Five best Auburn Tigers to wear No. 14 since 2000

To the long-time Auburn fans, I ask for your forgiveness…

My wheelhouse with Auburn football is from the year 2000 until now. Looking through every Auburn Tiger to don the number 14, these were the five best since the year 2000 in my opinion–and quite frankly, my favorites to showcase the number in orange and blue.

I am solely looking at each player’s time at Auburn, not their NFL careers. What did they do while wearing the number 14 jersey?

I’d like for you to educate me on the best players to wear the number 14 in Auburn history. Or, at least, who were your favorites?

No. 1 – Nick Marshall (2013-2014)

Marshall has to be one of the most popular Auburn players ever. His story is one of a kind. He transfers from Georgia after playing cornerback. Becomes a quarterback, then immediately leads Auburn to an SEC Championship and a National Championship appearance. Marshall will be remembered for his running ability, but he was just as good as a passer for the Tigers. Marshall still holds the Auburn record for most passing yards in a game–456 yards in the 2014 Iron Bowl. He’s also tenth in career passing yards and tenth in single season passing yards. Marshall comes to mind first when thinking of the No. 14.

CAREER STATS:
26 games
320/532 (60.2%)
4,508 passing yards
34 touchdowns
13 interceptions
325 rushes
1,866 rushing yards
23 rushing touchdowns

No. 2 – Carlos Rogers (2002-2004)

Rogers was a key player in Auburn’s 2004 season. He started almost every other game in his three-season Auburn career as well. Rogers won the Jim Thorpe Award given to the nation’s best defensive back. He was a first-team SEC All-American as well. Rogers holds the Auburn record for most pass breakups and is still second in the SEC in that category. He was a game-changer and easily the first defender I think of when I think of 14.

CAREER STATS:
38 games
182 tackles
40 pass breakups
7 interceptions
2 fumble recoveries
1 defensive touchdown

No. 3 – Ben Leard (1997-2000)

Leard played before the year 2000, but his prominent year as Auburn’s quarterback was in the year 2000. That year, Leard led the Tigers to a 9-4 record and an SEC Championship appearance. Auburn also played Michigan in the Citrus Bowl, but did not win the game. Leard paved the way for Auburn heading into the early 2000’s run.

CAREER STATS:
29 games
359/592 (60.6%)
4,289 yards
28 touchdowns
18 interceptions

No. 4 – Demond Washington (2009-2010)

Washington was a part of Auburn’s 2010 National Championship team after playing in a rotational role during the 2009 season. Washington transferred from junior college, but was originally from nearby Tallassee, Alabama. Washington made several big plays on defense, but was a game-changing kick returner. He had 7 tackles, an interception, and 92 kick return yards in the National Championship victory over Oregon. Washington was small and scrappy, but he’d come up with a big play in crucial moments.

CAREER STATS:
27 games
91 tackles
8 tackles for loss
3 interceptions
2 sacks
62 kick returns
1,614 yards
2 touchdowns

No. 5 – Stephen Roberts (2014-2017)

In my opinion, one of the more underrated Auburn Tigers in recent history, local product Stephen Roberts started his Auburn career the right way: flipping from Alabama. He was a playmaker for Auburn for a while. During the 2017 season, Roberts became a key player. He made a lot of plays in the Iron Bowl that year, including an impressive and crucial open-field tackle against a much bigger Bo Scarbrough. Roberts didn’t match the description of an elite safety, but he made plays over and over again.

CAREER STATS:
50 games
136 tackles
12 pass breakups
8 tackles for loss
2 interceptions
2 forced fumbles
23 punt returns
215 yards