Only three of the first 42 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award winners had been former SEC standouts. None of the first 23 players to earn that award came from the conference.
But SEC alumni have won the past five, six of the past seven and seven of the past nine NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year awards.
Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith from Florida became the first former SEC player to win the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award in 1990. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Carl Pickens from Tennessee won in 1992, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams from Auburn won in 2005, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin from Florida won in 2009 and Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton from Auburn won in 2011.