AUBURN, Ala. — Quarterback Cameron Newton, ranked as the No. 1 junior college player in the country by Rivals, plans to visit Auburn this weekend, according to the Tigers’ three primary recruiting Web sites.
The 6-foot-6, 245-pound Newton signed with Florida in 2007, serving as Tim Tebow’s backup for two seasons before being kicked off the team last year after he was arrested and charged with stealing another student’s laptop.
Newton transferred to Blinn Community College in Brenham, Texas, where he led the team to the junior college national championship earlier this month. He threw for 2,833 yards and 22 touchdowns and ran for 655 yards and 16 more scores.
Charges of grand theft and tampering were dropped against Newton late last week after he completed a pretrial intervention program for first-time offenders, according to the Associated Press. Newton and his parents have maintained that the laptop situation was a misunderstanding.
A five-star recruit, Newton has narrowed his choices to Auburn, Oklahoma and Mississippi State, according to AuburnSports.com. He visited Oklahoma last weekend and Mississippi State in November.
Newton went to Westlake High in Atlanta and considered coming to Auburn when Tommy Tuberville was the coach.
He has already graduated from Blinn CC and could enroll in a four-year school in January. He would have two years of eligibility remaining.
Parting gift
Defensive end Antonio Coleman and running back Ben Tate have been invited to participate in the Senior Bowl, a postseason showcase for college seniors at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala., on Jan. 30.
“The Senior Bowl is the Cadillac of all the bowl games,” Auburn head coach Gene Chizik said. “That’s the one that you want to try and get in. ... I think it’s great for them individually and great for us as a university.”
Coleman and Tate were Auburn’s defensive and offensive MVPs, respectively. Coleman led the SEC in sacks (9) and tackles for a loss (15.5). Tate was fourth in rushing with 1,254 yards and eight touchdowns.
For Coleman, a Mobile native, it’s a homecoming. Asked what he wants to show NFL scouts, he said, “Just me in general. What I’ve been doing all year. Just getting out there and flying around and challenging guys.”
Tate has one goal in mind: “To show them that I’m the No. 1 senior running back in the country.”
Commit No. 22
The Tigers kept their recruiting binge going, adding a commitment from Tallahassee, Fla., athlete Ryan White on Friday.
The 6-foot, 185-pound White is Auburn’s 22nd commitment for 2010. The Tigers have already signed four players who hope to enroll in January and count against last year’s class. Auburn can sign up to 28 more in February.
White, a three-star recruit, chose Auburn over offers from a group of schools, including Arkansas, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Oregon. A high school quarterback, he projects as a cornerback in college.
Isom injured?
Right guard Byron Isom posted on his Twitter page Thursday night that he injured his patellar tendon during practice. Chizik did not specifically comment on the situation Friday, simply saying, “He’s doing a nice job for us.”
Isom posted that his knee “got rolled up on.” He tweeted Friday that he was headed for X-rays and “praying for the best.”
When Isom missed two games earlier this year for a team-imposed suspension, junior Bart Eddins and freshman John Sullen filled in for him.
Graduation day
Six current and two former Auburn football players graduated Friday — Clayton Crofoot, John Cubelic, Zac Etheridge, Tim Hawthorne, Jeno James, Montavis Pitts, Darrell Roseman and Craig Stevens.
A total of 23 Tigers student-athletes graduated Friday, spanning 11 sports.
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