| Team: | Carolina Panthers |
| Ht / Wt: | 6'5" / 244 lb. |
| College: | Auburn |
| Age: | 31 |
| Born: | May 11, 1989 |
| Drafted: | 2011 / Rd. 1 (1) |
| Draft Team: | CAR |
Cam Newton was born in Atlanta, GA, on May 11, 1989. He is the starting quarterback for the Carolina Panthers of the NFC South. Most fans know Newton for his accurate passing and ability to run with the ball. His success has been phenomenal, earning him three Pro Bowl appearances.
Anyone interested in getting some Cam Newton memorabilia can find it readily available online, especially his number “1” Panther jersey.
Newton grew up in the Southwest section of Atlanta. There, he attended Westlake High School and excelled at football.
As quarterback for the Westlake Lions, Newton passed for over 2,500 yards in one season. This performance garnered him a 5-star highest college prospect rating.
College was both a time of success and controversy for the star quarterback. Newton actually attended three colleges, a fact which has caused some people to question his decision making ability.
In 2007 and 2008, Newton played for the Florida Gators. He committed to the team during his high school senior year. At Florida, he was the backup to Heisman winner Tim Tebow. He played in only five games in 2007, passing for a mere 40 yards. The next season, Newton suffered an ankle injury during the first game and redshirted to save eligibility time.
Things went bad from there when in November of 2008, campus police arrested Newton on theft charges. He was found in the possession of a stolen laptop computer.
The quarterback then transferred to tiny Blinn College in 2009 after facing academic difficulties at Florida. Newton led Blinn to the National Junior College Championship with an impressive 2,800-yard passing display.
Auburn recruited Newton, bringing him back to the SEC. 2010 was a banner year for him. Newton was the SEC Offensive Player of the Year and went on to win the Heisman Trophy. Best of all, he led the team to a 22-19 National Championship victory over Oregon with a 262-yard passing performance.
Newton was known by pro scouts for his rugged running style with the ball. His ability to scramble and avoid defenders made Newton the most sought after player in the 2011 NFL draft.
At the 2011 combine, Newton performed admirably. He had a 4.59-second 40 time and jumped 35-inches vertical. Added to this performance was a 126-inch broad jump.
NFL scouts rated Newton a top talent, leading to him become the first round draft pick of the Carolina Panthers.
He signed a four-year $22 million salary contract in 2011.
Newton threw for 4,051 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also won the 2011 Rookie of the Year award.
He continued this success in the following years, passing for over 3,500 years in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
The Panthers ended the 2015 regular season with 15 wins and only one loss. Newton led them to the Super Bowl, pitting the young star against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos.
In the Super Bowl, Newton got sacked six times and the team lost to the Broncos 24 to 10. Nevertheless, the NFL chose Newton player of the year for the 2015 season.
2016 was difficult for Newton. He had a concussion in a game against the rival Atlanta Falcons. Then, he got benched in December for violation of the team dress code policy.
Newton did pass for over 3,500 yards but had only a 52 percent completion rate.
Though unmarried, Newton is in a relationship with Kia Proctor.
Fans can keep track of Newton and his highlights via Twitter (@CameronNewton) and on Instagram (@cameron1newton).
