April 27, 2008

AUBURN--Auburn defensive tackle Pat Sims, defensive back Jonathan Wilhite and offensive tackle King Dunlap were all taken in the 2008 National Football League Draft, Sunday. Sims was taken in the third round (77th overall) by the Cincinnati Bengals, Wilhite was a fourth round pick (129th overall) by the New England Patriots, and Dunalp was a seventh round (230th overall) pick of the Philadelphia Eagles.

The selection of Sims, Wilhite and Dunlap gave Auburn five players drafted over the two-day, seven-round draft. Defensive end Quentin Groves and cornerback Patrick Lee were taken in the second round by Jacksonville and Green Bay, respectively. Groves was the 52nd overall pick in the draft, while Lee was the 60th pick.

With four defensive players drafted, it's the first time since 1989 that Auburn has had four defensive players selected in the same draft. The 1989 NFL Draft saw five Auburn defensive players picked (DT Brian Smith, DT Tracey Rocker, DE Ron Stallworth, DT Benjie Roland, S Carlo Cheattom).

Auburn has had five players drafted in consecutive years and in three of the last four drafts. It marks the first time since 1988-89 that five or more Auburn players have been drafted in back-to-back years.

Since 2004, Auburn has had 23 players selected, including 11 in the first two rounds.

Sims, who left following his junior year, was a second-team All-SEC pick in 2007 after registering 37 tackles, including 11.5 for loss and 4.5 sacks, both second-best on the team. The 6-4, 316-pound Sims had 56 career tackles with 17.5 for loss and 7.5 sacks, while playing in 27 career games and starting in 13. In the final game of his Auburn career, the Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., was named the Defensive MVP of the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

A 5-11, 185-pounder from Monroe, La., Wilhite recorded 101 career tackles at Auburn his Auburn career with three interceptions. Starting in 22 games and seeing action in 34 contests over his three-year career, Wilhite recorded 47 stops and one interception in 2005.

Dunlap, a native of Brentwood, Tenn., played in 47 career games, starting in 20. The 6-8, 312-pound Dunlap started a career-best 13 games as a junior in 2006.

Sims is the second Auburn player in as many years to be drafted by the Bengals. Running back Kenny Irons was a second round selection of the Bengals in 2007. Wilhite is the first Auburn player since Ben Thomas in 1985 to be picked by the Patriots, while Dunlap is the first Tiger taken by the Philadelphia Eagles since defensive back Corey Barlow in 1992.

AUBURN DRAFT NOTES

Name	Pos	Rnd	Overall	Team
Quentin Groves	DE	2nd	52nd	Jacksonville Jaguars
Patrick Lee	CB	2nd	60th	Green Bay Packers
Pat Sims	DT	3rd	77th	Cincinnati Bengals
Jonathan Wilhite	DB	4th	129th	New England Patriots
King Dunlap	OT	7th	230th	Philadelphia Eagles

With the selection of Groves and Lee, Auburn has had 11 players drafted in the first two rounds in the last five years.

Since 2004, Auburn has had 23 players selected.

With four defensive players drafted, it's the first time since 2004 (LB Karlos Dansby, LB Dontarrious Thomas, and DE Reggie Torbor), that Auburn has had three defensive players selected in the same draft.

Auburn has had five players drafted in consecutive years and in three of the last four drafts. It marks the first time since 1988-89 that five or more Auburn players have been drafted in back-to-back years.

Auburn has now had at least four players drafted in five consecutive years.

Auburn has now had at least three players drafted in five consecutive years and in eight of the last nine years.

Groves is the first Auburn player selected by the Jaguars since fullback Kevin McLeod in 1998 (sixth round).

Lee is the first AU player chosen by the Packers since Tigers linebacker coach James Willis in 1993 (fifth round).

Sims is the second Auburn player in as many years to be selected by the Bengals. Running back Kenny Irons was a second round pick of Cincinnati in 2007.

Wilhite is the first Tiger player drafted by New England since defensive end Ben Thomas in 1985.

Dunlap is the first Auburn player taken by the Philadelphia Eagles since defensive back Corey Barlow in 1992.