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Five best Auburn Tigers to wear No. 12 since 2000

Cole Pinkstonby: Cole Pinkston05/25/25ColePinkston
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Sep 16, 2006; Auburn, AL, USA Auburn Tigers quarterback Brandon Cox (12) changes the play at the line against the LSU Tigers in the first half of action at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Photo By John David Mercer-Imagn Images

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 12, 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 12 jersey?

I’d like for you to educate me on the best players to wear the number 12 in Auburn history. Or, at least, who were your favorites?

No. 1 – Brandon Cox (2004-2007)

When looking at the entire body of work, Brandon Cox was around for a while. He had good and bad moments, but he led Auburn to some huge wins–especially over Georgia and Alabama. Cox’s 6,959 passing yards is still fourth on the all-time Auburn passing yards list. He’s also third all-time in passing touchdowns with 42. Cox wasn’t an NFL guy, he couldn’t really run, and he wasn’t flashy, but he got the job done and had a fantastic career. He is the first that comes to mind for me when thinking of the No. 12 at Auburn.

CAREER STATS:
44 games
550/927 (59.3%)
6,959 yards
42 touchdowns
32 interceptions

No. 2 – Chris Todd (2008-2009)

Todd was a lot like Cox, but he probably had a better arm. He was quarterback during a transition period of Auburn football, but finished strong in 2009. Todd was a nice addition at quarterback after the Tigers had gone through a few trying to replace Brandon Cox. Todd led wins against Tennessee and No. 25 Ole Miss on the way to an 8-5 record with a bowl win against Northwestern. It was a positive turnaround from firing Tommy Tuberville in 2008.

CAREER STATS:
20 games
284/484 (58%)
3,515 yards
27 touchdowns
12 interceptions

No. 3 – Jamel Dean (2017-2018)

Dean, who transferred in from Ohio State, made a big impact in a short time at Auburn. He was a strong cover corner and a strong tackler. Dean was big and didn’t look like a corner. He hit like a linebacker, but rarely ever gave up anything on his side of the field. He and Carlton Davis together proved to be one of the best corner duos in the country. Both are still playing and thriving in the pros. Dean had a quick Auburn career, but an effective one wearing the No. 12.

CAREER STATS:
26 games
73 tackles
5 tackles for loss
2 interceptions
1 fumble recovery

No. 4 – Demetruce McNeal (2010-2012)

A highly underrated Auburn player in my opinion, Demetruce McNeal was a recruiting addition during an uptick in recruiting prowess for Auburn. He was a three-star, but came in ready to contribute. He was a rotational guy during the National Championship season in 2010, then held down a starting job for the two seasons following. McNeal, unfortunately, was dismissed from the team after a marijuana arrest ahead of his senior season. He would finish his career at West Alabama.

CAREER STATS:
38 games
188 tackles
8 tackles for loss
7 pass breakups
4 forced fumbles
2 interceptions
1 defensive touchdown

No. 5 – Eli Stove (2016-2020)

One of my favorite Auburn players, I loved Stove’s style. He was tough, he was fast, and he made an impact when he touched the ball, period. Stove had a long career and battled injuries throughout. He was a gadget guy for Gus Malzahn and finally got to be a true receiver in 2020, the Covid year. Stove was easy to like and made a lot of big plays for Auburn.

CAREER STATS:
52 games
136 catches
1,186 yards
6 touchdowns
55 rushes
554 rushing yards
4 rushing touchdowns


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