Philip Lutzenkirchen injury: It's official -- Lutzie's Auburn career is over

AuburnSports.com's Justin Hokanson reported before Saturday's game against Vanderbilt that tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen's season was in jeopardy. Now, we know that Lutzenkirchen will miss the rest of the year with a hip injury. Lutzie will have surgery next week.

The hip injury has been bothering Lutzenkirchen since fall camp, and he recently aggravated it to the point where he could not play against the Commodores. The news is just the latest blow in Auburn's disastrous season. Lutzenkirchen's Auburn career is over, and the Tigers are looking at a possible winless SEC campaign.

Lutzenkirchen has been one of Auburn's biggest red zone threats and fan favorites during his career. His biggest moment came in the 2010 Iron Bowl when he caught the game-winning touchdown and created a dance craze that swept the nation.

Lutzenkirchen had 15 catches for 139 yards this season. In his career on the Plains, he had 59 catches for 628 yards and 14 touchdowns, an Auburn tight end record.