25 best NFL players of all time from the SEC
By John Buhler
Cam Newton
Quarterback, Auburn Tigers
After taking the college football world by storm during Auburn’s 2010 National Championship, Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Cam Newton went No. 1 overall to the Carolina Panthers in the 2011 NFL Draft. Five years later, he had Carolina playing in Super Bowl 50.
When he’s on, Newton is the most electrifying dual-threat quarterback in the game. He has a rocket for a right arm and is the most accomplished runner of a quarterback in NFL history. Newton is a three-time Pro Bowler and won NFL MVP in 2015 during Carolina’s run to the Super Bowl.
Through six NFL seasons, Newton has completed 58.4 percent of his passes for 21,772 yards, 136 touchdowns and 78 interceptions. As a runner, he has 689 carries for 3,566 yards and 48 rushing touchdowns.
If Newton can keep this up for a few more years, he will make a compelling case for himself for Canton enshrinement. His accuracy issues hurt him, but his ability to decimate teams as a runner in goal-line situations makes him incredibly difficult for opposing defense to game plan against.