National Football League

Panthers draft Cameron Artis-Payne to pair with their current Auburn legend

Published May. 4, 2015 12:46 p.m. ET

foxsports

Cameron Artis-Payne may not have left quite as strong of a legacy at Auburn as Cam Newton did, but he was still quite the playmaker for the Tigers. Now, Artis-Payne will get the opportunity to pair up with the former Heisman Trophy winner and quarterback, after the Carolina Panthers drafted him in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL draft.

Obviously the newest running back in Carolina will have his work cut out for him in order to receive serious playing time, but he'll get his shot. Brandon Marcello of AL.com brought up an interesting stat about Artis-Payne's 2014 campaign at Auburn, as well as what left him on the board until the fifth round.

"He finished third only to Bo Jackson and Tre Mason in Auburn's single-season record book with 1,608 yards in 2014, but timing is everything. Artis-Payne is part of one of the strongest running back classes in recent history, so he had to wait to be drafted. He was the 15th tailback taken overall and the fifth Auburn player selected in the draft."

The numbers alone show that Artis-Payne is capable of producing at a high level, and although he wasn't projected as a high pick, his confidence doesn't seem to be an issue.

"Running backs can make it from all over, but at the end of the day you can't tell me no one cares about where they go," Artis-Payne told AL.com at the Senior Bowl. "I obviously want to go as high as you possibly can but at the end of the day once you get there, you're there. It's about sticking and having success."

(h/t AL.com)