What Auburn football's Keldric Faulk said about NFL Draft declaration
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AUBURN — One of the likeliest dominoes to fall in Auburn football‘s offseason went down Saturday, Dec. 13, as junior defensive lineman Keldric Faulk declared for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Faulk, a junior this past season, was the lone non-senior honored as Auburn‘s senior day festivities ahead of its win over Mercer. He’s widely projected as a first-round pick in the upcoming draft, with ESPN projecting a top-15 selection for Faulk as recently as this week.
“Everything about this journey started with faith, hard work, and home,” Faulk, a Highland Home native, said in a statement. “Growing up in the state of Alabama, it meant everything to me to stay in-state and represent Auburn University. Playing this game in front of my family, my community, and the people who raised me is something I’ll always be proud of. There is nothing like ‘War Eagle Nation!’ Hands down the best fans in college football.”
Faulk was the highest-rated signee in Auburn’s 2023 class and made good on his talents. He earned All-SEC honors in each of his three seasons on the Plains and registered 109 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks in 37 contests.
He had a quieter year in 2025, with just 29 tackles, 5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks, but Faulk’s sophomore season was his biggest. In 2024, he had career highs in each category, with 45 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 7 sacks.
Here’s a look at Faulk’s full statement on declaring for the upcoming draft.
What Keldric Faulk said about declaring for 2026 NFL Draft
“Dear Auburn Family,
“Everything about this journey started with faith, hard work, and home. Growing up in the state of Alabama, it meant everything to me to stay in-state and represent Auburn University. Playing this game in front of my family, my community, and the people who raised me is something I’ll always be proud of. There is nothing like ‘War Eagle Nation!’ Hands down the best fans in college football.
“I want to thank Coach Durk (DJ Durkin), Coach Roc (Bellantoni), and Coach Vontrell (King-Williams) for the belief, coaching, and accountability you gave me every day. You challenged me to raise my standard and helped shape me into the player and man I am today.
“To the coaching and academic staff — thank you for the structure, support, and commitment to my growth on and off the field.
“To my teammates — my brothers — thank you for the grind, the trust, and the memories we built together.
“To my mother and my brother — thank you for the sacrifices, prayers, unwavering support, and belief from day one. Everything I do is with you in mind, and representing Auburn in front of you both has meant more than words can say.
“With gratitude for where I’ve been and excitement for what’s ahead, I am declaring for the NFL Draft.”
Keldric Faulk’s career stats with Auburn football
- Career (2023-25): 109 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 6 pass breakups, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 forced fumble
- 2025 (12 games): 29 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 4 pass breakups, 1 fumble recovery
- 2024 (12 games): 45 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 1 pass breakup
- 2023 (13 games): 35 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 pass breakup
Adam Cole is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at acole@gannett.com or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @colereporter.To support Adam’s work, please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn football’s Keldric Faulk declares for 2026 NFL Draft
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