Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton won’t walk at Auburn graduation

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has gone back to Auburn each of the past three springs to work on finishing his sociology degree.

All his papers are in, and the Panthers quarterback has earned his degree. But he has decided against walking at this weekend’s graduation.

“I’m not walking across the stage,” Newton told the Auburn Plainsman, the school’s student newspaper. “No. 1, I don’t think walking really solidifies anything for me. I have pretty much conquered the main reason why I’m here, and all I really need is a degree. Plus, I don’t want to take away anything from the people already graduating. After seeing the response coming from class, I wouldn’t want to take anything away from another person’s (graduation day).”

Newton is referring to the reaction he regularly received walking between classes on campus in recent years. Fellow students frequently snap pictures of him in class and on campus, and he feels he’d be a distraction on their big day.

Newton led Auburn to an undefeated season in 2010 and helped the Tigers win the national championship in January 2011 along with winning the Heisman Trophy.

He went back to school because of a promise he made to his mother, Jackie. And he plans to hang his diploma right where she can see it.

“When I do get my diploma, I’m going to put it right above my mom’s door, so she knows her words were not in vain,” Newton told the paper. “All my awards that mean the world to me are implanted (in her house), and this is no different. If anything, it’s going right along next to the Heisman.”

This story was originally published May 6, 2015 at 11:50 AM with the headline "Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton won’t walk at Auburn graduation."