Several Tigers drafted

King was only offensive player

BY CHRISTA TURNER - turnerc@ledger-enquirer.com --

Defense ruled the weekend for the Auburn Tigers, who had four defensive players selected in one draft for the first time since 1989.

Overall, the Tigers had five players drafted during the weekend, led by second-rounders Quentin Groves and Patrick Lee. Sunday, the Tigers added three more players. Defensive end Pat Sim was taken with the 14th pick of the third round by Cincinnati, while, Jonathan Wilhite was chosen in the fourth round with the 30th pick by New England and King Dunlap -- the lone offensive player -- was selected by Philadelphia in with the 23rd pick of the seventh round.

Leading the way for Auburn was the 6-foot-2.5 Sims, who was one of a small number of Auburn underclassmen to leave during the Tommy Tuberville tenure. Sims had a breakout season last year with 37 tackles, including 11.5 for a loss and 4.5 sacks. He had hoped to be taken in the second round, but didn't have to wait long to hear his name called.

Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis said on the Bengals Web site that he was happy to find Sims still available in the third round.

"Pat is a big man," Lewis said. "He's strong, aggressive, gets good extension and is very powerful. We'll continue to find guys that can help us compete."

Lewis said he had no concerns about Sims having only one full year of starting experience under his belt.

"No, we don't think he's raw," Lewis said. "I think he's been well-coached at Auburn. He's not very old, but he will continue to mature and grow into his body."

Sims said all along he felt comfortable with his decision to leave Auburn a year early, and the draft certainly held true to that.

Auburn has had 11 players taken in the first two rounds in the last five year and has had at least three players drafted for five consecutive years and eight of the last nine. The last time Auburn had at least four defensive players drafted was the 1989 draft with defensive tackles Brian Smith, Benjie Roland and Tracey Rocker, end Ron Stallworth and safety Carlo Cheattom.

Wilhite was perhaps a surprise draftee for the Tigers. The 5-foot-9, 185-pounder battled injuries while starting his last two seasons at Auburn. He'll have a chance to work his way into a talented New England line-up. He finished his Auburn career with 101 tackles, 14 pass break ups and three interceptions. In 2007, Wilhite had 30 tackles, two interceptions and two break ups.

On the Patriots Web site, Wilhite called his drafting a "blessing."

"To be a fan of the Patriots, to actually get in and see Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Rodney Harrison and all the guys I look up to, and just to get in and play and practice with these guys is just wonderful," Wilhite said.

Dunlap has the size (6-foot-8.5, 310 pounds) to be impressive, but underachieved while at Auburn. Injuries kept him off the field at times during his senior year and he struggled to regain his starting position after that.

Said Philadelphia coach Andy Reid on his Web site, "He's very gifted, his father player in the National Football League, his mother was an Olympian, a track athlete. He's very gifted, athletically. He's started down there for a number of years. He was a very high recruit for Auburn.

Things didn't work for him as he went in the draft, but we look forward to seeing if a little change of scenery doesn't help out here in Philadelphia. He'll have an opportunity to challenge for one of those backup tackle spots."