Newsome Update from the Elite 11 Camp

Kevin Newsome news has been swirling around lately like a hurricane. Here are some of the story lines just from the last couple of months:

• Kevin commits to Michigan and may enroll early
• Michigan continues to recruit QB's and gets a commitment from the "Beaver" while other QB's are still considering Michigan (Forcier and Smith)


• Kevin doesn't preform well at a Nike Camp at Penn State (maybe better suited at WR or DB)


• Kevin might be a soft recruit as VTech and others continue to recruit him hard


• Kevin is running track and wins the State championship in the 110-meter hurdles.


• Kevin changes High Schools and his former coach doesn't like the Michigan choice.

Now ESPN has done a long article on him at the Elite 11 Camp. Here are some of Kevin's thoughts and some insight from former Tennessee QB Tee Martin.

"People think because you come out a week after you're done with track and not throw the ball well that you're not a good football player," Newsome said. "Even if I am not throwing the ball well, I just need a chance. You can't be perfect at everything. So I am giving up track and going to stick with my love -- and that's playing football."

Newsome, in contrast with most of his rail-thin peers at the Vegas combine, has a body more like Walter Payton's than Peyton Manning's. The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder who recently won the Virginia state championship in the 110-meter hurdles has skills that could translate to his lining up at wide receiver on offense or possibly in the defensive backfield.

"I am going to be a quarterback," he said. And, according to Newsome, Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez agrees.

The athletic quarterback quandary is one that Tee Martin, the former University of Tennessee standout who now coaches at the Elite 11 camps, knows plenty about.

"When I was in high school I remember being a guy who was very talented and athletic, and no one had really honed my QB skills until I got to college," said Martin, who spent a week working with Newsome this past spring.

"I think it will be a good fit for him at Michigan with what Coach Rodriguez is doing," Martin said. "I think it will be a great opportunity for him to go in there and get a system that will fit his skills."

Tom Luginbill, the national director of recruiting for Scouts Inc., said Newsome needs to refine some his fundamental quarterbacking skills.

"He needs to settle in as a passer, develop patience and discipline and work through progressions with speed and timing, yet play under control," Luginbill said. "He has a tendency with his strong arm to spray the ball around, and his improved footwork will help sharpen his accuracy."

"In Michigan's offense the quarterback just needs adequate arm strength but must have a very good sense of timing and accuracy in the short and intermediate ranges and must show they can throw when on the move," he said.

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With him changing schools, working at camps like this, and dedicating himself to football I believe he will have proper skills coming into Michigan to play QB. If he enrolls early that will only help those skills develop faster.