MOBILE, Ala. — Nick Fairley, Auburn’s other big-name star, also is heading to the NFL, after winning the Lombardi Award and helping quarterback Cam Newton lead the Tigers to a national title.
The potential No. 1 overall pick announced his decision Friday at his old high school, saying he didn’t make up his mind until that morning after long talks with his coaches and his parents and a solitary drive around his hometown.
“I was thinking, ‘What more could I accomplish my senior year?’ ” said Fairley, who was the defensive MVP in the BCS title game against Oregon on Monday night when he had a sack, three tackles for losses and forced a fumble.
• Florida safety Will Hill is leaving school a year early to enter the NFL draft, while quarterback John Brantley is staying for his senior season. Also, Florida offensive lineman David Young (knee) and linebacker Neiron Ball (sports hernia) underwent surgery and are expected to return for spring practice.
• Kentucky linebacker Danny Trevathan, who led the Southeastern Conference with 144 tackles, will return to the Wildcats for his senior season.
• Washington running back Chris Polk, who rushed for 1,415 yards during his redshirt sophomore year, will return to the Huskies for his junior season.
• The NCAA granted a sixth year of eligibility to Houston quarterback Case Keenum, who missed the final nine games of the 2010 season with a torn knee ligament.
• Sophomore tailback David Oku said he is transferring from Tennessee after the spring semester.
• Tulsa promoted assistant Bill Blankenship to replace Todd Graham as its football coach.
Kostelic wins super-combined
WENGEN, Switzerland — Ivica Kostelic won a World Cup super- combined event to extend his lead in the overall standings with a third victory in 12 days.
Carlo Janka of Switzerland was second, 0.58 seconds back, and Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway was third. Bode Miller was the top American in sixth place, while compatriot Ted Ligety used the second-best slalom run to place ninth.
Appleby takes Sony Open lead
HONOLULU — Stuart Appleby opened with a 6-under-par 64 for a one-shot lead after the first round at the Sony Open. Appleby holed out for eagle from 163 yards into a stiff breeze, knocked in a 35-footer for eagle on the par-3 17th and then scrambled for par on the 18th. Justin Rose and Mark Wilson were among nine players tied for second.
Footnotes.
NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver said a lockout is “not inevitable,” even though no formal meetings are scheduled between the owners and players’ union before their collective bargaining agreement expires June 30.
• Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard is day to day after suffering a bruised right knee during Detroit’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
• Toronto Maple Leafs right winger Mike Brown was suspended for three games without pay by the NHL for a hit to the head on Phoenix Coyotes defenseman Ed Jovanovski during Thursday’s game.
