Frank Gore is in his 15th NFL season. Now with the Buffalo Bills, Gore began his journey as a third-round pick — 65th overall — out of Miami, chosen by the San Francisco 49ers. Gore rushes for more than 11,000 of his 14,748 yards as a Niner. None of the running backs chosen before him approached that success.
Eric Shelton
Eric Shelton was chosen by the Carolina Panthers with the 54th overall pick. He was a bust, partially due to injury. Shelton played in nine games in 2006 after missing his rookie season with a broken foot. He ha eight rushes for 23 yards. And that was that. He signed on with the Redskins in 2008 but did not stick. Shelton and his wife Shamea had their wedding documented on episode six of the first season of “My Big Fat Fabulous Wedding.”
J.J. Arrington
The Arizona Cardinals used their second-round pick to pluck J.J. Arrington from Cal. He made eight starts in four seasons as a Cardinal, rushing for 654 yards and three touchdowns. His long gain was 32 yards.
Cadillac Williams
Cadillac Williams was one of three first-rounders taken in 2005 at the running back position. The Auburn star rushed for 3,607 yards of his career total of 4,038 in six seasons with Tampa Bay, which drafted him fifth overall. He finished his run in 2011 as a St. Louis Ram.
Cedric Benson
The late Cedric Benson went fourth overall to the Chicago Bears. The former Texas star had his best seasons in Cincinnati with three consecutive 1,000-yard years. He finished with 6,017 yards and spent his last season as a Green Bay Packer.
Ronnie Brown
Another Auburn running back, Ronnie Brown, went second overall to the Miami Dolphins. He spent 10 years in the league, the first six with Miami. Brown rushed for 4,815 yards of his career 5,391 as a Dolphin.
The best of the rest …
Some names you might remember and others you never knew that were chosen in 2005: Marion Barber, Ryan Moates, Darren Sproles, Nehemiah Broughton and Madison Hedgecock.
