By Frank Rajkowski, SJU Writer/Video Producer

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - From Johnnie football to Johnny Football.

That's the progress report for former Saint John's University All-American tight end Tommy Auger '19, who is under contract with Fan Controlled Football – the second-year league which began play for the 2022 season on April 16.

Players in the eight-team league -- in which fans are able to make key decisions for their favorite team through online voting, including calling plays in real-time -- are drafted and re-drafted (again by fan vote) in the season's early going.

That means rosters shift from week-to-week. Which is how Auger found himself on the Zappers alongside both former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel and NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens during their game against the Glacier Boyz this past Saturday (April 23). The Glacier Boyz won 42-6, but Auger said it was a valuable learning experience to play alongside such big names.

"Both (Manziel and Owens) are great guys – helpful and willing to give us some tips that can help us get to the next level," Auger said. "They also bring a lot of eyes to the league, which is great for everyone as well."

As it was in its first season, the seven-on-seven league, which plays its games at Pullman Yards, a studio venue in Atlanta, is broadcast on Twitch.  But this year, games are also being broadcast on NBCLX and streamed on Peacock, the NBC Sports app and fuboTV.

It was Auger's college quarterback, Jackson Erdmann '19 -- or @jerdydude as he was known to the league's fans, who emerged as one of FCF's brightest stars during its first season.

Erdmann now plays for the Vienna Vikings of the European League of Football. But he encouraged Auger, who has been an assistant coach for Erdmann's father, Jeff, at Rosemount (Minn.) High School, to give the league a try.

"I asked him for the lowdown and he told me it was a great opportunity," said Auger, a graduate of St. Cloud (Minn.) Cathedral High School. "It's a chance for other scouts to see me on tape while at the same time really connecting with fans out there. I know Jackson was a fan favorite when he played in the league last year and that helped open the door for me."

Auger played for the Cineplexx Blue Devils of the Austrian Football League last year, leading the league in both receiving yards (654) and receiving touchdowns (8). He considered returning this season, but said the chance to be involved with the FCF was one he couldn't pass up.

Among those involved in team ownership in the league are Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook and former NFL stars like Marshawn Lynch, Jamal Anderson and Tiki and Ronde Barber.

"I was actually at a workout with some NFL scouts in California this winter and I saw that the FCF was holding tryouts two hours away," he said. "I figured I'd give it a shot and everything ended up falling into place. I really feel like I have an opportunity to prove myself as one of the top tight ends here and hopefully get my name out there more in the football community.

"There are a lot of eyes on this league. I think our first week generated like 2.5 million live views across all our platforms, so it's providing me a big chance to make an impact."

And that chance is all Auger is looking for.

"I love playing football," he said. "I know the clock is ticking and I only have so much time left. But as long as I feel like I can still play at a high level, and people pay me to do it, I'm going to keep going."