Former Auburn legend Tracy Rocker set to return as DL coach

Auburn legend Tracy Rocker is returning to the Plains as the defensive line coach.

It appears that head coach Bryan Harsin isn’t finished with purging from South Carolina’s coaching staff just quite yet. One week after hiring former South Carolina OC Mike Bobo and OL coach Will Friend, Harsin has claimed yet another Gamecocks coach to his inaugural staff.

Tracy Rocker’s Auburn roots run deep. As a player at Auburn, Rocker finished his 1988 senior season as a two-time All American and was acknowledged as the SEC Player of the Year. That year he also became the first SEC player to ever receive the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Trophy. Rocker was selected by the Washington Redskins as the 66th overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-JIcRjRTTI

After three seasons of professional football, Rocker entered the coaching realm in 1992 as Auburn High School’s defensive coordinator. While coaching with AHS, Rocker completed his bachelor’s degree from Auburn University. Rocker left AHS in 1994 to coach the defensive line at West Alabama.

Before returning to Auburn in 2009 to coach the Tigers’ national championship defensive line, Rocker gained experience with Troy, Cincinnati, Arkansas, and Ole Miss.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xYDFEDekUE

In the 11 years separating Rocker’s return from his last job at Auburn, he’s coached for the Tennessee Titans, Georgia, Tennessee, and most recently South Carolina. His resume is one that consumes multiple pages in length with success found in every column.

It’s also worth noting that his son Kumar Rocker is an early favorite to go No. 1 overall in the 2021 MLB Draft.

Welcome back home, Coach Rocker!