(Photo: Reuters/Chris Keane)Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) throws a pass against the Denver Broncos during an NFL football game in Charlotte, North Carolina November 11, 2012.
Cam Newton, 23-year-old Carolina Panthers quarterback, is re-enrolling in Auburn University after ending his college career to pursue an NFL career in 2011.
Although Newton was the number one overall draft pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, he brought Auburn a BCS National Championship the same year. After winning a Heisman trophy with the school, the quarterback decided to take his career to the professional level and forego his senior year of college.
According to TMZ reports, Newton will re-enroll at Auburn University for the spring semester where he will work on his sociology degree. Although Newton signed a four-year $22 million contract with the Panthers, he reportedly wants to also spend time pursuing his education during his offseason.
"He wants to focus on school and be a normal college student," Kirk Sampson, associate athletics director for communication, said in a USA Today report.
Gus Malzahn, head football coach at Auburn University, said he was happy to see the 2010 Heisman trophy winner back on the campus.
"Happy to see my man Cam back at AU this semester working toward his degree. #wareagle," Malzahn tweeted Tuesday.
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Although Newton only attended Auburn for one year after matriculating through two colleges, it seems he found a home in Alabama where a statue was built in his honor outside of the school's Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Various people took to Twitter to express their approval with the QB returning to college despite the fact that he is pursuing an NFL career.
Skip Bayless, journalist and ESPN analyst, spoke about having respect for Newton for his decision to further his education.
"Much respect to Cam Newton for returning to Auburn to finish his degree," Bayless tweeted.
Another person seemed to agree with Bayless, tweeting, "This is great news. More players need to follow Cams lead."
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