Jan 1, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Auburn Tigers running back Cameron Artis-Payne (44) runs the ball against the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2015 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. The Wisconsin Badgers defeated the Auburn Tigers in overtime 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Cameron Artis-Payne
- Position: Running Back
- Height: 5-foot-9 5/8
- Weight: 212 pounds
This time last year, you probably wouldn’t expect Cameron Artis-Payne to receive an invite to the Senior Bowl. That’s okay, the Pennsylvania native is used to beating the odds.
“I’m driven, period,” Artis-Payne said prior to the Outback Bowl in 2014. “I wasn’t even supposed to be here. I didn’t get recruited out of high school by D-II, D-III, nobody. For me to be here, I’m driven 24/7. Just because there’s another great running back across from me, who is supposed to be the best, it’s icing on the cake.”
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Following a stint in prep school in New York and two years in junior college in California, Artis-Payne finally made it to Auburn in 2013. As a junior, he backed up Tre Mason, who became a Heisman Trophy finalist, and he was expected to share carries with Corey Grant as a senior.
Instead, Artis-Payne emerged as the Tigers’ primary ball carrier and led the SEC with 1,608 rushing yards on 303 carries. He added 13 touchdowns on the ground and proved to be an effective receiver out of the backfield with 147 receiving yards on 13 catches.
A bit older than most of the running backs in this year’s draft because of his roundabout path to Auburn, CAP is still appealing for NFL teams because of his valuable skill set. But, he’s not expected to go high in the draft.
ESPN NFL analyst Todd McShay was asked about this year’s running back class recently, and the evaluator once again stacked the odds against Cameron Artis-Payne.
“The thing with this year’s running back group is it’s loaded, it’s just so deep,” McShay said on a recent conference call. “So you wonder where some of these running backs that maybe would normally go second and third round, they’re going to wind up falling.”
Even with a strong showing in Mobile, Cameron Artis-Payne may fall, but he’s got a track record that proves how driven he is to succeed, so some NFL team is likely to get a steal of a draft pick.
Next: Reese Dismukes