Auburn football: C.J. Uzomah named to Mackey Award watch list

The committee for the Mackey Award, which is given each year to college football's top tight end, released its preseason watch list Tuesday morning, and Auburn's C.J. Uzomah made the cut.

Uzomah was one of 37 players named to the preseason list, placing him in pretty elite company. The preseason honor shows high expectations for the junior, who will try to fill the shoes of Philip Lutzenkirchen along with fellow tight end Brandon Fulse. Last season, Uzomah caught seven passes for 136 yards and one touchdown. Those numbers represent his two-year career totals at Auburn.

Uzomah is one of five SEC players to make the watch list. He's joined by South Carolina's Rory Anderson, Mississippi State's Malcolm Johnson, Georgia's Arthur Lynch and Alabama's Brian Vogler.

Last season, Notre Dame's Tyler Eifert took home the award after compiling 50 receptions for 685 yards and four scores. Eifert parlayed that performance into a first-round selection at April's NFL Draft, going to the Cincinnati Bengals with the 21st-overall pick.

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