FOLLOWING a banner senior year during which he rarely left the field, Carson Newman is destined for the University of the Cumberlands.
The Jefferson lineman signed a football scholarship with the NAIA school out of Williamsburg, Ky. Wednesday (March 28) at a ceremony at the Jefferson High School library.
“I’m pumped right now,” Newman said. “It’s one of my dreams to do this. This is just another step I guess you could say.”
Newman was a standout on both sides of the ball for the Dragons, starring at defensive end and playing along the offensive line.
“He played almost every snap on offense and defense,” Jefferson coach T. McFerrin said. “So he was a valuable contributor. His stats speak for themselves.”
Newman was Jefferson’s leading tackler with 133 tackles, including three sacks and 23 tackles for loss. Newman earned all-region and second team all-state honors.
McFerrin pointed specifically to Newman’s tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
“What really stood out was 23 tackles for loss, behind the line of scrimmage, which is phenomenal,” McFerrin said.
Making his season all the more impressive is that he never played defensive end prior to his senior year. Newman was a linebacker before changing positions.
“Changing positions was just something that he felt like we had to do because we thought he could be a big-play guy with his hand on the ground and slanting and stunting from a defensive end position,” McFerrin said. “It proved to be a great move.”
Newman also adjusted to a new role on the offensive line as a senior.
“It’s unusual for a 195-pounder, maybe 200-pounder to do what he did,” McFerrin said. “He sort of broke the mold when you look at what the colleges have slotted at each position for measurements … the fact that he played with such intensity and such determination.”
Newman said the University of the Cumberlands — which is about a five-hour drive from Jefferson — found out about him after Jefferson coaches sent out letters. Cumberlands showed interest, and Newman sent them some game film. An official visit soon followed.
“I really hit it off with them up there,” Newman said. “I really enjoyed it.”
Newman isn’t deterred by the distance.
“At first, it was like ‘five hours!’ … but I feel like I’m at home,” he said. “It’s not bad.”
Newman, who said he’ll be either a defensive end or a linebacker, wants to bulk up to at least 220-lb. before he arrives as a freshman.
He leaves Jefferson having been part of two state playoff teams — 2009 and 2011 — during a three-year varsity career.
Newman, who has a 3.5 grade point average, is the second member so far of this year’s senior class to sign a college scholarship. Dustin Casey signed with Morehead State back in February.
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