Auburn was the NCAA football champion in 2011, beating Oregon 22-19 in the BCS Championship Game in January. QB Cam Newton was the first overall selection in the 2011 NFL Draft, going to the Carolina Panthers. Recently, ten former Auburn Tigers signed free agent contracts with NFL teams, including two with the Baltimore Ravens, according to a story in the Anniston Star.
WR Terrell Zachery was the team's second leading receiver in 2010 but caught a team-high six passes in the championship game victory, started all fourteen games in 2010-11, catching 43 balls for 605 yards and four scores. He had a reputation as a big-play receiver, as seven of his nine career TD receptions covered more than 30 yards.
Also signed by Baltimore was Zachery's teammate, LB Josh Bynes. Bynes, 6'1, 240 pounds, started 43 games at Auburn and was their defense's leading tackler in both 2009 and 2010. He also had seven career interceptions, and started 35 consecutive games going back to 2008 to prove his durability and consistency.
Having these two guys from a national championship team brings a winning attitude with them, even though Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome is from Auburn's main rival in the SEC, the University of Alabama.