After leading a resurgence from the bottom of the SEC to a berth in the BCS National Championship Game, several former Tigers are seeing their NFL draft stocks rise as quickly as Auburn did in the polls last season.
Several draft analysts called former Auburn left tackle Greg Robinson the biggest winner of this year's NFL Scouting Combine, a week-long showcase of the top prospects heading into this year's draft.
The Louisiana native impressed scouts with his strength by bench-pressing 225 pounds 32 times, but his official time in the 40-yard dash created an instant buzz on social media.
Robinson ran 40 yards in 4.92 seconds, which put him ahead of most tight ends and several quarterbacks on the overall time charts.
"Auburn OT Greg Robinson -- 332-pound [offensive lineman] shouldn't move like that," ESPN Director of College Scouting Todd McShay posted on Twitter. "If you've actually done his tape, how do you not see top OL in this class?"
Robinson's performance in the physical tests of the combine drew comparisons to South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick by several media outlets.
However, some analysts believe Robinson may have pulled ahead of Clowney with his workout in Indianapolis.
"It's hard to find 332-pound offensive linemen with light feet and swivel hips, which is why the combine has been buzzing since Robinson stepped on the turf," said NFL.com's Bucky Brooks. "Robinson moved like a dancing bear on the turf, alleviating any concerns about his ability to take on elite pass rushers off the edge. Overall, the stellar workout in front of hundreds of scouts and coaches will not only send Robinson's draft stock soaring, it could make him enter discussion as the draft's top overall prospect."
Clowney was a subject of conversation for Robinson's teammate Dee Ford, who is also projected to be a first-round pick in the upcoming draft.
Although the NFL Combine medical staff would not let him participate in drills due to an old herniated disc injury suffered in 2011, Ford still made waves during a interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio.
"I'm better [than Clowney]," Ford said. "People like to talk about size all the time. Size is pretty much overrated in my eyes. People are just looking at the fact that he's a physical specimen. Honestly, if you watch the film, he plays like a blind dog in a meat market, basically."
Ford later said there were no hard feelings between him and Clowney, telling the NFL Network he was using a phrase he learned from former Auburn defensive coordinator Brian Van Gorder, who is now at Notre Dame.
"We're not saying that the dog can't run," Ford said when asked about Clowney's speed. "That wasn't a personal shot at him at all. That's my guy; you know what I'm saying? It's competition, and I want everyone to understand that."
Although Ford was ruled out of participating in the NFL Combine, he said he would do "everything" at Auburn's Pro Day workout March 4.
Chris Davis also did not participate in any field drills in Indianapolis due to injury.
The hero of the 2013 Iron Bowl suffered a hamstring injury before arriving at the NFL Combine and was only measured in bench press.
"They just told me don't run here, just wait until pro day," Davis who is projected to be a later pick in the seven-round draft, told AL.com.
In addition to former Auburn punter Steven Clark, who showed scouts a modified form of his Australian football style, another former Tiger looked to show teams something new in Indianapolis -- running back Tre Mason.
The Heisman finalist ran a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash, which was slightly slower than his best unofficial time of 4.44. While he was listed as a 5-foot-10 running back at Auburn, Mason measured as 5-foot-8 at the Combine.
The slightly disappointing measurements in speed and height did not faze Mason, who continued to focus on proving doubters wrong like he did on the Plains.
"I'm not sure what I've got to prove," Mason said. "I believe that numbers don't lie. I put up a lot of numbers this year, and it should be able to speak for itself.
"I've been doubted all of my life. I just love proving people wrong."
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