Pretty good read about C.J. Uzomah

[Buzz Killington]

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/08/versatile_freshman_cj_uzomah_f.html

Versatile freshman C.J. Uzomah finds a home as an Auburn wide receiver
Published: Friday, August 26, 2011, 6:52 AM     Updated: Friday, August 26, 2011, 7:26 AM
By Charles Goldberg/Auburn Bureau, The Birmingham News, Press-Register, and The Huntsville Times al.com


C.J-Uzomah-Auburn-Todd-Van.JPGC.J. Uzomah on the move in an Auburn scrimmage (Todd Van Emst photo)
AUBURN, Alabama -- North Gwinnett High football coach Bob Sphire knows just how versatile C.J. Uzomah can be. 

Uzomah played quarterback, wide receiver, slot receiver, running back and quarterback again for him. Not one season. One drive. 

The Auburn freshman from Georgia was rated by one service the No. 8 tight end in the country last season. Figures he's in the playing rotation at wide receiver for Auburn as the Tigers move toward their Sept. 3 opener against Utah State. 

"He brought a lot of athleticism to the team, so we moved him around a lot," Sphire said. 

So much so he was Sphire's junior varsity quarterback, then wide receiver; then varsity quarterback, then varsity wide receiver. People may have trouble keeping up, but not college recruiters. Sphire said Auburn, Alabama and Georgia offered him scholarships after his sophomore year. 

Why so? Schools dreamed of a potential matchup problems for defensive backs. Uzomah is a big target at 6-foot-4 and a fast 234 pounds. 

"His sophomore year he was already a matchup problem," Sphire said. "We were in the second round of the playoffs, and twice during that game, I called, 'Throw C.J. a jump ball.' That was the call. I think the cornerback was put in a straitjacket after that game." 

The one-time quarterback, and rated tight end, knew he was coming to Auburn as a wide receiver. Auburn receivers coach Trooper Taylor listed him as among his seven top receivers this week, and that means he's in the playing rotation in an offense that occasionally uses four wide receivers on the same play. 

That's pretty good for the former quarterback who passed and ran for 2,500 yards and 25 touchdowns as a junior. 

Taylor said that quarterback experience helps at his current position. 

"Because he's so smart -- he played quarterback -- the speed of the game doesn't bother him. He gets lined up. He understands coverages," Taylor said. "He understands leverage, and that gives him a chance. Plus, it doesn't hurt that he's 6-5, 230." 

Uzomah said he's gotten help from his teammates. 

Travante Stallworth has pitched in. 

"It's unbelievable. I can come to him and ask him what any position on the field is and he'll give me the correct answer all the time," Uzomah said. "He's a real cerebral football player, so that helps a lot having him in front of me, helping me out and taking me under his wing." 

That's made the transition easier. 

"It's going well," he says. "The upperclassmen and the coaches are very supportive of all the freshmen, so it's really encouraging for me and everybody else as well. I think we've had a really good offseason as a team. I didn't come in with too many expectations. Coach said if you work, everything would fall into place. 

"I know they trust the freshmen. They said that from Day 1 that if you work hard and you get put in that position, then you have to make plays. If that comes down to it and he puts me in the game, then I'm going to try to do my best to help the team." 

Uzomah is in a receiving corps that has limited experience, save for Emory Blake. That's been encouraging for Uzomah. 

"When we had the scrimmages out at Jordan-Hare, just being able to play on that field is a dream come true and I'm really excited," Uzomah said.

That's the Uzomah that Sphire knows.

"He loves playing the game. The football  field is a C.J.'s playground. He has fun out there," Sphire said.