Some 250 pro football reps, 100-or-so media types, 22 former Tigers ready for Auburn's Pro DayPublished: Tuesday, March 08, 2011, 7:44 AM Updated: Tuesday, March 08, 2011, 7:44 AM
By Charles Goldberg/Auburn Bureau, The Birmingham News, Press-Register, and The Huntsville Times
AUBURN -- Move over, Ronnie Brown and Carnell Williams. Step aside, Jason Campbell and Carlos Rogers.
You were selected in the first round of the 2005 NFL draft from Auburn, but you didn't get there under the spotlight that will be turned on the 23 former Tigers who are scheduled to go through Pro Day in Jordan-Hare Stadium today.
Upwards to 250 pro football representatives, a media contingent that will push 100 and a live Internet broadcast on ESPN3 will focus on the hopefuls, but mainly defensive tackle Nick Fairley and quarterback Cam Newton, the two stars of last season's national championship team who are trying to improve their first-round status before April's draft.
They won't be lonely. The 250 pro representatives will be about 150 more than turned out to watch Brown, Williams, Campbell and Rogers, who ultimately grabbed four of the first 25 picks of the 2005 draft.
Trying to make a move in the early rounds after Fairley and Newton will be receiver Darvin Adams and offensive lineman Lee Ziemba. Running back Mario Fannin and defensive lineman Zach Clayton may be in the next group to impress.
The list today includes Auburn's last three starting quarterbacks: Newton, Chris Todd and Kodi Burns, the QB-turned-receiver-turned-fan favorite.
"Everybody is talking about Cam and Nick, but it's the other players we have available for the draft that makes this attractive," said Kevin Yoxall, Auburn's strength and conditioning coach who coordinates the university pro days.
"This year it's the sheer numbers we have and the great players we have."
The serious Pro Day activity begins at 12:30 p.m. in Jordan-Hare Stadium. It is closed to the public, but will be shown on ESPN3, plus live cut-ins on the NFL Network.
The ardent Auburn fans will be watching the complete list of players.
But ESPN3 and the overflow of pro scouts will be on hand to see Newton after a made-for-media workout last month that was followed by the NFL combine that apparently failed to answer questions about how he would do in a drop-back passing offense.
NFL analyst Gil Brandt list Newton and Fairley as two of his 10 Tier I prospects. He likes Ziemba and Adams after that. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. lists Fairley as the No. 2 overall pick. He has Newton at No. 10.
Solomon Wilcots, a former NFL defensive back and now an analyst on the NFL Network, says Newton has some work to do today.
"After showing signs of inaccuracy throwing the ball at the scouting combine he has to impress scouts in this pro day workout. He has to throw, and he has to throw well," Wilcots said on an Internet broadcast.
Wilcots said scouts may wonder about Newton's footwork in a drop-back passing game.
Michael Lombardi, another NFL Network analyst who worked for five pro teams, says Newton will need refinement.
"Whatever team takes Cam Newton, they're taking a very raw prospect who is extremely talented. Much like Tim Tebow last year, you've got to buy in, all the way in," Lombardi said.
Here are the players scheduled to participate, in alphabetical order: receiver Darvin Adams, offensive lineman Mike Berry, defensive lineman Mike Blanc, offensive lineman Jorrell Bostrom, receiver Kodi Burns, linebacker Josh Bynes, kicker Wes Byrum, defensive lineman Antoine Carter, defensive lineman Zach Clayton, defensive back Zac Etheridge, defensive tackle Nick Fairley, running back Mario Fannin, defensive lineman Michael Goggans, offensive lineman Byron Isom, quarterback Cam Newton, offensive lineman Ryan Pugh, linebacker Craig Stevens, defensive back Demond Washington, receiver Terrell Zachery, offensive lineman Lee Ziemba; and, from the 2009 team, defensive lineman/tight end Gabe McKenzie and quarterback Chris Todd.
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