Auburn running back Tre Mason announced Thursday he will forego his senior season and declare for the 2014 NFL Draft.
“After all the thought, talking to family and friends, I talked to my mom and dad, went over it a lot with them,” Mason said. “I’m going to declare for the 2014 NFL Draft.”
The 5-foot-10, 205-pound junior is rated in this year’s draft as the 49th overall player and the No. 2 running back by NFLDraftScout.com.
Mason broke Bo Jackson’s single-season rushing record on his last carry at Auburn, led the SEC in rushing and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.
“I just came in here wanting to be the best,” Mason said. “Breaking Bo Jackson’s record was a goal of mine from the time the season started, and I believe God blessed me with the opportunity to do that.”
Mason leaves Auburn after rushing for more than a 1,000 yards each of the last two seasons, including his 1,816 yards this season, a mark that broke Jackson’s record of 1,786 yards set in 1983.
Mason is the second Auburn player to announce he is leaving early for the NFL. Offensive tackle Greg Robinson said Tuesday he will enter the draft.
Auburn is now projected to lose three offensive starters — Mason, Robinson and senior fullback Jay Prosch — from a unit that led the nation in rushing and broke school records for total offense, rushing offense, rushing attempts and plays from scrimmage. All of them helped Auburn finish with a 12-2 record and a No. 2 national ranking after losing to Florida State 34-31 in Monday night’s BCS title game.
Mason rushed for 195 yards Monday, including a 37-yard touchdown run late in the game that broke the school record.
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