Auburn football: Constructing an all-time Auburn offense

Bo Jackson (1985), Cam Newton (2010) and Pat Sullivan (1971) the three Heisman Trophy winners from Auburn football pose during a portrait session on December 12, 2010 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: Photographer approval needed for all Commercial License requests. (Photo by Kelly Kline/Getty Images for the Heisman) /

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Quarterback Cam Newton #2 of the Auburn Tigers (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Starter: Cam Newton

Backup: Pat Sullivan

Cam Newton is an obvious selection. The former Tigers quarterback put together arguably the best single-season in program history and one of the best in the history of college football.

Newton lit the college football world on fire back in 2010. At 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds with elite athleticism and arm strength, Newton was in a class of his own. He threw for 30 TDs and rushed for 20 more on his way to the Heisman Trophy and Auburn’s first national championship since 1957.

I was really tempted to put either Nick Marshall or Jason Campbell on here for the backup position as Campbell helped lead the team to an undefeated 2004 season and Marshall brought the Tigers to the national championship game in 2014.

However, I couldn’t snub Auburn’s only other Heisman-winning QB. Pat Sullivan’s 1971 stats of 56.0 completion percentage, 2,262 yards, 23 total touchdowns and 13 interceptions are fairly pedestrian for today’s standards but Sullivan played in a different era and that obviously needs to be taken into account.

Regardless of era, Sullivan is one of the best Auburn players of all time and his placement on this team just feels right.

Honorable mentions: Jason Campbell and Nick Marshall

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