Cecil Newton Jr. (born March 20, 1986) is a former

American football American football, referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada and also known as gridiron football, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular American football field, field with goalposts at e ...

center. He was signed by the

Jacksonville Jaguars The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. The team ...

as an

undrafted free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player or manager who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under a contract at present ...

in 2009. He played

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

at Tennessee State. He is the son of Cecil Newton Sr. and older brother of

Cam Newton Cameron Jerrell Newton (born May 11, 1989) is an American former professional American football, football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons, primarily with the Carolina Panthers. He is the NFL le ...

. He was also a member of the Hartford Colonials,

New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans. The Saints compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. Since 1975, the team ...

Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They ar ...

and

Baltimore Ravens The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore. The Ravens compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team plays its home g ...

Professional career

Jacksonville Jaguars

After going undrafted in the 2009 NFL draft, Newton was signed by the

as an

on April 26. He was waived during final cuts on September 5 and re-signed to the team's

practice squad In gridiron football, the practice squad, also called the taxi squad or practice roster, is a group of players signed by a team but not part of their main roster. They serve as extra players during the team's practices, often as part of the scou ...

the following day. The Jaguars promoted Newton to the active roster on December 21.

Hartford Colonials

Newton was drafted by the Hartford Colonials with the 11th overall pick in the 2011 UFL Draft. After the Colonials' suspension of operations for the 2011 season, Newton's rights were acquired by the

Omaha Nighthawks The Omaha Nighthawks were a professional American football team based in Omaha, Nebraska, which played in the United Football League (2009–2012), United Football League, joining the league as an expansion team in 2010 UFL season, 2010. During ...

in a dispersal draft.

New Orleans Saints

On August 1, 2011, Newton signed with the

, but was waived on September 3 and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. However, he was released from the practice squad on September 5.

Green Bay Packers

On October 13, 2011, Newton was signed to the

' practice squad following injuries to starters Chad Clifton and

Bryan Bulaga Bryan Joseph Bulaga ( ; born March 21, 1989) is an American former professional American football, football player who was an Tackle (gridiron football position), offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college footbal ...

. He was released on October 23.

Baltimore Ravens

On November 28, 2011, Newton was signed to the

practice squad.

Personal life

His father, Cecil Newton Sr., played

, as a safety and linebacker, for Savannah State, and was cut from the pre-season rosters of the 1983

Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. T ...

and 1984

Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East div ...

, as a safety on both teams. His brother

won the 2010

Heisman Trophy The Heisman Memorial Trophy ( ; also known simply as the Heisman) is awarded annually since 1935 to the top player in college football. It is considered the most prestigious award in the sport and is presented by the Heisman Trophy Trust followin ...

while playing quarterback for

Auburn University Auburn University (AU or Auburn) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 26,800 undergraduate students, over 6,100 post-graduate students, and a tota ...

, and won the 2010 National Championship during his tenure there. He was the first pick in the

2011 NFL draft The 2011 NFL draft was the 76th installment of the annual National Football League draft, NFL draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players. Like the 2010 draft, the 2011 draft was held at Rad ...

by the

Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. The t ...

References

External links

Jacksonville Jaguars bioTennessee State Tigers bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Newton, Cecil 1986 births Living people Players of American football from Atlanta Players of American football from Savannah, Georgia American football centers Tennessee State Tigers football players Jacksonville Jaguars players Hartford Colonials players New Orleans Saints players Green Bay Packers players