INDIANAPOLIS -- In a vacuum, Auburn running back Peyton Barber probably should have returned to school. But these aren't black-and-white decisions. There are often complex factors that weigh into a prospect's decision to go pro.
Barber enjoyed a breakout season in 2015, rushing for 1,017 yards and 13 touchdowns on 238 carries. He topped 100 yards five times in the Tigers' first seven games, but he lost touches down the stretch to teammate Jovon Robinson, who had been limited by an ankle injury earlier in the year.
With two seasons of eligibility remaining, Barber could have continued to pad his resume at Auburn, but the NFL couldn't wait.