Auburn's Peyton Barber declares for NFL Draft

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) Auburn tailback Peyton Barber says he is leaving early to enter the NFL Draft.

The Tigers' surprising offensive star announced on Instagram on Monday that he knows he's ''ready for the next step and that this is the best decision for me.''

Barber led the Tigers with 1,017 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns, but junior college transfer Jovon Robinson had a bigger role late in the season.

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Robinson carried 27 times and Barber 12 in the Birmingham Bowl win over Memphis.

A third-year sophomore, Barber had only 10 carries for 54 yards as a redshirt freshman but wound up being one of the Tigers' most reliable offensive players last season.

Offensive linemen Avery Young and Shon Coleman had already decided to turn pro early.

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