Browns Select Newsome at No. 26 in NFL Draft
4/29/2021 10:42:00 PM | Football
CLEVELAND — Northwestern cornerback Greg Newsome II was selected in the first round with the 26th overall pick by the Cleveland Browns in the 2021 National Football League Draft.
With Newsome II's selection, the 2021 NFL draft marks the first time in program history that two Wildcats were selected in the first round. Newsome II becomes the highest-drafted defensive player of the Pat Fitzgerald-era (2006) and the 10th first-round pick in program history.
The #HOMEGROWN product helped Northwestern to a pair of Big Ten West titles (2018, 2020) during three years in Evanston. Newsome II played in 21 games for the Wildcats, racking up 71 tackles, 25 passes defended and an interception. A 2020 second team All-America selection (FWAA/Phil Steele), he led the Big Ten in passes defended in 2020 (10) and posted a league bet 11 pass breakups in 2019. Dating back to the 2019 campaign, Newsome II played 471 coverage snaps and only allowed one touchdown.
Newsome II had a breakout campaign in 2020, earning him consensus first team All-Big Ten status. In five regular season games played, Newsome II did not allow a third-down completion (0-for-9) and ranked first among Big Ten coornerbacks for completion percentage allowed (12-of-38 targets; 31.6%). He allowed 0.44 yards per coverage snap in 2020 and held opposing QBs to a rating of 31.7 – both marks rank No. 1 among players in the 2021 NFL Draft class. Newsome II suffered an injury in the 2020 Big Ten Championship Game that led to him opting out of the 2021 Citrus Bowl.
The Chicago, Illinois, native made a splash at Northwestern's 2021 Pro Day. Newsome II ran aa 4.38 40-yard dash, before posting a 40" vertical jump and a 10'3" broad jump.
With Newsome II's selection, the 2021 NFL draft marks the first time in program history that two Wildcats were selected in the first round. Newsome II becomes the highest-drafted defensive player of the Pat Fitzgerald-era (2006) and the 10th first-round pick in program history.
The #HOMEGROWN product helped Northwestern to a pair of Big Ten West titles (2018, 2020) during three years in Evanston. Newsome II played in 21 games for the Wildcats, racking up 71 tackles, 25 passes defended and an interception. A 2020 second team All-America selection (FWAA/Phil Steele), he led the Big Ten in passes defended in 2020 (10) and posted a league bet 11 pass breakups in 2019. Dating back to the 2019 campaign, Newsome II played 471 coverage snaps and only allowed one touchdown.
Newsome II had a breakout campaign in 2020, earning him consensus first team All-Big Ten status. In five regular season games played, Newsome II did not allow a third-down completion (0-for-9) and ranked first among Big Ten coornerbacks for completion percentage allowed (12-of-38 targets; 31.6%). He allowed 0.44 yards per coverage snap in 2020 and held opposing QBs to a rating of 31.7 – both marks rank No. 1 among players in the 2021 NFL Draft class. Newsome II suffered an injury in the 2020 Big Ten Championship Game that led to him opting out of the 2021 Citrus Bowl.
The Chicago, Illinois, native made a splash at Northwestern's 2021 Pro Day. Newsome II ran aa 4.38 40-yard dash, before posting a 40" vertical jump and a 10'3" broad jump.
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