'09 IN QB Morgan Newton (Kentucky Verbal)

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4/28

From the Clemson site....Clemson offensive coord Rob Spence will be visiting Morgan today. Coach Jay Paterno (PSU), Coach Phillips (Kentucky), Coach Mullen (Florida), Coach Johnson (Iowa) and Coach Mallery (Illinois) visited Morgan last night.

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5/2

From the ND site...has had coaches visits from Indiana, Purdue, Kentucky, Illinois, Clemson, Virginia, NC State, Michigan State, Ohio State and Florida. Isn't hearing from ND as much, but they are still in contact.

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6/4

From the Kentucky site...talks about how he has begun the process of narrowing his list of schools. Talks about his visits to UK.

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Newton has IU, Purdue on final 8 | IndyStar.com | The Indianapolis Star

Carmel's Morgan Newton, one of the nation's top quarterback prospects, lists Indiana University and Purdue among eight schools he considers leaders.

Ranked as a five-star player and the seventh-best quarterback in the nation in the incoming senior class by scout.com, Newton lists Clemson, Florida, Illinois, IU, Kentucky, Miami, Purdue and South Carolina, in no particular order. He has taken unofficial visits to each school except Florida, which he hopes to see in July. Newton made an unofficial visit to Kentucky on Monday with his father, John, who played football at Grambling.

"Coming from the (Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference), which is obviously one of the strongest conferences in the state and in the Midwest, you want to play the highest level of football," said Newton, a 6-5, 212-pounder who led Carmel to a Class 5A state championship as a junior last season. "That's one thing we're looking at, just the opportunity to play at the next level and compete at the highest level at those places, as well as the coaching. Location doesn't matter so much. All the intangibles are what we're looking at now and just overall feeling about different schools."

Newton, who has 19 scholarship offers, said he won't rush to judgment, but he will have to eliminate some schools.

Recruits are limited to five official visits, which they can begin taking after the first day of class their senior year.

Signing day is Feb. 4, 2009.

"I'm not going to be doing very many camps, but we still are going to be active in this recruiting business through the summer," he said.

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College teams covet Carmel QB Newton
Signal-caller who guided Greyhounds to 2007 state title already has 19 offers, with more likely to follow
By Kristen Leigh Porter
Posted: June 19, 2008

With 19 scholarship offers to contemplate, Morgan Newton has seen his recruiting stock continue to rise since leading Carmel High School to the Class 5A state title last fall.

The sought-after senior-to-be is considered a five-star prospect by scout .com and one of the nation's top quarterbacks in his class.

"I take some of this recruiting stuff, and I look at it, and then I'll take a break from it and then look at it, just so I don't get burned out with it," said Newton, who lists his current leaders as Clemson, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Miami, Purdue and South Carolina, in no particular order.

College teams covet Carmel QB Newton | IndyStar.com | The Indianapolis Star

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Rivals.com Football Recruiting - Friday Night Lights: Newberg's Hot 11s

Morgan Newton (Carmel, In.) QB
The first thing that jumps out at you in watching Newton is his size (6-4, 205). He is big and showed a very lively, strong arm. Newton threw pretty well but at the same time needs to work on throwing with better touch. He also shows pretty good mobility.

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IndyStar.com | Preps | The Indianapolis Star

Sought-after Carmel High School quarterback Morgan Newton spent part of last week in Florida, but the senior-to-be wasn't there for the sun and sand. Football was the focus of the trip he took with his father John Newton, a former college player at Grambling.

Their main reason for the visit to the Sunshine State was to check out the University of Florida's football program, but the Newtons made the most of the week.

"We had a great time of it football-wise that four days we were down there," John Newton, said.

On Wednesday, the Newtons met with James Harris, a former Grambling quarterback and current vice-president of player personnel for the Jacksonville Jaguars, in Jacksonville. Thursday, the Newtons drove to Tampa and spent half the day with Doug Williams of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The elder Newton and Williams - a former Super Bowl MVP while playing for the Washington Redskins - were teammates at Grambling, where Williams later coached. The Newtons got a chance to tour the Bucs' facilities and Williams, who works in the Bucs' front office, looked at Morgan Newton's highlight tape and critiqued the young quarterback.

"That was pretty cool, he was giving me some pointers and stuff," Morgan Newton said. "He said he really wouldn't change much, he was just helping me out on some things that pro QBs have to learn and telling me what he sees when he analyzes and scouts players. There was nothing on the throwing mention but he did say not to double-hitch step into the offensive line. To just hold your ground, that way you don't give the defensive line a chance to reach out and hit you or let the defensive line get a deflection."

Florida is on the list of suitors hoping Morgan Newton will be taking snaps for their team.

Neither Gators coach Urban Meyer or returning Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow were in Gainesville for part of the time, however. They were in California for Wednesday's taping of the ESPYs, which Meyer turned into a recruiting pitch during a phone conversation with Morgan.

"The first thing he said is, 'Hey Morgan, what's up? I'm just down here at the ESPYs. Hopefully I'll be here with you in four years," Morgan Newton said.

The Newtons met up with the coach and quarterback on Friday. Morgan Newton met Tebow in the training room and said Tebow was "a nice guy and very personable."

Later that night, Morgan participated in UF's Friday Night Lights summer camp with other top high school players in the upcoming senior, junior and sophomore classes. The players also got to view the facilities and check out the trophys, in addition to taking part in a pre-game simulation. Morgan Newton performed well at the camp, one of two quarterbacks to earn 'Best of the Best' accolades in a write-up by rivals.com recruiting analyst Jamie Newberg.

"It was just electrifiying to be out there in the lights and it really made an impression on Morgan to be in the Swamp," John Newton said.

On Saturday, the Newtons woke up pretty early and watched Gators reserve quarterback Cameron Newton throw. The Newtons also met with Meyer in his office for a final visit.

"He went away from his usual, 'If you want to win a Heisman, come here. If you want to win a national championship, come here,'" Morgan Newton said, noting that Meyer soon realized the normal recruiting pitch wasn't going to work and became more upfront. "And then he went into 'This is a business decision and you make the best decision for you. We have a lot of good things down here and what you might like and what will make you a better player and develop you for the next level.'"

Although still in the midst of the recruiting process, Morgan Newton is now trying to divert his attention towards preparing for his senior year of high school. The Greyhounds are hoping to defend their 2007 Class 5A state title, after all.

Miami and South Carolina are now longer on the original list of eight schools he's seriously considering, leaving Clemson, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Purdue still in the mix.

"I don't think about it as much as I probably should because we're getting into the season now," Morgan Newton said. "I don't look at it is as being a hard decision because my dad and I and my family as well know who gives us the best options."

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Scout $

8/7

From the UK site. Newton's father says his son is down to Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Florida, Clemson, South Carolina, Purdue and Miami. They'll go over all the schools together and Morgan will make his choice no later than 2-3 games into his season.

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IndyStar.com | Preps | The Indianapolis Star

Carmel highly touted senior quarterback Morgan Newton said he hopes to make a college decision after the first couple of games.
Newton said he is considering six schools, but "LSU has been trying to make a late go. But it might be too late."
The six schools are Indiana, Purdue, Kentucky, Florida, Illinois and Clemson
Newton didn't practice in pads on Thursday with the rest of the team. Carmel coach Mo Moriarity said he was "dinged up."
Newton said there are no worries.
"I've had a little bit of lower back stuff, but I'll be fine," said Newton, who said rest should heal it.

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ESPN- College Football Recruiting On the Trail 2009

Top quarterback Morgan Newton to decide Tuesday
ESPNU 150 member Morgan Newton will make his announcement at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, according to the Indianapolis Star.

Indiana, Purdue, Clemson, Florida, Illinois and Kentucky are the coveted signal-caller's final schools.
Only the Clemson Tigers of Newton's finalists do not already have a quarterback pledge for the Class of 2009.

Newton threw for 1,883 yards and 25 touchdowns while also rushing for 750 yards and 11 more scores last fall for Carmel, Ind., the No. 22-ranked team in the ESPNRISE.com Fab 50.

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Scout.com: Newton Announcement Moved

By Allen Trieu
Midwest Recruiting Analyst
Posted Aug 18, 2008

Morgan Newton originally was to announce his choice tomorrow, but a conflict arose and the five star quarterback has now been forced to move the choice. Luckily for the six schools in the running, it won't be too much longer.

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IndyStar.com | Preps | The Indianapolis Star

August 19, 2008
Newton down to the wire with decision
Posted by Mark Ambrogi

Carmel senior quarterback Morgan Newton downplayed a published report that stated there was a controversy in the family over what college choice he should announce on Thursday.

A Columbia (S.C.) State report said his mother Rubie's favorite was Clemson and that father John had another favorite and Morgan had still another favorite.

"Everyone has their own opinion about things," Newton said. "They're (his parents) definitely the people I listen to because the football stuff. They know what is best for me. So it's something we listen to. As far these schools, my parents have been pretty nice with me and let the choice be mine."

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8/21

Newton commits to Kentucky

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Scout: Newton Makes His Choice (FREE)

Newton Makes His Choice By The Scout.com Staff
Scout.com
Posted Aug 21, 2008



Carmel quarterback Morgan Newton announced his choice at his high school this morning and a certain SEC school received a bit of good news from the five star signal caller.
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Carmel pulls off showcase stunner | IndyStar.com | The Indianapolis Star

Game-changer: Morgan Newton rambles toward the end zone, giving Carmel a 27-21 lead over Cathedral late in the fourth quarter. - Joe Vitti / The Star

By Mark Ambrogi
Posted: August 24, 2008

CARMEL, Ind. -- One reason ESPN chose to televise Saturday's Cathedral-Carmel high school football game was the star power of Carmel senior quarterback Morgan Newton.

In the first half, it looked as if Cathedral junior quarterback Kofi Hughes would steal the spotlight.

The Class 5A No. 1 Greyhounds, led by Newton, rebounded to score the game's final three touchdowns and top 4A No. 1 Cathedral 28-21 in a season opener before an estimated crowd of 8,000.

"They made some big plays in the first half, but in the end we made more plays," Newton said.

Hughes, in his varsity debut, threw a 33-yard touchdown pass and ran 68 yards for another score to help Cathedral grab a 21-7 lead in the first half. Newton tossed a 4-yard touchdown pass to narrow the deficit to 21-14 at halftime.

Newton scored on a 2-yard touchdown run, and a Zach Broadbent kick tied the score with 11:24 left in the fourth quarter. Newton followed that by scoring from 18 yards out with 5:40 left, giving the Greyhounds a 27-21 lead. Ryan Rhoades' kick made it 28-21.

Newton, who announced Thursday he plans to play for Kentucky next season, completed 16-of-21 passes for 194 yards and ran for 89 yards on 20 carries.

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