BCS Championship: 10 Championship Game Participants With The Brightest Futures

Auburn came away with the win in one of the most exciting National Championship games in recent years.  Oregon played a hard-fought game, but could not take down Cameron Newton, Nick Fairley and the Auburn Tigers.  

There was a total of 11 players that took the field for the BCS National Championship Game who received draftable grades from Scouts Inc., and some of those players were Lee Ziemba, LaMichael James, Casey Matthews, Wes Byrum, Mario Fannin, and Cam Newton.  

Many players that played in the Championship game on Monday have very bright futures in the NFL, and may someday be champions at the professional level.  

The following college superstars, and Head Coaches, have very promising futures ahead of them after achieving the success that they have had this past season.  

RB Michael Dyer, Auburn

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: (C) Michael Dyer #5 of the Auburn Tigers celebrates with teammates after he runs the ball for 16-yards and is called down at the one-yardline with 10 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter against the Oregon Ducks during the T

Height: 5'9''

Weight: 215 pounds

Class: Freshman

Season Stats: 182 rushing attempts for 1093 yards and five touchdowns; One reception for nine yards

Performance in BCS Championship: 22 carries for 143 yards

After having an extremely productive season as a freshman, Michael Dyer shows a ton of potential for the future.  He then topped off an extraordinary freshman season with an outstanding performance in the BCS National Championship game.  If Dyer can continue to contribute as he did this past season, he will be a top NFL running back prospect in two years when he's eligible for the Draft.

CB Cliff Harris, Oregon

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Cliff Harris #13 of the Oregon Ducks celebrates his first quarter interception with teammates Drew Howell #50 and Talmadge Jackson III #37 against the Auburn Tigers during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at Universi

Height: 5'11''

Weight: 180 pounds

Class: Sophomore

Season Stats: 30 total tackles(21 solo, nine assisted), six interceptions, and one touchdown

Performance in BCS Championship: One interception

While the Oregon Ducks will lose 11 starters next year due to graduation and the NFL Draft, the highly talented and athletic Cliff Harris will be back in Eugene for another season.  After having an excellent 2010 season, NFL scouts will be guaranteed to have their eye on Harris in the future.

QB Cameron Newton, Auburn

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Quarterback Cameron Newton #2 of the Auburn Tigers celebrates the Tigers 22-19 victory against the Oregon Ducks in the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Ar

Height: 6'6''

Weight: 250 pounds

Class: Junior

Season Stats: 185-280, 2854 yards, a 66.1 CMP%, 30 touchdowns, seven interceptions, an a 182.05 QB rating

Performance in BCS Championship: 20-34, 265 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, a 58.8 CMP %, and a 137.82 QB rating

Cam Newton is known for his unbelievable running abilities, but also has a cannon for an arm with underrated accuracy.  Newton has the potential to be a solid professional, and is projected to be picked in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

RB LaMichael James, Oregon

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: LaMichael James #21 of the Oregon Ducks smiles in the third quarter while taking on the Auburn Tigers during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona.

Height: 5'9''

Weight: 185 pounds

Class: Sophomore

Season Stats: 294 rushing attempts for 1731 yards and 21 touchdowns; 17 receptions for 208 yards and three touchdowns

Performance in BCS Championship: 13 carries for 49 yards; four receptions for 39 yards and two touchdowns

LaMichael James had an excellent sophomore season being one of four finalists for the Heisman Trophy. James was also a candidate for the 2010 Walter Camp Player of the Year and Doak Walker Award (which recognizes the nation's top running back).  James was eligible for the NFL Draft this year, but has decided to return to Oregon for another season.  Expect James to be a Heisman candidate throughout the 2011 college season once again.

QB Darron Thomas, Oregon

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Quarterback Darron Thomas #1 of the Oregon Ducks throws the ball in the first quarter against the Auburn Tigers during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale

Height: 6'3''

Weight: 212 pounds

Class: Sophomore

Season Stats: 222-361, 2881 yards, a 61.5 CMP%, 30 touchdowns, nine interceptions, and a 150.97 QB rating

Performance in BCS Championship: 27-40, 363 yards, a 67.5 CMP%, two touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 150.23 QB rating

Darren Thomas got his opportunity to start this year and had one hell of a season.  Don't be surprised is Thomas is among LaMichael James as front-runners for the Heisman Trophy throughout most of next season, being a serious Heisman candidate.  

Auburn Head Coach Gene Chizik

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Head coach Gene Chizik of the Auburn Tigers celebrates the Tigers 22-19 victory as he holds up the Coaches Trophy after defeating the Oregon Ducks during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stad

Coaching Resume

Overall Head Coaching Record: 27-24

Record at Iowa State: 5-19

Record at Auburn: 22-5

Bowl Record: 2-0

Age: 49

Salary: $2,100,000

Record this Season: 14-0

Awards and Championships: Broyles Award(2004), National Championship(2010), SEC Championship(2010), SEC Coach of the Year, Home Depot Coach of the Year(2010), and Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award winner

Oregon Head Coach Chip Kelly

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Head coach Chip Kelly of the Oregon Ducks looks on against the Auburn Tigers in the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/G

Coaching Resume

Overall Head Coaching Record: 22-4

Record at Oregon: 22-4

Bowl Record: 0-2

Record this Season: 12-1 

Age: 47

Awards and Championships: (2x) Pac-10 championships(2009,2010), Pac-10 Coach of the Year(2009,2010), Eddie Robinson, Walter Camp, Sporting News, AFCA and Associated Press Coach of the Year for 2010

OT Lee Ziemba, Auburn

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AUBURN, AL - NOVEMBER 6: Offensive lineman Lee Ziemba #73 of the Auburn Tigers checks the scoreboard during play against the Chattanooga Mocs November 6, 2010 at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Height: 6'8''

Weight: 319 pounds

Class: Senior

Lee Ziemba has started every single game at left tackle since arriving at Auburn in 2007, recording 52 consecutive starts including the 2011 BCS National Championship.  Ziemba accepted an invitation for the 2011 Under Armour Senior Bowl and released a statement saying, "It's a great honor being selected to the Senior Bowl.  You can really learn a lot form the coaches that coach there and improve how you play the game.  It's definitely an honor and I'm really excited about it."  Ziemba is the 10th highest ranked offensive tackle by ESPN insider, and will likely be selected somewhere between the mid-second to third round.

LB Casey Matthews, Oregon

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EUGENE, OR - NOVEMBER 6: Linebacker Casey Matthews #55 of the Oregon Ducks warms up before the game against the Washington Huskies at Autzen Stadium on November 6, 2010 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

Height: 6'2''

Weight: 235 pounds

Class: Senior

Season Stats: 72 total tackles(37 solo, 35 assisted), three sacks, and one interception

Performance in BCS Championship: One total tackle

Casey Matthews comes from quite the athletic family which means if he stays along the same path he should be a successful NFL player.  His father, Clay, won a Rose Bowl championship in 1974 with USC, playing in the NFL for 19 years, and his uncle, Bruce, was a NFL offensive lineman that was eventually inducted into the hall-of-fame.  Also, his brother Clay Matthews Jr., won a national title with the Trojans in 2004 as a linebacker, and is now currently in the NFL playing for the Green Bay Packers.  Casey Matthews is currently ranked as the 12th best inside linebacker entering the draft, by ESPN insider, and will likely be selected between rounds four and five.

DT Nick Fairley, Auburn

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Nick Fairley #90 of the Auburn Tigers celebrates the Tigers 22-19 victory against the Oregon Ducks during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (

Height: 6'5''

Weight: 298 pounds

Class: Junior

Season Stats: 56 total tackles(32 solo, 24 assisted), 12 sacks, and one interception

Performance in BCS Championship: Five total tackles, three tackles for a loss, one sack, one forced fumble

While at Auburn, Nick Fairley exhibited an explosive first step and proved that he can be a highly effective pass rusher.  Mel Kiper Jr. has Fairley as a Top-10 lock and believes that he "epitomizes the ideal penetrating 4-3 tackle."  Fairley has recently been projected within the top three picks of many mock drafts after finishing off the 2010 season very strong.  Fairley is the highest rated DT entering the draft, ahead of Alabama's Marcell Dareus and Oregon State's Stephen Paea, both also projected to go in the first round.