SEC honors all three seasons of varsity play.
In 1969, McClinton set the Auburn record for interceptions in a season finishing with nine total picks that year. He also holds the all-time record for interceptions for Auburn with 18 in his career.
1969 was also the year that McClinton earned his consensus All-American honors. Most recently, McClinton was honored by the SEC as he became one of 12 SEC Football Legends for the 2011 Legends class.?
David Langner: DB, 1971-73
David Langner is forever etched in Auburn lore for his participation in the ?Punt, Bama, Punt? game in 1972. Bill Newton blocked two consecutive Alabama punts to see Langner return both for touchdowns.
Not only did Langner return the punts for touchdowns in that game, he also intercepted two Crimson Tide passes, one of which on their final attempt to take the lead.
Outside of that one famous game, Langner turned out one of the best careers for a defensive back at Auburn. Langner is tied for fifth on Auburn?s career interception list with 12 and is also tied for second for most interceptions in a season with eight in 1972.
Langner also holds the record for the most interception return yards in a single game when he compiled 108 yards on two interceptions against UT-Chattanooga in 1971. One of those went for a touchdown.?
Freddie Smith: LB, 1976-79
Freddie Smith earned his nickname ?Fast Freddie? for a reason?the guy was a burner. Smith played during a mediocre time for Auburn football, the Doug Barfield years, but he was anything but a mediocre defender.
Smith currently holds the all-time tackle record for Auburn with 528 total tackles. Smith currently sits at the No. 1 and No. 4 position for total tackles in a season. In 1977 he recorded 193 total tackles, and in 1979 he finished with 162 total tackles.
Smith has been a player that has been somewhat lost in the shuffle of history. At the end of the day, he was one of the best linebackers to ever adorn orange and blue and is likely to never see his tackles record touched.
Smith is now a member of the Limestone County Sports Hall of Fame, becoming an inductee during the 2008 class.
Gregg Carr: LB, 1981-84
Gregg Carr finished his career as an Auburn Tiger as the second leading tackler in school history with 453 total tackles. Carr led the Tigers in tackles for three consecutive years, earning All-American honors as a senior in 1984.
Carr was nominated for the Lombardi Award in 1984 but finished with only his All-American and All-SEC honors.
Carr was selected as the SEC Athlete of the Year in 1984. Carr finished No.8 and No. 9 for tackles in a single season with a 139 tackle performance in 1984 and a 136 tackle season in 1983.
Carr was drafted in the 1985 NFL draft in the sixth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he went on to play four seasons tallying seven starts.?
Aundray Bruce: LB, 1985-87
Aundray Bruce was a highly active linebacker during his time with the Tigers in the late 1980?s. Bruce garnered All-SEC honors during the 1986 and 1987 seasons and was also an All-American selection during 1987.
Bruce played alongside another famous Tiger, Kurt Crain, during the ?86 and ?87 seasons. Bruce was extremely athletic and exploded on national television with his 1987 performance against Georgia Tech. Bruce intercepted three passes and recorded 10 tackles on the way to a Tigers victory.
Bruce was drafted first overall in the 1988 draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Bruce played 11 years in the NFL.
Tracy Rocker: DL, 1985-88
Tracy Rocker is one of many talented defensive linemen to come through Auburn, but he was a cut above the rest in his time on the Plains.
Rocker was a two time All-American winner during the 1987-88 seasons. He was also the first player from the SEC to win both the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Award in the same season.
That year, 1988, Rocker recorded 100 tackles, an enormous stat for an interior lineman. Rocker finished his career with 354 tackles, 48 of which went for loss.
Rocker is No. 7 on the Tigers all-time tackles list and No. 4 on the Tigers all-time sack leaders list with 21 sacks.
Rocker returned to the Plains for two seasons as the defensive line coach for Gene Chizik and helped guide Nick Fairley to his own Lombardi Award.
Rocker is now a part of the Tennessee Titans coaching staff guiding the defensive line which includes former Auburn Tigers Zach Clayton and Sen?Derrick Marks.
Kurt Crain: LB, 1986-87
Kurt Crain was a dangerous threat for the Auburn defense during the 1986-87 seasons. Crain was a transfer from Memphis State to the Tigers, and was a leader for his two seasons on the Plains.
Crain played for legendary coach Pat Dye who referred to Crain as having ?linebacker personality.?
Crain became an All-American during the 1987 season when he led the Tigers in tackles and interceptions. Crain was the tackling leader for the Tigers during the 1986 season as well.
His 1987 performance ranks No. 2 in total tackles in a season with 168 total tackles, while his 1986 tackling total (156 TT) places him at the No. 5 spot for tackles in a season.
Crain finished his Auburn career with 323 tackles and with two All-SEC selections under his belt.
Crain is now the linebackers and associate head coach for the University of South Alabama Jaguars.?
Quentin Riggins: LB, 1986-89
Quentin Riggins was a beastly four-year letterman for the Auburn Tigers. Riggins was a tackling machine who had a nose for the football. Riggins sits at fifth on the Tigers all-time tackles list.
Riggins finished his career with nine games totaling 15 tackles, and three others with 20 or more. The 1989 season saw Riggins take the reins as a team captain where he finished the season with 165 total tackles, the third best season in school history.
Riggins led the Tigers in tackles from 1988-89. Riggins finished his career with the Tigers as a second team All-American and first team All-SEC selection during those same seasons. In 2009, he became one of 12 selected for the 2009 SEC Football Legend?s Class.
Riggins is currently found bridging the gap between government and the private energy sector as the Vice President of Governmental Relations for Alabama Power as well as providing great sideline reporting and commentary for the Auburn Sports Network during football season.?
Terry Daniel: P, 1992-94
Punting is not first thought of when thinking defensive football, but punting is quite a formidable weapon that can work wonders for a defense.
Terry Daniel was the best punter in Auburn history. Daniel leads a long line of successful specialists that have come through Auburn.
Daniel finished his Auburn career with the longest punt average for a career with 44.51 yards per punt, and also finished the 1993 season with the best single season average with 46.92 yards per punt.
Daniel was also an All-American selection following the 1993 season.?
Brian Robinson: DB, 1992-94
Brian Robinson was an elite defensive back during the early 1990?s for the Tigers. Currently, Robinson sits at No. 3 with career interceptions and holds the record for most interceptions returned for touchdowns with three.
Robinson was an All-American selection in 1994 with a memorable performance against the No. 1 ranked Florida Gators. The moment that is caught in time in most fans memories is the winning touchdown catch from Frank Sanders.
Before the catch however Robinson had intercepted three Gators passes, the third of which set up the winning touchdown drive. Oddly enough, both Sanders and Robinson hailed from the same school in Florida, Dillard High School in Ft. Lauderdale.
Robinson finished with 13 career interceptions.
Takeo Spikes: LB, 1995-97
Takeo Spikes is a linebacker that makes hitting look smooth and effortless, until the ball carrier thuds to the ground. He has a unique playing speed and tenacity that served him well on the Plains and has seen him excel at the professional level.
At Auburn, Spikes finished No. 10 in total tackles with 331 total stops to his credit. His final season, 1997, Spikes finished with 136 total tackles placing him tied at No. 9 with Gregg Carr for total tackles in a single season.
Spikes was a 1997 All-American selection for the Tigers.
Spikes was a feared defender for the Tigers where he carried the nickname TKO, meaning "The Knock Out." Spikes also boasts a 22-inch neck, which obviously adds to the intimidating swagger that he carries.?
Reggie Torbor: DE, 2000-03
Reggie Torbor was an elite defensive end for the Tigers during his four-year career. Torbor put in the seventh best season for a sack specialist in 2003 totaling 9.5 sacks for the Tigers.
Torbor also sits sixth all-time for sacks in a career with 18.5. Torbor only received second team All-SEC honors his senior season, but finished his Auburn career with much more of an impact than any award could give.
Torbor started 22 career games for the Tigers finishing with 120 total tackles, 32 of which went for loss.
Torbor was drafted in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL draft. He still plays professionally for the Buffalo Bills.?
Dontarrious Thomas: LB, 2000-2003
Dontarrious Thomas was a very formidable defender for the Tigers during the early 2000?s. Thomas was a leading reason for the Tigers to earn the preseason national attention that they gained prior to the 2003 season.
Thomas finished his Auburn career eighth all-time on the Auburn total tackles list. He led the Tigers in tackles during the 2001 season, finishing with 122 total stops.
Thomas was a feared middle defender that kept opposing rushers at bay and helped the Auburn defense retain its tenacious and nasty reputation as a stingy and hard-hitting squad throughout the 2000?s.
Karlos Dansby: LB, 2000-03
Karlos Dansby came to Auburn as a wide receiver from Woodlawn High School in Birmingham. Dansby was one of the first of many defense converts during the Tommy Tuberville era. Dansby also played for current head coach Gene Chizik during his time as the Auburn defensive coordinator from 2002-2004.
Dansby saw his career take many turns starting out as a safety convert that eventually found his way to linebacker.
Dansby led the Tigers in interceptions in 2001 with five, and led the team in tackles in 2003 with 84 showing the progression during his career.
Dansby was the only All-American selection from the 2003 Auburn Tigers team. The 2003 Auburn Tigers team carried a preseason No. 1 ranking into their season opener against USC, only to see the season end with five losses. Dansby was one of the lone bright spots for the Tigers during that year.
Dansby was drafted in the second round by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2004 NFL draft. He currently plays for the Miami Dolphins.?
Carlos Rogers: DB, 2001-04
Carlos Rogers was an instant impact player from day one on the Plains. His freshman season he started 10 games, recording 58 total tackles.
Rogers went on to set the Auburn record for pass deflections with 40. He also compiled 182 total tackles and seven interceptions in his career. Rogers was a consistent performer that even played the majority of his junior season with a casted left hand following an early season thumb break.
Rogers career in orange in blue reached its pinnacle during the 2004 undefeated season. Rogers was a major part of the Tigers success earning the Tigers first and only Jim Thorpe Award at season's end. Rogers was also a consensus All-American in 2004.
Rodgers was drafted in 2005 during the first round by the Washington Redskins. He is still playing in the NFL with the San Francisco 49?ers.?
Quentin Groves: DE, 2004-07
Quentin Groves came to Auburn as a unique pass-rushing defensive end. At Greenville Weston High School in Greenville, MS, Groves played both tight end and defensive end going on to become a Top 100 player, according to Tom Lemming.
Groves came in at a special time for Auburn becoming an instant playmaker for the 2004 undefeated team as a red-shirt freshman. Groves totaled 7.5 sacks that season including a single-game record-tying performance with four sacks against Kentucky.
Groves worked his way into backfields often as a sack specialist throughout his career earning a total of 26 career sacks, placing him tied for first on Auburn?s all-time sack list. Groves was a part of the 50-win 2007 senior class, the class with the most wins in Auburn history.
Groves was drafted in the second round by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2008 and currently plays for the Oakland Raiders.?
Antonio Coleman: DE, 2006-09
Antonio Coleman burst onto the seen as a sophomore in 2007 tallying 37 tackles and 8.5 sacks. Coleman helped fill in for an injured Quentin Groves and allowed for the Tigers to see virtually no drop-off in his absence.
Coleman ended his Auburn career third on the career sack list with 24.5 total sacks. He is also tied for ninth for most in a season when he totaled nine sacks during the 2009 season.
Coleman was a bright spot for the Tigers defense during the transition years of 2008 and 2009.
Coleman entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He is currently on the Arizona Cardinals roster as a linebacker. ?
Nick Fairley: DL, 2009-10
Nick Fairley transferred from JUCO to Auburn in 2009. Fairley only started two games that season and recorded 28 tackles. It was a far cry from groundbreaking defensive play.
In 2010, the switch was flipped for good, and Fairley stormed onto the scene finishing his senior season with 60 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks and an interception. That performance made him the Tigers second Lombardi Award winner, as Tracy Rocker was the first.
History was made that season as Fairley was the first Lombardi winner to be coached by a former winner himself.
Fairley left the Plains a year early and was a part of the 2011 NFL draft where he was a first-round pick by the Detroit Lions.?
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1079808-auburn-football-the-20-best-defensive-players-in-tigers-history
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