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When time was ticking away at the end of the game, it seemed like a bad case of déjà vu. Was this season going to be 2012 all over again?
With 10 seconds left on the clock, tight end C.J. Uzomah caught an 11-yard pass in the end zone, capping a 12-play, 88-yard drive to beat Mississippi State. It was the first of several last second plays to put Auburn over the top in 2013, but when Uzomah caught that pass in the corner of the end zone, it was the only last second comeback that mattered.
Now, the senior has landed a spot on the John Mackey Award Watch list. Given annually to the best tight end in college football, Uzomah is one of 40 players on the list. Competition includes FSU's Nick O'Leary, one of last year's semifinalists, who has missed practice time this year after crashing his motorcycle. Austin Seferian-Jenkins of Washington won the award last year.
Uzomah battled injuries last year and missed playing time. His catches were also limited due to the run-heavy style of play. Regardless, he plays an integral role in Coach Malzahn's offense, and practice reports indicate he'll be getting a chance to fill the Hulk-sized shoes of Jay Prosch. Whether or not that gives him the kind of stats he'll need to land the Mackey Award remains to be seen, but Malzahn always seems to have something up his sleeve for the TE position.