Auburn University’s Nick Fairley joining NFL Draft
Coming just one day after Cam Newton decided that he would leave Auburn University and join the NFL, Auburn’s other big-time player, Nick Fairley, has also decided to join the 2011 NFL Draft after a successful season with the Auburn Tigers.
Being called the number one overall draft pick by analysts, Fairley said that he did not make up his mind until Friday morning. After seeking advice from his coaches, having long talks with his family and taking a drive around town to ponder the situation,
Fairley said that there was one deciding factor.
"I was thinking, 'what more could I accomplish my senior year?'" he said.
The announcement made at his old high school means that Auburn’s two most dynamic players won’t be around next year. While Newton won the Heisman Trophy as quarterback, Fairley won the Rotary Lombardi Award as defensive tackle.
After transferring to Auburn in 2009, Fairley became the second player from the University to win the Lombardi Award. He was coached by Tracy Rocker, former Tiger and Lombardi winner, making the 298 pound, 6 foot five junior the first player in history to
be coached by a Lombardi winner and win the award himself. The Lombardi Award is awarded to the best defensive lineman from a panel of 500 voters.
Newton became the third player in college football history to pass for at least 20 touchdowns and rush for 20 more in one season. He won the Heisman Memorial Trophy Award as being “the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the
pursuit of excellence with integrity,” according to their website.
With these two players, the Tigers finished the season with a perfect 14-0 record, the best in the college football league, as well as becoming the national champions for the first time since 1957.
From Florida State University, quarterback John Brantley has decided that he will not be joining the Draft and will be staying at the University for his senior year. Brantley had wanted to transfer to a different college after Urban Meyer resigned from the
head coaching job, seeking a place where he would fit in better.
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