A BCS Champion at Auburn, Dee Ford impressed scouts enough to become a First Round Pick (23^rd Overall) in the 2014 Draft.  The Linebacker succeeded as an edge rusher, becoming a starter in 2016, where he had 10 Sacks.  Ford missed a lot of the 2017 Season but had his best year in 2018, with career-highs in Sacks (13) and Combined Tackles (55), and was the co-league leader in Forced Fumbles.  For his work, Ford went to the Pro Bowl that year,

Ford was traded to San Francisco afterward, but injuries piled up, and he was only there for three years before retiring.  Over his career, he had 40 Sacks and 79 Quarterback Hits.

Cam Newton turned his college career around after flaming out at the University of Florida and avoiding expulsion.  Transferring to small Blinn College, Newton started that season (2009) and led the school to a NJCAA National Championship.  Newton then joined Auburn and put forth one of the best seasons in Tigers history.  He dominated as a passer and runner and led Auburn to a BCS Championship and won the Heisman.  NFL teams were gushing over his ability, and the Carolina Panthers, who held the number one pick, grabbed him.

Newton looked like a potential Hall of Fame inductee for the first five years of his career. He swept all the Offensive Rookie of the Year Awards and threw for over 4,000 Yards, which was his career-high.  Though his 21-17 TD-INT ratio was pedestrian, he more than made up for it with 14 TDs on the ground. This was his first Pro Bowl year.

After a solid sophomore season, Newton went to his second Pro Bowl in 2013 and took Carolina to the Playoffs.  He (and the team) struggled in 2014, as Newton battled injuries, but in 2015, Newton had the pro season of his life.  He earned the “Superman” nickname, going 15-1, with 3,837 Passing Yards and a league-leading TD-INT ratio of 7.1 (35-10) and rushed for another 10 Touchdowns.  Newton won the MVP but had the ultimate prize ahead of him; Super Bowl 50.

Newton and the Panthers fell to the Denver Broncos 24-10, and Newton did not have a good game, throwing an Interceptions and fumbling twice.  The second fumble, which was in the fourth quarter, was the second time that Denver’s Von Miller got to him, and these events happen to every great QB.  Newton was destroyed in public perception because of his perceived lack of effort in not diving to recover the ball and how he walked away from the postgame press conference.  Sadly, this is what he is mainly known for.

In the years that followed, Newton’s large frame began to accumulate injuries. After a rotator cuff injury in 2017, it was clear that he was not the same thrower, though his legs were still powerful. Newton’s passing numbers continued to decrease, and his season was shut down after 14 Games due to more shoulder problems in 2018. He only played in two Games in 2019 from a foot injury.  Newton was given permission to seek a trade, but when suitors came, he was released.  He signed with New England for 2020, where he was their starter.  Newton rushed for 12 TDs but only threw for 8.  He was released the following season during training camp and signed again with Carolina but lost all five starts.  That was the end of Cam Newton’s playing career.

Newton compiled overall numbers of 32,382 Yards, and194 Touchdown Passes, with 5,628 Rushing Yards and 75 Touchdowns.  That last number is the key to any Hall of Fame shot, as those TDs on the ground is better than many HOF Running Backs.

Byron Jones, originally from New Britain, Connecticut, was a versatile defensive back who played multiple positions for UConn, before being selected in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. During his time in Dallas, Jones excelled at cornerback, earning Second Team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection in 2018. After five years with the Cowboys, he spent two seasons with the Miami Dolphins before retiring with a total of 444 combined tackles, four interceptions, and five forced fumbles.

Bernardrick McKinney was a standout college football player at Mississippi State and was named an All-SEC Selection. He played as a linebacker in the NFL and spent almost all of his career with the Houston Texans, except for his final year when he played for the New York Giants.

McKinney was selected in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft and quickly earned the starting role as an Inside Linebacker. He had his best season in his second year, recording career-highs in Combined Tackles (129), Sacks (5.0), and Quarterback Hits (11), which led to his selection as a Second Team All-Pro.

McKinney was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2018 and had two consecutive seasons of breaking the 100 Tackle mark. Unfortunately, in 2020, he suffered a shoulder injury and only played four games for the Texans before being released. McKinney finished his career with 559 Combined Tackles.