Tracy Rocker Auburn Defensive Star

April 9, 1966, in Atlanta, Georgia, marked the birth of Tracy Rocker, a dominant defensive tackle whose collegiate career at Auburn University from 1985 to 1988 established him as one of the greatest defensive linemen in college football history. His sheer dominance on the field earned him numerous accolades and a place in the College Football Hall of Fame.  

-College Career:

Rocker was a force to be reckoned with for the Auburn Tigers. A three-time First Team All-SEC selection (1986-1988), he was also recognized as a consensus All-American in 1987 and a unanimous First Team All-American in his senior year, 1988. That same year, he achieved a historic feat by becoming the first SEC player to win both the Outland Trophy (nation's best interior lineman) and the Lombardi Award (nation's best college football player). His remarkable 354 career tackles remain the most by any Auburn down lineman, contributing to his selection to Auburn's Team of the Century and Team of the Decade for the 1980s. He also recorded an impressive 48 tackles for loss and 21 career sacks.  

-Road to the Pro Game:

Following his decorated career at Auburn, Rocker was drafted in the third round of the 1989 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. He played for three seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Redskins (1989-1990) and briefly with the Orlando Thunder of the World Football League in 1992. While his NFL playing career was cut short by a knee injury, he earned PFWA All-Rookie Team honors in 1989, showcasing his potential at the professional level.  

-Football Legacy:

Tracy Rocker's football legacy extends far beyond his playing days. Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2005, and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2018, he is celebrated as one of the greatest college defensive linemen of all time. After his playing career, Rocker transitioned into coaching, becoming a highly respected defensive line coach at both the collegiate and professional levels. His coaching journey includes stints at Auburn High School, West Alabama, Troy State, Cincinnati, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Auburn, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, and in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans and Philadelphia Eagles, where he has mentored numerous talented players and contributed to championship-caliber teams.  

-Accolades, Awards and Career Stats:

-Unanimous First Team All-American (1988)  

-Consensus All-American (1987)  

-3x First Team All-SEC (1986-1988)  

-SEC Player of the Year (1988)  

-Outland Trophy (1988)  

-Lombardi Award (1988)  

-Auburn Team of the Century

-Auburn Team of the Decade (1980s)

-354 Career Tackles (Auburn Record for Down Linemen)  

-48 Tackles for Loss  

-21 Career Sacks  

-PFWA All-Rookie Team (1989)  

-College Football Hall of Fame Inductee (2004)  

-Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Inductee (2005)

-Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Inductee (2018)