'09 VA QB Kevin Newsome (Penn State Verbal)

[wadc45]

TheWolverine.com - Newsome to Michigan

Scout.com: Newsome to U-M? Newsomes say - "Done Deal"

[GoRU]

Football: Western Branch QB transferring to Hargrave Military | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

Western Branch will be without its star quarterback this fall, as Kevin Newsome plans to play his senior season at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham.

His father, Kevin Sr., confirmed the move this afternoon, saying his son wanted to "continue to improve at quarterback so he'll be in a better position to step in and help somebody as soon as possible when he gets to college."

Newsome, rated the No. 4 dual-threat quarterback in the nation by Rivals.com, has committed to play his college ball at Michigan. Over the past two seasons, Newsome threw for 2,156 yards, rushed for 798 and piled up 39 total touchdowns for the Bruins.

Also an elite track athlete, Newsome (6-3, 217 pounds) has a rare blend of size, speed and power.

"If he keeps developing, with the physical make-up he has, it wouldn't surprise me to see him be one of the top-10 picks in the NFL draft someday," Hargrave coach Robert Prunty said. "He has a Lebron James-type body for football. We are very excited to have him. Ecstatic."

Newsome will play on the post-graduate team, where almost all of the other players will have finished high school and are using Hargrave as a prep year before heading to top college destinations.

"You've got to be very good to play for me as a high school kid," Prunty said. "He realizes he has a lot of talent, and he wants to focus on that. It's a move that will make him better."

Newsome's switch from Western Branch to Hargrave, though, might not be his last move. Former Bruins coach Lew Johnston, a close family friend of the Newsomes, said colleges have continued to recruit the talented quarterback even after his Michigan commitment.

Virginia Tech, a team Newsome grew up rooting for, is among those suitors.

"I thought when he picked Michigan, he jumped the gun a little bit, and I was disappointed," Johnston said. "I told him that."

Johnston is not a big fan of Wolverines coach Rich Rodriguez, who told Newsome he was "their guy" and then continued to recruit several other top quarterbacks. Michigan received a second QB commitment just days after Newsome's pledge.

"We're very close, and I've told him I'd like to see him stay closer to home," Johnston said. "I'm not going to push it, but there's something about playing in your home state."

Johnston said Newsome was enamored of former Tech quarterbacks coach Kevin Rogers, now with the Minnesota Vikings, and likely would've chosen the Hokies if Rogers were still in Blacksburg.

But Tech is trying to convince Newsome to get to know current quarterbacks coach Mike O'Cain. The Hokies' Hampton Roads recruiting ace, assistant Curt Newsome, has stayed in steady contact with the family.

"All they're asking is please don't discount us," Johnston said. "Just give us a chance and give Coach O'Cain a chance. I think they've at least got his attention, and a willingness to continue pursuing that."

Newsome, Johnston said, might attend a one-day recruiting camp in Blacksburg in July. Neither Newsome nor his father wanted to comment on any potential re-opening of his recruitment.

[GoRU]

Rivals (free)

7/21

Newsome, the four-star quarterback from Chesapeake (Va.) Western Branch who is committed to Michigan, had struggled for one reason or another at several events this spring and summer. Even as recently as the EA Sports Elite 11 regional camp in early June, Newsome wasn't displaying the skills that made him one of the nation's best quarterback prospects.

But that Newsome wasn't the same guy who was on field at the All-Star Sports Complex this weekend. The Newsome on display at the Football University Top Gun Showcase Camp was confident, sure of his throws and accurate.

Instead of overthrowing or bouncing passes, he was making the right reads on progressions and nailing wide-open receiver after wide-open receiver. This was the quarterback who got college coaches and recruiting fans drooling.

"I've been throwing every day," said Newsome, who is one of the most physically impressive players in the nation at 6 feet 3 and 220 pounds. "I just decided to do it and stop complaining about the time I didn't have because of track. I just decided to start working harder to make up for the time I didn't have with track."

Some still question where he will be achieving in college. Newsome has been the focus of widespread speculation that he's going to end up somewhere other than Michigan. After not wanting to talk about recruiting on Saturday and Sunday, he opened up a little bit on Monday.

"I'm committed to Michigan," Newsome said. "Me and Bryce McNeal were going around bragging how we're going to beat Randall Carroll, who's going to USC, Cierre Wood, who's going to Notre Dame. We were bragging about things like that."

Newsome said he really hit it off with McNeal.

"It was great to be around a guy that's going to be a future teammate hopefully," he said. "He's a great guy. Bryce is a good, good guy. He's one of my boys now. We're going to really stay in touch."

[PSU42Fan]

Yeah, I'm not buying it.

[wadc45]

Scout $

8/19

By Lichtenfels...back on the market, with UM, PSU and VT (among others) in pursuit.

[AustinScottistheone]

- Troy Davis (Assistant head coach at Hargrave Military Academy (Va.))

[PSU42Fan]

Well, QB recruiting just got very interesting...and dangerous.

[Undercover Brother]

Originally Posted by wadc45

Scout $

8/19

By Lichtenfels...back on the market, with UM, PSU and VT (among others) in pursuit.

This kid doesn't deverbal from Michigan only to reverbal down the road. He ain't going back and I'm not sure DickRod is too upset.

[immikefazz]

Okay. Now I've heard from three different people (two of whom probably know more than most) that UF is a player here. Is this another case of Urban Meyer coming after committed guys? I know the ND folks think he's that way.

Is UF a real player? If so, this could end badly for Penn State...no Forcier (UM) and no Newsome (UF).

[FrankBooth]

I took a look at the UF board and they think they're done recruiting QBs for this class.

So I think I'd wait to hear it from Newsome instead of relying in such "informed" opinions.

[Undercover Brother]

Originally Posted by immikefazz

Okay. Now I've heard from three different people (two of whom probably know more than most) that UF is a player here. Is this another case of Urban Meyer coming after committed guys? I know the ND folks think he's that way.

Is UF a real player? If so, this could end badly for Penn State...no Forcier (UM) and no Newsome (UF).

It will be a major upset if Florida gets Forcier or Newsome. It would be stupid for either to go there.

[wadc45]

Rivals $

9/16

From the VT site...talks about visiting VT last weekend...talks about the Tyrod Taylor situation and getting to know Logan Thomas. Plans to visit Penn State, Boston College and UCLA.

[PSU42Fan]

BWI has confirmed that Newsome will be visiting for the Michigan game.

[Undercover Brother]

Originally Posted by PSU42Fan

BWI has confirmed that Newsome will be visiting for the Michigan game.

Go figure ... Michigan game is shaping up to be more star studded than Illinois. Beat Wisky this weekend and the atmosphere for that game will be NUTS.

Jelani Jenkins; Newsome; Justin Brown; Jason Ankrah; Travis Hawkins and others ...

[PennStateAlum]

Originally Posted by Undercover Brother

Go figure ... Michigan game is shaping up to be more star studded than Illinois. Beat Wisky this weekend and the atmosphere for that game will be NUTS.

Jelani Jenkins; Newsome; Justin Brown; Jason Ankrah; Travis Hawkins and others ...

I like the sound of that UCB.