AUBURN, Ala. — LSU hustled to the line for a quick third-down snap late in the fourth quarter, catching the late-to-substitute Auburn defense off guard.

Nick Fairley was the only defensive lineman able to line up properly and get a decent jump off the snap.

It still proved to be a mismatch.

Fairley sprang out of his stance, split two defenders and bear hugged quarterback Jordan Jefferson, lifting him up briefly before slamming him to the Jordan-Hare Stadium turf for a sack.

“That’s normal for Nick,” linebacker Craig Stevens said. “Nothing out of the blue.”

The rest of the SEC knows all too well. Cam Newton might be in line for college football’s biggest honor, the Heisman Trophy, but Fairley, who has blossomed in his second year since transferring from Copiah-Lincoln Junior College, could be in line for some national awards as well.