25 most sought after NFL quarterback draft prospects of all time

Cam Newton only played one level of top-shelf college football, transferring to Auburn before the 2010 NCAA season after a circuitous path back to the SEC. Newton started his college career at Florida, but the theft of a laptop led to his suspension and eventual transfer to Blinn College. After keeping himself focused on football at Blinn for a season, Newton returned to the FBS.

Upon arrival on the Plains, Newton seized the starting job and immediately made his presence felt in the SEC. Leading the Tigers to the conference title and the BCS National Championship, the quarterback finished the season with 2,800 passing yards and 1,400 rushing yards. He scored 51 total touchdowns — 30 through the air, 20 on the ground, and one scoring catch for good measure.

For the effort, Newton was named the Heisman Trophy winner in Manhattan in early December. Then, a month later in Arizona, Auburn got the better of Oregon in a narrow national-title victory. That put Newton on the radar of the Carolina Panthers, who were selecting first in the 2011 NFL Draft after collapsing to 2-14 the year before.

In the process, Newton became the only player in NFL history to enter the pro ranks as a Heisman winner, a national champion and the No. 1 overall pick in the same season.

Newton rewarded Carolina’s selection by earning the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2011, as he threw for more than 4,000 yards and ran for 700 more. Four years later, he was the MVP of the entire league, as he led the Panthers to a 15-1 regular season en route to a Super Bowl 50 appearance.

But while Newton has been remarkably resilient throughout his career, he has also been a major target due to his dual-threat style. Subjected to hits that would result in ejections if they were performed on other quarterbacks, Newton nevertheless already ranks in the top 60 NFL quarterbacks all time in career passing yards and touchdowns.