As projected, the SEC sent nearly an entire starting lineup worth of talent to the the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft, including the No. 1 overall and five of the first six. The state of Alabama itself sent six players -- for perspective, the entire Big Ten sent six, with the Big 12 and Pac-12 turning out five each.
Cam Newton took the top spot, while Auburn Tigers cohort Nick Fairley tumbled to the Detroit Lions at No. 13. Which means he's now paired with Ndamukong Suh, causing the Metrodome to cave in on itself all over again. The Alabama Crimson Tide sent Marcell Dareus at No. 2 (Denver), Julio Jones at No. 6 (Atlanta), James Carpenter at No. 25 (Seattle), and Mark Ingram at No. 28 (New Orleans).
The Georgia Bulldogs and LSU Tigers also boast top-five picks, with A.J. Green and Patrick Peterson coming off the board for Cincinnati and Arizona. Mississippi St. Bulldogs OT Derek Sherrod provided the round's bookend, going No. 32 to the Super Bowl champs, and Florida Gators OG Mike Pouncey went No. 15 to Miami.
Thus Newton, Jones and Ingram will remain in SEC country for their NFL careers, with Pouncey moving into contested territory.
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