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Northwestern’s standout cornerback, Greg Newsome II, said he will declare for the NFL Draft. The news was first reported by Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel.
News: Northwestern CB Greg Newsome II tells @YahooSports he’s declaring for the NFL Draft. The All-Big Ten corner projects as a Top 100 prospect. https://t.co/5NOp2dpnM0
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 21, 2020
The junior, who enrolled early and is an academic senior, alongside breakout redshirt freshman safety Brandon Joseph, anchored a Northwestern secondary that ranks first in the nation in team pass efficiency defense. Despite only logging one interception, the first-team All-Big Ten selection allowed zero touchdowns and 12 receptions on 32 targets and led the B1G this season with 10 pass breakups. He logged 11 PBUs in 2019, good for second in the conference.
In the interview with Yahoo Sports, he said head coach Pat Fitzgerald recommended he leave for the NFL.
“Being a real man and the real person he is, he said, ‘If you were my son, I would tell you to leave.’ When he told me that, I was committed and ready to take the next step to the NFL. There’s no other coach in the country that I’d rather play for.”
Another interesting note is that Newsome is the first “pure three-and-done” of Fitz’s tenure, as Thamel puts it. He enrolled early in 2018 but did not redshirt.
According to intrepid Northwestern SID Paul Kennedy, Newsome is the first pure three-and-done of Pat Fitzgerald’s tenure. They’ve had early entires who redshirted and Rashawn Slater was a three-and-opt out. Recruiting and evaluating is on the uptick in Evanston. https://t.co/ex2hJOCT3V
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 21, 2020
Newsome left Saturday’s Big Ten Championship Game with a groin injury that will keep him out of the Citrus Bowl. He said he planned on playing in the Wildcats’ bowl game before suffering the injury.