BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Auburn defensive end Carl Lawson is still assessing his future beyond Wednesday's Birmingham Bowl, his father told Auburn Undercover.

"He has not decided either way," his father said in a text message to Auburn Undercover during halftime of Wednesday's bowl game. "(He's) only focused on and talking about Memphis."

Lawson Sr.'s statement refuted an earlier report Wednesday by Tony Pauline of Draftinsider.net, who tweeted that Lawson had already made up his mind to enter the NFL Draft. Further, Pauline reported that Lawson Sr. had already begun vetting agents and telling others his son was headed to the NFL.

Lawson, a third-year sophomore, is eligible to enter the draft after this season.

In 2013, Lawson was named a freshman All-American after collecting 20 tackles (7.5 for loss) and four sacks. He missed the entire 2014 campaign after tearing his ACL during the Tigers' final week of spring practice. Back to health this season, Lawson was a disruptive force in the first half of Auburn's opener versus Louisville, tallying four tackles (two for loss), one sack and three quarterback hurries. He suffered a hip injury in the first half of that contest, however, and ended up sitting out the Tigers' next six games before returning against Ole Miss in October.

Entering Wednesday's bowl game, Lawson has played in six games this season, recording 14 tackles (2.5 for loss) to go along with a sack and 10 quarterback hurries.