2007 NFL Draft: Joe Newton Brings Balancing Act to the Pros

By Jeremy White, NFLHS.com

Joe Newton is as well-rounded athletically and academically as a person can get.

He majored in forest management at Oregon State University (OSU) after leaving high school with a grade point average of 3.73.

He was a standout in three sports at Roseburg High School in Roseburg, Ore., before moving on to OSU, where he set the school record for touchdown receptions by a tight end.

Newton skys for a TD grab to help upset the USC Trojans

"I'm a balanced guy," says Newton. "I've had success in the passing game, but I feel like I can block well, too. I'm a hard worker and I'm dedicated. I think if you give your all you do well."

That's certainly been the case for Newton. In high school, he averaged 18 points a game as a senior on the hardwood. The performance earned him All-League honors.

In track, he won Oregon's 4A state title in the discus with a throw of 178 feet, 10 inches. He beat the second-place competitor by more than 17 feet.

On the gridiron, he was named a Parade Magazine All-American after catching 21 passes for 298 yards and four touchdowns in nine games. He ended his prep career with 68 receptions for 1,019 yards and 18 scores.

Newton also played defensive tackle -- and played it well. He was named the Defensive Player of the Year in his conference and earned all-state honors on both sides of the ball. In 2002, Roseburg High School retired his No. 87 jersey.

The success continued at OSU, where Newton was forced to battle back from an injury. As a junior in 2004, he hauled in 56 catches for 687 yards and seven TDs. He was a major target in the red zone, where he caught 19 passes (four of which went for scores). He missed the 2005 campaign with a leg injury, but rebounded to catch 36 balls for 466 yards and seven touchdowns in 2006.

With his numbers and his 6-foot-7, 257-pound frame, Newton figures to get a shot at a career in the National Football League. It's a break he realized he might get as a sophomore, when he saw the tight end that had played ahead of him get drafted.

"That's when I figured I had a chance, too," he explains.

When it comes to advice for young tight ends, Newton advises high school players to concentrate on route running, something most players at his position dismiss at the varsity level.

"Really work on running your routes, that's important," he says. "A lot of people don't think about that or realize that. They think about blocking and pass catching -- and that's definitely important -- but you have to run good routes and get yourself into position to get the ball."

Story courtesy Red Line Editorial, Inc.