Three years out of high school, Newton was less interested in uniforms and facilities than he was in how head coach Gene Chizik and offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn planned to utilize a 6-foot-6, 250-pound dual-threat quarterback.
“That whole time during that visit was really focused on implementation rather than decoration and celebration,” Newton said.
Newton told Malzahn he wanted to be a top 10 quarterback nationally, win the Heisman Trophy and lead his team to the BCS National Championship Game.
Replied Malzahn, “’If you listen to everything I tell you to do and you do it, I can promise you that you’ll have that,’” remembered Newton.
With his father’s input, Newton chose Auburn, signing with the Tigers on New Year’s Eve in 2009.
“When I got here, it was a burning desire to want something that I’ve never had,” he said.
With quarterbacks off limits to contact during practices and scrimmages, Auburn’s coaches and Cam’s teammates didn’t fully grasp his rushing ability until Newton gained 171 yards, ran for three touchdowns and passed for two more in a season-opening win over Arkansas State.
“Nobody really knew until Arkansas State,” recalled Newton, who told Malzahn it would be unnecessary to employ Kodi Burns in the Wildcat formation: “I can do this.
“That one adjustment skyrocketed everything. I scored five touchdowns and every touchdown I was trying to find my dad.”
