NFL Draft: Which SEC players have been taken No. 1 overall?

In the coming weeks, the SEC has yet another opportunity to have a player selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, and should that happen, that respective name would join a long list of former greats from the conference.

However, just who are those names from the SEC who have been taken at No. 1 overall? Let’s take a look, and answer, that question by looking at each’s respective team’s prior No. 1 overall picks in the NFL Draft.

Which SEC players have been taken No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft?

Alabama Crimson Tide – Harry Gilmer (1948)

Beginning with Alabama, the Crimson Tide have only had one No. 1 overall pick in program history up to this point in Harry Gilmer, but could add another in the coming weeks in Bryce Young. Taken by the then Washington Redskins first overall in 1948, Gilmer would play eight seasons in the NFL from 1948-56, making two Pro Bowls.

Arkansas Razorbacks – None

Auburn Tigers – Tucker Frederickson (1965), Bo Jackson (1986), Aundray Bruce (1988), Cam Newton (2011)

Auburn has had four total players selected with the No. 1 overall pick in program history, the first of which was Tucker Frederickson in 1965 to the New York Giants. Frederickson would play six seasons in the NFL from 1965-71, making one Pro Bowl.

The Tigers next top pick is arguably their most famous in running back Bo Jackson, who was taken No. 1 overall in 1986 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jackson, a two-sport star, would play four seasons in the NFL from 1987-90, making one Pro Bowl.

Only two years later, Auburn would have another player selected No. 1 overall in Aundray Bruce, who was taken by the Atlanta Falcons. Bruce would go on to play 11 seasons in the NFL from 1988-98.

The fourth, and final, name for Auburn is also a familiar one, as quarterback Cam Newton was taken with the first overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. Newton would play 11 seasons in the NFL from 2011-21, a career that included three Pro Bowls, one All-Pro selection, 2015 NFL MVP, and more.