According to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer the Carolina Panthers have begun the process of investigating Nick Fairley's character, per his high school coach Bobby Parrish. Parrish said: 

"I get the impression that they really like what they see [...] You never know because you don't know what their needs are. But they definitely think he's a good ballplayer."

Fairley continues to be the most likely candidate for the Panthers' #1 overall pick purely because he still represents the player that most closely aligns need and BPA. Fairley is currently in Houston training for the NFL scouting combine which begins February 23rd and lasts until March 1st in Indianapolis. 

The junior from Auburn may be the first player to be vetted by the Panthers, but he certainly wont be the last as they continue to evaluate players as they try to discover who they believe is the best pick in the 2011 draft.