When current head coach Gus Malzahn was the offensive coordinator at Auburn from 2009-11, his offensive coaching philosophy allowed then-tight end/H-back Philip Lutzenkirchen to thrive.
Lutzenkirchen became a major focal point of the team’s offense during his time in the Gus Bus’ O and helped the Tigers to their first consensus national title since 1957.
But like the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Lutzenkirchen is now in the NFL and the guy that’s trying to step into his old role, C.J. Uzomah, is working hard to be a major factor in this year’s offense. Uzomah remembers what his predecessor taught him.
“Lutz is a great guy on and off the field,” said the former highly successful quarterback at North Gwinnett High School, one of the premier prep programs in Georgia, this spring. “He told me to pay attention to the little things. And do it in practice so you won’t think about it as much in the game.”
After seeing limited time in 2011 as a true freshman, which ironically included a touchdown pass to Lutzenkirchen on a trick play, Uzomah had seven catches for 136 yards and a score a year ago. His 19.4 yards per catch was the best among players who had seven or more receptions, and his ability to catch-and-run showed the rangy athlete’s upside as a potential playmaker in the passing game.
“C.J. was a quarterback in high school,” Malzahn said. “I actually recruited him. He’s got great potential. He’s a smart guy. He understands the offense from a different perspective in the fact that he was a quarterback. He’s very athletic and he’s very tough too.”
This season, Uzomah is being counted on to give AU a dangerous receiving threat and to help create stability at the halfback/tight end/fullback position in Malzahn’s lightning fast offense. If all goes as planned, Uzomah, a business marketing major, will do just that. His size, skill-set and football IQ combined should make him a force to be reckoned with in the Tigers’ offense. And if Uzomah becomes a force, it will only bode well for a hungry team looking to bounce back after a dismal season.
“I am excited about where we are going as a team,” Uzomah said. “We have made vast improvements, so I am really amped up about this upcoming season.”