Rudi Johnson
Spearheading Butler's run to back-to-back national championships in 1998 and 1999, Johnson established himself as one of the nation's top offensive weapons. The former Grizzlies running back would go on to have a remarkable career at Auburn and with the Cincinnati Bengals to cement his legacy that began in El Dorado, Kansas.
As a freshman in 1998, Johnson rushed for 1,697 yards and 15 touchdowns while averaging over six yards per carry. In Butler's 22-18 win over Ricks (Idaho) in the Real Dairy Bowl, the Petersburg, Virginia, native carried the ball 35 times for 188 yards – earning MVP honors for the game.
Taking his production to another level in 1999, Johnson amassed a school-record 2,310 yards rushing along with 31 touchdowns. Facing top-ranked Dixie (Utah) in the NJCAA Championship Game, the sophomore ran for 370 yards and scored all seven of the Grizzlies' touchdowns in a 49-35 victory. Johnson was once again named MVP of the bowl game while also earning first team All-America accolades, the NJCAA Player of the Year Award and a scholarship to Auburn.
In one season on the plains, Johnson solidified his place in the lore of Tigers football. The 2000 Southeastern Conference (SEC) Offensive Player of the Year totaled 1,567 yards rushing on the season which still ranks as third-most in Auburn history behind current Los Angeles Rams running back Tre Mason and the legendary Bo Jackson.
Taken in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, Johnson would go on to spend seven seasons in the league. He was selected for the Pro Bowl in 2004 after setting a Bengals franchise single-season record with 1,454 rushing yards. Johnson would spend one year with the Detroit Lions before retiring following the 2008 season. After eight years in the NFL, Johnson accrued 5,979 yards rushing with 51 career touchdowns.
Johnson's excellence extended beyond the gridiron and into the Cincinnati community where his involvement helped better the lives of many. He established the Rudi Johnson Foundation in 2005 which provides assistance to families and children to promote self-sufficiency and self-reliance. Among the organization's achievements are the formation of the first football team at Clark Montessouri High School and numerous activities supporting the National Bone Marrow Registry.
Gary Walker
Few men in the trenches of NJCAA football experienced the success of Walker. Anchoring the Hinds defensive front during the 1991 and 1992 seasons, Walker would go on to excel at Auburn and in his 11-year NFL career.
Playing an integral role on the Eagles defensive line in both of his seasons in Raymond, Mississippi, Walker's production steadily increased in his two-year collegiate playing career. He garnered NJCAA Second Team All-America accolades as a sophomore in 1992 before signing with Auburn.
Walker would show dramatic improvement under Tigers head coach Terry Bowden, accumulating 148 tackles and 15 sacks in two seasons on the plains. In his first season in 1993, Walker's presence on the defensive front played a pivotal role in Auburn's perfect 11-0 season. The Royston, Georgia, native took his game to another level during his senior year in 1994, claiming All-SEC honors as the Tigers enjoyed a 9-1-1 campaign.
Drafted in 1995 by the Houston Oilers, Walker went on to play 11 seasons in the NFL. He made the Pro Bowl as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2001 and returned to the game in 2002 with the Houston Texans during their expansion season. Retiring in 2005, Walker finished his pro football career with 315 tackles, 46.5 sacks and nine forced fumbles.
The Walker legacy at Auburn continues as his son – Gary Walker, Jr. – is currently a redshirt freshman on the Tigers defensive line.
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