Even with all the labor uncertainty surrounding the NFL, there will be a draft at the end of April. Right now, one of the top picks figures to be Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley, who is leaving school after a stellar junior season.
Fairley helped lead Auburn to a 22-19 win over Oregon in the BCS National Championship game. He was a consensus All-American and the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year. He also won the Lombardi Award given to the nation’s best lineman. He had 60 total tackles and set single-season Auburn records with 24 tackles for loss and 11-and-a-half sacks.
This week, he joined Dave Logan and Lois Melkonian on 850 KOA’s “The Ride Home” show.
850 KOA: In the national championship game, you played Oregon in the national championship, a team that runs the spread. They have amazing skill-position players and great speed. Going into that game, with Coach Chizik having a defensive mindset, what were some things you guys were primarily focused on going into the game?
NF: We really had to stop the run. Like you said, they use the spread offense and they were going east and west and trying to get downhill. We had to stop the run and then worry about the pass.
850 KOA: How did you celebrate the national championship?
NF: We went to the (Auburn) complex and when we pulled up there were a lot of fans there. We celebrated there with the fans for two hours. We signed autographs and saying thank you for the awesome support throughout the year.
850 KOA: Let’s go back to the regular season game against Alabama. You’re playing against a big rival on the road and they get off to a big lead and it looks like it’s going to be a blowout loss for you guys. How did you guys stay focused in that game to come back and beat a really good team on its field?
NF: Our seniors had great leadership.
850 KOA: Why did you decide to forego your senior year of eligibility and declare for the NFL Draft?
NF: I think I accomplished everything I wanted at Auburn University. We were a good team. I had a long talk with (Auburn Defensive Line) Coach (Tracy) Rocker and (Head Coach Gene) Chizik and came up with the decision. It was better for me to forego my senior year.
850 KOA: You’re projected to be one of the top picks in the draft. As you know, the Broncos have the second overall pick. What do you know about the Broncos and have you ever spent any time in Denver?
NF: I’ve never been to Denver before. I’ve just been working out getting ready for the combine and the draft itself. I’m just waiting patiently.
850 KOA: You only started two games in 2009 before having a breakout season in 2010. What changed for you?
NF: In the offseason, I worked really hard. I tried to be the guy that Auburn goes to when we needed a stop on defense.
850 KOA: At the combine, when you have to lay down on the bench and put on the 225 pounds, give us a ballpark figure, how many times can you lift it?
NF: Wow. I couldn’t say right now.
850 KOA: Thanks for your time, Nick and good luck to you.
NF: Thanks.
It sure sounds like the Broncos will look to bolster their defense in the draft. If the Broncos keep the second overall pick and Fairley is available, would you like to see the Broncos draft him?
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.
Best,
Mike
Tags: Nick Fairley
Well, he won’t be the next Shannon Sharpe that’s for sure. LOL
After watching Nick Fairley for this past fall in Auburn I would love to seem him join the Bronco defense. Give him an “Orange Crush” T-shirt to initiate the return of tradition and ask Tom Jackson to present it to him on his arrival. War Eagle!
LMAO @ Carsonic…
Yeah Mike, if he is available grab him without a second thought.
The only top player of this draft class to shine in a bowl game.
In fact he took over his game, a game changer, what’s not to want?
Grab Fairley if he`s there.
Bay LMAO bro. As for the OT game that McNabb made his staement, I didn`t even see the game. I`m just assuming the situation. And no, I`m not a big McNabb fan. HaHa!! Gotta laugher out of that one.
Nick Flair is no McNabb either!
If he’s available, grab him. If not Peterson!
We’ll, I liked John Farley so I’d probably like Nick Farley too. What’s in a name, draft Farley and opposing offenses will see what’s in a name when it’s in their grill. Go Broncos!
Um, it’s Fairley bro. With an I.
Just saying
I sanyone thinking the broncos will step up and pay a guy like this or Bowers or whoever ends up @ #2. I think the Broncos are really watching how they spend their money.
I mean this as no disrespect but if they weren’t watching their money why would you not sign HALL OF FAMER to be Champ Bailey.
I will say it again I think this kid is a nasty version of Trevor Pryce.
I would love to take Fairley at #2, if gone, I wouldn’t be mad if we draft Peterson! He is worth a #1 pick as well and is a top 3 prospect! We could get good DTs on later rounds, like Stephen Paea and I do not think we need a pass rusher with Doom coming back, I want to see Ayers playing DE!
We need S/LB/TE on second round(or get TE Luke Stocker on a 3rd), hope we get the CBA done and get a 2nd rounder for Orton!
Another LB and a DL on middle rounds and maybe a FB on late round.(I want to see Spencer Larsen get a shot at linebacker again, give him a chance to see what he can do). Want to see Graham leave Denver, he is too old to contribute besides blocking! I was supporting the idea of getting rid of one good WR(Royal, Lloyd, Gaffney) if the trade-value was good, but with Thomas injury, I would hold on that!
Sing Champ!! We need him! If he decides to leave I wouldn’t be mad with him only if he goes to a SB contender! I’ve heard rumors there is an offer of over $40 millions for 4 years so is up to him now.
OL should improve next season if injuries don’t show up that much and the running game could get a boost from zone-blocking scheme and LenDale White’s return with his bruising style, we needed that badly last season!
I known Peterson is an amazing athlete and Special Teams player. I don’t see how the Broncos can draft him even if we lose Champ.
Games are won in the trenches and the Bronco should draft. 1. Fairley 2. Bowers. 3. Dareus (Alabama).
I would trade out and pick up another pick but only if they could get Jordan DE from California.
Fairley has shown some flashes of being a guy who will have to have a massive contract to pay all of the fines. But Fox is a strong enough head coach and Nunnelly is not going to let him be a bonehead. They will get him to understand that its ok to play hard, but you cant spear a QB when he threw the ball 3 seconds before. Fox will reign him in in the aspect of dirty play, but the guy is dominant. If the rookie wage scale is in place and the Panthers take him, we need to trade back. I dont think Bowers is worth the #2 pick. But with the rookie pay scale we wont have to pay him 40+ mil guarenteed. If we dont resign champ and Fairley is gone to Carolina then it has to be Peterson. A strong pass rush can help subpar CB play. Anyone heard anything on Cox? Does it look like he is headed to jail?
Broncos are engaging Champ on new contract. Awesome News!
Champ put his house up for sale!?! I think we may lose him. We have let alot of really good player go the past 7 years either by not resigning them or by tradeing them: Berry,Heyward,Reagar,Price,Meyers, Cooper,Cutler, Hillis Marshall, Shef, the pro bowl center who came from KC and went back to KC . All because we don’t have a true GM.
Um…Carsonic, Shannon Sharpe was a tight end, Nick Fairly is a defensive tackle……kinda hard to compare the two….
WOW, you really missed that one ptac, carsonic was jokingly referring to how big a mouth Sharpe has vs. how pressed for words Fairley was in this interview, not football comparaisons…