Nov. 29, 2006

AUBURN, Ala. - Four Auburn football players were named to the Rivals.com All-America teams on Wednesday, led by senior guard Ben Grubbs' first-team selection. Senior guard Tim Duckworth and senior cornerback David Irons were named to the second team, while junior defensive end Quentin Groves was selected to the third team.

Grubbs has started all 12 games at guard for Auburn this season, and all 37 games over the past three years. He was the only SEC player to earn SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors twice this year, collecting the award following Auburn's 34-0 victory over Mississippi State Sept. 9 and after Auburn's 27-0 win against Arkansas State Nov. 4. Grubbs graded better than 90 percent in eight of Auburn's first 11 games this season, including a grade of 99 percent against Arkansas State.

Duckworth was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week following Auburn's 24-17 victory over South Carolina Sept. 28. He has started 11 games this season, and has helped Auburn rush for more than 100 yards 10 times, including three games with more than 200 yards. Duckworth was named to the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy Preseason Watch Lists.

Irons ranks tied for fourth in the SEC with 13 passes defended this season, including a pair of interceptions. He has 39 tackles, including 22 solo stops, has two tackles for loss and has forced a fumble. He was named the Auburn Coaches' Defensive Player of the Week following victories against Tulane and Buffalo, and was the Auburn Coaches' Special Teams Player of the Week following a win against Arkansas State.

Quentin Groves

Groves ranks second in the SEC and 16th nationally with 9.5 sacks this season, and is eighth in the SEC with 12 tackles for loss. Groves had three second-half sacks in a win against Florida Oct. 14, earning him SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors, and was named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week after collecting two sacks and forcing fumbles on each in Auburn's victory at Alabama Nov. 18. Groves, who ranks second in Auburn history with 22 sacks, has 37 tackles this season, including 28 solo stops, while forcing three fumbles.

Auburn finished the regular season with a 10-2 record and a 6-2 mark in the SEC. The Tigers have qualified for a bowl game for the seventh consecutive season, and will learn their bowl destination on Sunday.