2011 Texans Draft Profile: Derek Newton

by Patrick D. Starr on May 2, 2011 2:00 PM CDT

With the 214th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans selected Derek Newton, offensive tackle from Arkansas State.

Newton is a second team All-Sun Belt Conference selection at the left tackle position, with 14 starts his senior season. Newton comes to Houston as a swing player that can help back up Eric Winston or bump down inside to a guard position.

More after the jump...

Tale of the Tape

Hometown: Utica, Mississippi

Height: 6'5"

Weight: 311 lbs.

40 yd. time: 5.01

Bench @ 225 lbs.: 24

Awards

2010 First Team All-Sun Belt Conference

2009 Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference

2009 Gary Withrow Award (outstanding offensive lineman)

2008 JUCO: First Team All-State Selection

2008 Played in the Mississippi Junior College All-Star Game

Newton was a two-year player at Hinds Community College and ended up at Arkansas St. to finish his collegiate career. He was considered the most consistent Red Wolves lineman since joining in 2009.

Derek has been looked at as a player who can grow into bigger and better things. He excels at run blocking and is considered a perfect fit for the Texans' zone blocking scheme. Newton has some athleticism and shows toughness when engaged in blocking and has good legs to drive in the run game.

One big knock on him was his arm length, and that is why many project him to move down to the guard position.

Newton will be another project for the Texans, but his speed getting to the second level is what intrigued the scouts. His big body and overall potential is a welcome addition to the Texans roster.

Poll

Do you like the pick of Derek Newton?

Yes

149 votes

No

40 votes

189 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 38 comments | 1 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I voted Yes

But I know absolutely nothing about the guy other than what I just read. Depth on the line is never a bad thing.

Battle Red Blog - The Dream Shake - Twitter - Gunaxin

by Mike Kerns on May 2, 2011 2:01 PM CDT reply actions

Hair

He has some nice dreads. Always a welcome to any NFL team.

"Kenny your a knucklehead." -Charles Barkley
"If winning isn't everything, then why do they keep score?" - Vince Lombardi

by Patrick D. Starr on May 2, 2011 2:04 PM CDT reply actions

He can be your Julio Jones supplement

at least in the hair quality.

Battle Red Blog - The Dream Shake - Twitter - Gunaxin

by Mike Kerns on May 2, 2011 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Ouch

Had to play the Julio card.

"Kenny your a knucklehead." -Charles Barkley
"If winning isn't everything, then why do they keep score?" - Vince Lombardi

by Patrick D. Starr on May 2, 2011 2:16 PM CDT reply actions

Wait a sec...The Falcons?

Who do we know from The Falcons?

by Its Gonna Happen on May 2, 2011 2:29 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

You're right

I should just be devastated that my other team is going to have two elite WR’s to pair with Tony Gonzalez.

Do I think they gave up too much (2011 2nd, 2012 1st & 2nd)? Sure. But if he is as good as many (including you) think he will be, I think I’ll survive.

Depending on what they do in free agency, of course.

Battle Red Blog - The Dream Shake - Twitter - Gunaxin

by Mike Kerns on May 2, 2011 2:30 PM CDT up reply actions

More Concerned

The time it is going to take to do Dunta and Julio’s hair, take away from practice time?

BTW I love me some Julio.

"Kenny your a knucklehead." -Charles Barkley
"If winning isn't everything, then why do they keep score?" - Vince Lombardi

by Patrick D. Starr on May 2, 2011 2:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Nah, they'll have time to do each others hair

on the Play 60 bus.

Battle Red Blog - The Dream Shake - Twitter - Gunaxin

by Mike Kerns on May 2, 2011 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions

Also Forgot

Did I forget any other Falcons who will be brading each others hair?

"Kenny your a knucklehead." -Charles Barkley
"If winning isn't everything, then why do they keep score?" - Vince Lombardi

by Patrick D. Starr on May 2, 2011 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Mike Smith was talking about growing his out

Battle Red Blog - The Dream Shake - Twitter - Gunaxin

by Mike Kerns on May 2, 2011 2:45 PM CDT up reply actions

More Hair

Need Bigger Helmets in Atlanta

"Kenny your a knucklehead." -Charles Barkley
"If winning isn't everything, then why do they keep score?" - Vince Lombardi

by Patrick D. Starr on May 2, 2011 2:32 PM CDT reply actions

Oh, I misread that at first....

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on May 2, 2011 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions

Oh man, I did too...

Did I hastily scroll back up or what…?
/southpaw’d

"In conclusion, I’d like to say that Dicky Justice is an assclown."
"...your in-house hirings on the defensive side suck donkey balls..."
- tehGrindCrusher

by DilloTex on May 2, 2011 3:55 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

This new guy has some subtle humor

have to keep an eye on him/her

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on May 2, 2011 3:59 PM CDT up reply actions

infamous blind spot of the human eye might be to blame

as some QBs find out the hard way

by Cut Block on May 3, 2011 3:53 AM CDT up reply actions

Also forgot

Mike Peterson, we need some All Hair Players in Houston. At least we are starting off good with Brooks.

"Kenny your a knucklehead." -Charles Barkley
"If winning isn't everything, then why do they keep score?" - Vince Lombardi

by Patrick D. Starr on May 2, 2011 2:35 PM CDT reply actions

Kerns does jnow

That tony g is about 85 years old, and the falcons have no pass rush, right?

by AllenOU on May 2, 2011 2:45 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Kerns does know

That tony g is about 85 years old, and the falcons have no pass rush, right?

by AllenOU on May 2, 2011 2:45 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Allen does know that his phone sucks, right?

John Abraham isn’t a slouch.

Battle Red Blog - The Dream Shake - Twitter - Gunaxin

by Mike Kerns on May 2, 2011 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions

/"doink"

"In conclusion, I’d like to say that Dicky Justice is an assclown."
"...your in-house hirings on the defensive side suck donkey balls..."
- tehGrindCrusher

by DilloTex on May 2, 2011 2:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Well, I've gone on record

and said I wasn’t a fan of the move. They needed another receiver, but I don’t think I’d of went that route. But, again, I’m not devastated by it. It’s a super high risk that could have a very high reward. Or, like the Vick trade up, it could haunt them.

Battle Red Blog - The Dream Shake - Twitter - Gunaxin

by Mike Kerns on May 2, 2011 2:52 PM CDT up reply actions

Old slouch

Needs more nose tackle.

by JimboTexan on May 2, 2011 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions

Double Post Time

HA,

"Kenny your a knucklehead." -Charles Barkley
"If winning isn't everything, then why do they keep score?" - Vince Lombardi

by Patrick D. Starr on May 2, 2011 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions

/AllenOU'd

Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 6, 2011 11:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Jarriel King is a lot like Derek Newton..

..accept he’s bigger, stronger, has longer arms, bigger hands, he’s more explosive, he has quicker feet and he comes from an SEC school (aka: a lot better than ArkSt.). Needless to say, we picked up Derek with our 2nd to last pick and King went undrafted. :/ (shakes my head)

by ChadillacSHSU on May 2, 2011 2:59 PM CDT reply actions

but, can he zone-block...

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on May 2, 2011 3:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Then why...

did Jarriel King not get drafted by any other NFL team if he is better than Derek Newton. That is what blows my mind, he is better but the 31 other teams didn’t draft him either. Small school or big school it doesn’t matter where they played, seems like Newton has better pro potential or he wouldn’t have been drafted.

"Kenny your a knucklehead." -Charles Barkley
"If winning isn't everything, then why do they keep score?" - Vince Lombardi

by Patrick D. Starr on May 2, 2011 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

and, just based on the fact that he was drafted now multiplies the chance he will be a better pro, because a team is invested in him with a draft pick

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on May 2, 2011 3:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Why did the Texans draft Benny Joppru...?

Why did they draft Travis Johnson, Jason Babin, Amobi Okoye, etc…?
Why did Wes Welker, Josh Cribbs, Ryan Grant, Miles Austin, Pierre Thomas, etc… go undrafted?
Teams miss and teams hit.. This is an instance where I think a team missed. All I know is that I’ll tune in to find out. With a cold beer in hand, of course.

by ChadillacSHSU on May 2, 2011 3:12 PM CDT up reply actions

You think a cold beer can smooth anything over?

For that matter, what kind of beer are we talking about, besides cold?

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on May 2, 2011 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions

why did Casserly bother to draft anyone?

and what was his protocol, picking names out of a hat?

by Cut Block on May 3, 2011 3:57 AM CDT up reply actions

He read the mock drafts, I think, was his research

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on May 3, 2011 8:56 AM CDT up reply actions

this rings true

by Cut Block on May 3, 2011 9:12 AM CDT up reply actions

I just chalked it up as character issues..

…yet again I hate to base kids solely on what they did in college. They did certain things, certain ways in college because that is what their team asked of them. We have coaches for a reason and I think that Jarriel was an underrated talent as an OL. Again, off the field issues are just devastating to “some” of these guys. Cough-CAmNewton-Cough

by ChadillacSHSU on May 2, 2011 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

you better see a doctor for that

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on May 2, 2011 3:12 PM CDT up reply actions

awesome points, Chad

Recc’ed

by Cut Block on May 3, 2011 3:58 AM CDT up reply actions

If jarrell king went undrafted...

Sign him as a ufa. Mabye both start someday

by Carter Liles on May 2, 2011 3:57 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

I'm not sure how this years UFA class will pan out..

..I’m assuming that a few guys will sign with the CFL or other sister leagues of the NFL so they can cash a guaranteed paycheck. With that being said, Unrestricted Free Agents can go to any team that they deem fit. I’m interested to see which of the “good” undrafted players will choose to sign on with us at a shot to play. The more the merrier, as far as I’m concerned.

by ChadillacSHSU on May 2, 2011 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions