Three years out of high school, Newton was less interested in uniforms and facilities and more interested in how head coach Gene Chizik and offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn planned to utilize a 6-foot-6, 250-pound dual-threat quarterback.
“During that visit, the entire time was focused on implementation rather than decoration and celebration,” Newton said.
Newton told Malzahn he wanted to be a top-10 quarterback in the country, win the Heisman Trophy and lead his team to the BCS national championship game.
Malzahn responded: “'If you listen to everything I tell you to do and do it, I can guarantee you you're going to get it,'” Newton recalled.
At his father's suggestion, Newton chose Auburn and signed with the Tigers on New Year's Eve 2009.
“When I came here, I had this burning desire to get something that I never had,” he said.
With quarterbacks prohibited from contact during practices and scrimmages, Auburn coaches and Cam's teammates didn't fully grasp his rushing abilities until Newton gained 171 yards, a rushing touchdown and two more passing touchdowns in a season-opening win over Arkansas State.
“Nobody really knew until Arkansas State,” Newton recalled, telling Malzahn that there was no need to hire Cody Burns with the Wildcats: “I could do this.
“That one adjustment made everything skyrocket. I scored five touchdowns, and every touchdown I was trying to find my dad.”