National Football League

Fairley leaving Auburn for NFL draft

Published Jan. 14, 2011 5:52 p.m. ET

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The national champion Auburn football team lost another key player Friday when star defensive tackle Nick Fairley announced he is leaving Auburn a year early to enter the NFL draft.

Fairley, who won the coveted Lombardi Trophy this season, made the announcement at Williamson High School in Mobile, Ala., a day after Auburn quarterback and Heisman winner Cameron Newton said he will also enter the draft.

Considered a candidate to be the No.1 pick, Fairley is coming off a season in which he made 24 tackles for a loss, including a single-season, school-record 11.5 sacks. He was in on 60 total tackles.

"I was thinking, 'What more could I accomplish my senior year?'" Fairley said, according to AL.com.

"I'd like to say 'War Eagle' to the Auburn nation," Fairley said.

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