Greg Robinson picked second by St. Louis in NFL draft, highest ever by Tigers O-lineman

• Robinson became the highest ever selection by an Auburn offensive lineman
• Auburn tackle chosen before Lewan%2C Matthews

AUBURN – Greg Robinson was the first tackle to come off the board, selected by St. Louis with the second overall pick in NFL draft Thursday night in New York, the highest ever by an Auburn offensive lineman.

The 6-foot-5 327 pound Robinson started 25 games at left tackle over the last two seasons on the Plains, including every game last season to help lead Auburn to the BCS National Championship game.

"Greg's a great person, he's a great player, I think his best days are ahead of him," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. "Looking forward to watching him develop. He'll represent Auburn in a great way on and off the field."

Robinson was a bulldozer on a Tigers offensive line, leading the group with over 130 pancake blocks and helping clear the way for the top rushing offense in the country last season.

His lack of pass blocking experience and "raw" ability after choosing to enter the draft as a third-year sophomore were the only knocks analysts had on the Thibodaux, Louisiana native, who went from off the grid to most NFL teams to the second overall pick in less than nine months.

"We knew we had a great talent, anybody could see that, we had a very, very talented guy," Auburn offensive line coach J.B. Grimes said. "The only thing I asked Greg to do was trust, trust what we're trying to tell you and don't go out there and try to freelance. … He trusted the fundamentals, he trusted the techniques, he trusted the things that we think are important to being a good offensive lineman."

Robinson will receive a four-year contract, with a team option for a fifth year, and earn over $21 million, based on last year's rookie contracts.

He was chosen before Texas A&M's Jake Matthews, who went No. 6 to Atlanta,and Michigan's Taylor Lewan,the other top tackles in this year's draft.

Robinson also tops the mark of Auburn legend Ken Rice, who was the eighth overall pick by the then St. Louis Cardinals in the 1961 NFL Draft, to become the highest ever selection by an Auburn offensive lineman.

Rice, who was also picked first overall in the '61 AFL Draft, said Robinson is "right up there at the top" of the best Auburn offensive lineman of all-time and is happy to see him picked so high.

"I watched Greg all year, I followed his play very closely and he deserves it," Rice said. "(I'm) real happy for him and for Auburn."