Today, CFC shines the spotlight on Class 2011 star offensive lineman from the Edmonton Wildcats Lincoln Utereiner. Lincoln started playing football in the 2006-2007 season.

Lincoln Utereiner

Positions:
Offensive Line (Guard, Center)

Height/Weight:
6’2, 310 lbs

Teams:
Edmonton Wildcats (junior: CJFL/PFC)
Salibury Sabres (high school)
Sherwood Park Northstars (bantam)

Class:
2011

For the first two seasons of his football career, Lincoln played for the bantam Sherwood Park Northstars. Furthermore, the standout had a successful high school career with the Salisbury Sabres.

During his senior year with the Sabres, Lincoln encountered a special experience. It took place while the Sabres were facing their crosstown rivals, the Bev Facey Falcons in the Carr Conference championship game.

“We went into the game as underdogs and started the game like that, trailing 21-8 at halftime; however, in the second halfs omething just clicked as everyone got together and played the most exciting half of football I’ve been in to date,” explains the offensive lineman. “Once that final buzzer hit, I did a sigh of relief saying “man it’s finally over”.”

“My first championship in my career was a nail bitter to say the least and it came against one of the most powerful high school football programs in Western Canada; if not the country. Currently, nothing can even measure up in my mind.”

In 2011, Lincoln was selected to the North team that participated in the Senior Bowl all-star game. After considering a possible move to play for University of British Columbia, he has elected to stay for his second season with the Edmonton Wildcats of the Prairie Football Conference (PFC) in the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL).

As for the main influences on his football career, Lincoln says head coach Cam Fraser and offensive line coach Blake Dermott have played a significant role in all the success he’s encountered to date on the field.

“They have had the biggest impact on my football career,” comments the offensive lineman. “They believed in me and had faith in my ability which allowed me to prosper into the person and player I am now.”

“I was the underdog behind three CIS calibre lineman and to keep on believing in me and nurturing my talent; I was truly blessed to be there in that program with those people.”

Lincoln would not be able to pursue his dream of playing football without his parents.

“My parents, of course are the ones who have supported me and have also criticized me to put myself in the best possible position,” adds Lincoln. “Without them, none of this would be possible.”

There are some academic and career goals Lincoln would like to achieve in the future. One possible academic goal is to study kinesiology. Moreover, the possible career avenues the offensive lineman is considering are physiotherapy, teaching and physical education.

Overall, Lincoln credits football for teaching him the hard work ethic that is needed to reach for all his goals on and off the field.

“If you put in the hard work and do all those extra hours of training, then you will see your rewards; you get out of life what you put in,” says Lincoln. “Also, the ability to trust individuals with certain tasks and realizing that you can rely on someone to help you can be attributed to football.”

“I am a humble person that will work hard towards his goals whether it be football or in life.”

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