Jonathan Newsome facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jonathan Newsome

Newsome with the Colts in 2014
Position:	Defensive end
Personal information
Born:	(1991-01-22) January 22, 1991 (age 34) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	247 lb (112 kg)
Career information
High school:	Glenville (Cleveland, Ohio)
College:	Ball State
NFL Draft:	2014 / Round: 5 / Pick: 166
Career history
Indianapolis Colts (2014–2015) Saskatchewan Roughriders (2016–2017) Ottawa Redblacks (2017–2019) BC Lions (2019–2020) Birmingham Stallions (2022–2023)
Career highlights and awards
2× USFL champion (2022, 2023) First-team All-MAC (2013) Second-team All-MAC (2012)
Career NFL statistics
Games played: 30 Starts: 3 Total tackles: 47 Sacks: 7.5 Forced fumbles: 5 Pass deflections: 2
Player stats at PFR
Player stats at CFL.ca

Jonathan Newsome (born January 22, 1991) is an American football player. He plays as a defensive end, a position where players try to stop the other team's offense. Jonathan has played for teams in the NFL, the CFL, and the USFL.

He started his college football journey at Ohio State and later played for Ball State. In 2014, the Indianapolis Colts picked him in the NFL Draft.

Jonathan Newsome's Football Journey

Early Life and High School Years

Jonathan Newsome grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. He went to Glenville High School. During his senior year, he was a star player. He made 101 tackles and had 17 sacks. A sack is when a defensive player tackles the opposing team's quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. His great performance earned him a spot on the All-Ohio second-team.

College Football Days

Jonathan began his college career at Ohio State.

Playing for Ohio State

In 2009, he played in five games for the Ohio State Buckeyes. The next year, in 2010, he played in all 13 games. He even got his first start against Minnesota.

Transfer to Ball State

After his time at Ohio State, Jonathan transferred to Ball State. He took a year off from playing in 2011, which is called a "redshirt" year. This allows a player to practice with the team but not play in games, saving a year of eligibility.

For two seasons at Ball State, in 2012 and 2013, he was a key player. He started 22 games. During this time, he made 116 tackles. He also had 16.5 sacks, which meant the opposing team lost 96 yards because of his plays.

College Awards and Recognition

Jonathan's hard work in college earned him several awards:

• In 2013, he was named to the All-Mid-American Conference First-team.
• He was also on the watch lists for the Rotary Lombardi Award and the Ted Hendricks Award in 2013. These awards recognize top college football players.
• In 2012, he was named to the All-Mid-American Conference Second-team.

Professional Football Career

Jonathan Newsome's professional career began in the NFL.

Indianapolis Colts (NFL)

In 2014, the Indianapolis Colts picked Jonathan in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. He was the first player from Ball State to be drafted by the Colts.

He made his first NFL tackle on September 21, 2014, in a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Later that season, in a game against the New York Giants, he had a fantastic performance. He made seven tackles, two sacks, and forced one fumble. A forced fumble is when a defensive player hits the ball carrier, causing them to drop the ball.

In the final week of the 2014 season, Jonathan made his first start. He played so well that he won the AFC Defensive Player of the Week award. In that game, he had eight tackles, two sacks, and forced another fumble. He finished his rookie season with 6.5 sacks, which was the most on his team. It was also the second-most sacks by any rookie in the NFL that year.

Saskatchewan Roughriders (CFL)

In 2016, Jonathan moved to the CFL and signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He played in all 18 regular season games that year. He made 27 defensive tackles and two sacks. In 2017, he made an interception against Winnipeg. An interception is when a defensive player catches a pass meant for an offensive player. He was released by the Roughriders a few days later.

Ottawa Redblacks (CFL)

Just three days after leaving the Roughriders, Jonathan joined another CFL team, the Ottawa Redblacks. In his very first game with the Redblacks, he helped them win by making an interception. He played nine games for Ottawa, recording 13 tackles, four sacks, and a forced fumble.

In 2018, he played in eight games for the Redblacks, making eight tackles and one sack. The team even played in the 106th Grey Cup, which is the championship game of the CFL. He signed an extension with Ottawa in 2018. The team tried moving him to different linebacker positions to use his skills in new ways. After playing six games in 2019, he was released by the Redblacks.

BC Lions (CFL)

In August 2019, Jonathan signed with the BC Lions, another CFL team. He quickly joined their active roster. In a game against his former team, the Redblacks, he made two tackles and a crucial sack. In eight games with the Lions, he had 14 tackles, four sacks, and a forced fumble.

In March 2021, Jonathan announced that he was retiring from professional football.

Birmingham Stallions (USFL)

However, Jonathan later decided to return to football! He was picked by the Birmingham Stallions in the 2022 USFL Draft. The USFL is a newer American football league. He was placed on the injured reserve list in June 2023. After the 2023 season, he became a free agent.

NFL Career Statistics

Here's a look at Jonathan Newsome's statistics from his time in the NFL: