Historic Best Defensive Linemen

[Newbomb 193]

Ok we last stopped on offense with receivers, qbs and rbs. Lets step to the other side of the ball...

[Rednilla 5,401]

I'd say Tracy Rocker has to be the first mentioned...

[NoALtiger 3,873]

Has to start with Rocker and go from there. No brainer.

[Newbomb 193]

Looking for a top ten please... Where would NF fit?

[aushrink 22]

my vote goes to Zeke Smith since he was a 2 time all american(?) and is the name on the award we give out for best defensive player each year.

he was decent.

[tigerbrotha12 2,362]

1.) Rocker

2.) Fairley

3.) Zeke Smith (was he defensive or offensive?)

4.) Groves

5.) Eddins

[kingfish 73]

1) Zeke Smith

2) Tracy Rocker

3) Nick Fairley

[cooltigger21 0]

Benji Roland and Ron Stall worth have to be there too.

[FASTCOMPANY 394]

Add Reggie Torbor and Antono Coleman to that list

[douggwilliams 61]

Aundrey Bruce

[ValleyTiger 2,894]

Aundrey Bruce

Didn't Bruce play LB at Auburn?

DeMarco McNeil, Sen'Derrick Marks, and Gerald Robinson deserve a mention as well.

[AURaptor 1,129]

Gotta put Tracy up at # 1, for bringing it all 4 years.

Fairly , for an unbelievable season. Seriously folks, the smash of a QB, causing a fumble, and then recovering it, to stifle any hope of scoring by the updykes, is as legendary as it gets.

[TXaubie 567]

Aundrey Bruce

Didn't Bruce play LB at Auburn?

DeMarco McNeil, Sen'Derrick Marks, and Gerald Robinson deserve a mention as well.

I thought he was DE. Could be wrong as I was only 8 when he was wrecking havoc off the edge.

[AURaptor 1,129]

Audrey Bruce had one of the most ridiculous games vs GT @ Grant Field.

But he was a LB.

[TXaubie 567]

Audrey Bruce had one of the most ridiculous games vs GT @ Grant Field.

But he was a LB.

Shows you what I know. He was a damn good one, I do know that.

[AUpocalypse 12]

1. Nick Fairley (best season)

2. Tracy Rocker (best career)

3. Gerald Robinson

4. Quentin Groves

5. Zeke Smith

6. hard to rate everyone else... in no particular order... Sen'Derrick Marks/DeMarco McNeil/Benji Roland/Ron Stallworth

I have a feeling that in 4-5 years We'll be having this conversation again with 2.. maybe 3 strong additions to this list.

[aushrink 22]

1. Nick Fairley (best season)

2. Tracy Rocker (best career)

3. Gerald Robinson

4. Quentin Groves

5. Zeke Smith

6. hard to rate everyone else... in no particular order... Sen'Derrick Marks/DeMarco McNeil/Benji Roland/Ron Stallworth

I have a feeling that in 4-5 years We'll be having this conversation again with 2.. maybe 3 strong additions to this list.

You cannot have a list with Zeke Smith lower than 3.

He was dominant in his day.

[Plainstalk 32]

1) Tracy Rocker 2) Nick Fairley 3) Zeke Smith 4) Donnie Humphrey 5) Gerald Robinson 6) Benji Roland 7) Quinton Groves 8) BBQ Tate 9) Aundray Bruce 10) Dowe Aughtman

[Newbomb 193]

I believe that Kevin Greene played DE for us. I think he should be considered in this discussion.

[bigbird 60,603]

pat sims should be there too

[ValleyTiger 2,894]

Jimmy Brumbaugh was a good one as well

[Plainstalk 32]

Auburn had a reputation for turning out top DL talent in the 80's and had some good one's in the 70's. I already made a top 10 list but after thinking about it again I came up with some that I failed to mention. Frank Warren, Rodney Bellamy and more recently Jay Ratliff.

[icanthearyou 4,465]

Jimmy Brumbaugh was a good one as well

He would probably be in the top 3 if he hadn't been injured.

[ValleyTiger 2,894]

Jimmy Brumbaugh was a good one as well

He would probably be in the top 3 if he hadn't been injured.

Even with the injury his senior yr, he managed 291 career tackles from the interior of the line.

[api57 0]

I've seen Auburn play since 1954. I've watched all these great lineman play in Auburn. From 1954 to 2012 I pick Zeke Smith (jersey #61 ). And please remember his teammate Jackie Burkett (jersey #50) also two time All-American should rank a tie with Zeke. Thanks to their great play in 1957, 1958 & 1959 Auburn lead the nation in total defense plus two unbeaten seasons in 1957 & 1958. And what's really remarkable they are the only ones named who played offensive and defensive. How could I almost forget big Jimmy "Red" Phillips (jersey #88, All-America and later All-Pro) who played both ways at end and was a senior on the 1957 National Champ team. The whole team played both ways. I would rank "Red" Phillips as #3 . What a great time period to be an Auburn Tiger!