Cam Newton listed as No. 2 quarterback of the 2000s according to ESPN

Cam Newton spent just one season on the Plains, but his brief time resulted in one of the most exciting seasons in Auburn football history.

He threw for nearly 3,000 yards and rushed for an additional 1,586 during the 2010 season. He totaled 54 touchdowns and led the Tigers to its first national championship since 1957. He also became Auburn’s first Heisman Trophy winner since 1985, when the legendary Bo Jackson took home the honor.

When looking back at his career, is it absurd to call Newton one of the best quarterbacks of the last 22 years? We don’t think so. Neither does Bill Connelly of ESPN.

Connelly recently revealed his picks for the 75 best college football quarterbacks since 2000 and placed Newton at the No. 2 spot. Connelly calls Newton’s tenure at Auburn “the greatest single-season supernova the sport has seen.”

After two years of backing up (Tim) Tebow at Florida, Newton won a juco national title at Blinn College, then landed at Auburn and almost single-handedly carried the Tigers to their first AP national title since 1957. His supporting cast was good but not nearly the caliber of (Vince) Young’s, Tebow’s, etc., but that was fine — he was simultaneously the best running back and quarterback in the sport. Then he was gone, off to an NFL career that has included an MVP award, more than 31,000 passing yards and a Super Bowl appearance.

Who is the only quarterback to top Newton on the list? None other than fellow Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma. Connelly gives Mayfield the edge due to having what he deems a better career than Newton as opposed to one great season. Newton does, however, top LSU‘s Joe Burrow, Texas‘ Vince Young, and Florida‘s Tim Tebow, among other great signal callers of the millennium.

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