Sammie Coates will play his final football game at Auburn in the Outback Bowl. After that, Coates will move on to the NFL.

Sammie Coates will declare for the NFL Draft.

Coates made it official Monday, confirming the news first reported by AuburnUndercover.

"I think it's important for me to do this," Coates said after Monday's practice. "I graduated Saturday, I think it's the time for me to take another step in my life and take that chance.

"It was just one of those decisions, you graduated. I have a diploma — that's what you come to college for," Coates said. "You get the chance to come to a D-1 school, you get a chance to graduate and a chance to play football at the same time, (getting your education is) the most important thing when you look at it. If I hadn't have graduated, it wouldn't even have been a thought."

The junior wideout from Leroy, Ala., has 1,733 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns in his Auburn career. Coates' 206 yards against Alabama in the Iron Bowl this year was an Auburn wideout record against the Crimson Tide. He added two touchdowns in the game.

Coates currently sits at No. 10 all-time on Auburn's career receiving list and No. 10 on Auburn's career receiving touchdowns list.

Coates graduated early from Auburn on Saturday and will play in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. next month.

"I love Auburn to death, it did so much for me, it built me into an Auburn man — that's what you come here to become, an Auburn man," Coates said. "The things I've done here just changed my whole life, and I'm just so blessed to be in this situation. It's just a chance you (have to) take. It's a moment when you think about it enough, an it's like, 'Yeah, it's that time.'"

Analysts project Coates among the top 10 receivers eligible for the NFL Drat and projects Coates a first-to-third round selection. Fellow junior D'haquille Williams is also contemplating departing Auburn early for the draft.

"I think they're both similar in terms of where they'll go, maybe late one but probably early to mid two," ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said. "But like I said with strong workouts, I think you saw all these receivers this year do a great job, some were major bargains. That could be the case with these two if they drop into the second round with late first not remote, but a possibility."

Coates was named second team All-SEC after his 717 yards and four touchdowns this season, despite playing through a leg injury this season. Coates finished 2013 third nationally in yards per catch (21.5) and averaged 54.1 yards per touchdown, helping lead Auburn to a 12-2 overall record, SEC championship and berth in the BCS National Championship game.

Beyond Coates' accomplishments on the field is his willingness to impact lives in a positive manner off the field and throughout the Auburn community. Coates' bond with cancer patient McKenzie Ray is well-known. Ray is an 11-year old girl battling cancer in Birmingham, Ala., where Coates has visited on many occasions.

Coates was named Community Service Player of the Week in the SEC earlier this season. He served as a speaker at camps this summer for children who had lost family members, children with cancer, and children with special physical challenges, including mentoring students in his hometown of Leroy.

Out of high school, Coates ranked a top 25 receiver by 247Sports after earning an Auburn offer during the Tigers' summer camp prior to his senior season at Leroy. Coates was the 2010 Class 2A Back of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association after catching 57 passes for 1,170 yards and 14 touchdowns. Coates scored three touchdowns in the 2A state title game, earning MVP honors. Coates finished his high school career with 2,435 yards receiving and 28 touchdowns.