A Look at Tracy Rocker - Defense

(Hog Wired)A two-time All-American and a three-time All-SEC selection as a player at Auburn, Tracy Rocker captured both the Outland Trophy (nation’s top interior lineman) and the Lombardi Trophy (nation’s top lineman) in his senior season with the Tigers.

Rocker was also named SEC Player of the Year during his senior season. He finished his career with 354 tackles, including 21 quarterback sacks and 48 tackles for loss. During his tenure, Auburn won a pair of league titles. He was voted to the school’s Team of the Century in 1993.

Rocker went on to play two seasons in the NFL with the Washington Redskins. He was selected to the NFL All-Rookie team in 1990. He then concluded his playing career with a one-year stint with the Orlando Thunder in the World Football League.

He returned to Auburn to complete his undergraduate degree in 1992 and began his coaching career at Auburn (Ala.) High School in the same year. After serving two seasons as defensive coordinator at the prep school, he spent three years as a defensive line coach at West Alabama (1994-96).

Rocker joined Arkansas’ staff after one year at Cincinnati where he helped the Bearcats win a share of the 2002 Conference USA title.

Prior to his stint at Cincinnati, Rocker spent five seasons as the defensive line coach at Troy State University in Troy, Ala. While at TSU, three of his players earned Division I-AA All-America honors, including Al Lucas, who earned the 1999 Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player in Division I-AA. A total of 13 TSU players garnered all-conference accolades under Rocker.

Five of Rocker’s players at TSU went on to sign NFL contracts, including Marcus Spriggs, who was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the sixth round in 1999.

Rocker also spent part of the summer in 2001 working as an intern with the Indianapolis Colts and, in 2006, working with the Tampa Bay Bucaneers. Originally from Atlanta, Ga., Rocker and his wife, Lalitha, have a son, Kumar (11/22/99).