Xavier Newman-Johnson Explained

Xavier Newman-Johnson
Current Team:New York Jets
Number:65
Position:Guard
Birth Date:4 August 1999
Birth Place:DeSoto, Texas, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lbs:297
High School:DeSoto (TX)
College:Baylor
Undraftedyear:2022
Pastteams:
Status:Active
Statseason:2023
Statlabel1:Games played
Statvalue1:11
Statlabel2:Games started
Statvalue2:5
Pfr:NewmXa00

Xavier Newman-Johnson (born Xavier Newman; August 4, 1999)[1] is an American professional football guard for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Baylor and was signed by the Titans as an undrafted free agent in .

Early life

Newman-Johnson was born on August 4, 1999, in DeSoto, Texas.[2] He attended DeSoto High School and was an All-American and all-state selection in football.[3] He was ranked among the top 300 best recruits nationally by ESPN and helped his team average 540 offensive yards-per-game as a senior.[3] Newman-Johnson initially committed to play college football at Texas.[4]

Newman-Johnson later flipped his commitment to Colorado, then to Baylor.[5] As a true freshman at Baylor, he appeared in 11 games, starting eight as a left guard.[3] The following season, Newman-Johnson started three games at left guard and appeared in a further four.[3] As a junior, he started eight games at right guard and appeared in a total of 10.[3] In his senior season, he appeared in five games, starting four, three of which came at left guard and the remaining one at center.[3]

After being given an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Newman-Johnson opted to return to Baylor in 2021 for a fifth season.[6] That year, he started all 14 games at left guard and helped the team average 219.3 rushing yards per-game, which placed 10th in the nation.[3] [7] He was an honorable mention all-conference selection and finished his college career with 47 games played and 37 starts.[3]

Professional career

Tennessee Titans

After going unselected in the 2022 NFL draft, Newman-Johnson was signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent.[8] He was waived at the final roster cuts,[9] but was subsequently brought back to the practice squad.[10] Newman-Johnson was signed to the active roster on December 23,[11] and made his NFL debut six days later against the Dallas Cowboys.[12]

Newman made the Titans' final roster in 2023.[13] He was waived on October 2, 2023.[14]

New York Jets

On October 5, 2023, Newman was signed to the New York Jets practice squad. He played both guard and center for the Jets on October 29 vs. the New York Giants.[15] He was signed to the active roster on November 23.[16] He was waived on December 2 and re-signed to the practice squad.[17] He was signed back to the active roster on December 16.[18]

External links

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Xavier Newman-Johnson . March 4, 2023 . Tennessee Titans.
  2. Web site: Xavier Newman Stats . March 4, 2023 . Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  3. Web site: Xavier Newman-Johnson. Baylor Bears.
  4. News: Texas receives commitment from lineman. Austin American-Statesman. Newspapers.com. April 22, 2016. C5.
  5. Web site: Sayles . Damon . January 16, 2017 . B/R Recruiting Notebook: Top-Ranked Uncommitted JUCO Prospect Close to Decision . March 4, 2023 . Bleacher Report.
  6. Web site: Barber . Colt . December 14, 2021 . Baylor senior Xavier Newman-Johnson plans to return for 2021 . March 4, 2023 . Sic'em 365.
  7. Web site: Melo . Justin . May 9, 2022 . Titans UDFA Profile: Baylor OL Xavier Newman-Johnson . March 4, 2023 . Music City Miracles . SB Nation.
  8. Web site: Moraitis . Mike . May 22, 2022 . What scouting reports said about Titans UDFA IOL Xavier Newman-Johnson . March 4, 2023 . USA Today.
  9. Web site: Arthur . Ben . August 30, 2022 . Tennessee Titans set 53-man roster: Here's who did — and didn't — make the cut . March 4, 2023 . The Tennessean.
  10. Boclair . David . August 31, 2022 . Woodside Ready to do His Part on Practice Squad . March 4, 2023 . Sports Illustrated.
  11. Web site: Wyatt . Jim . December 23, 2022 . Titans Activate LB Zach Cunningham While Placing Guard Nate Davis on Injured Reserve . March 4, 2023 . Tennessee Titans.
  12. Web site: Moraitis . Mike . December 30, 2022 . Titans unlikely to break players fielded record . March 4, 2023 . USA Today.
  13. Web site: Tennessee Titans Set Initial 53-Man Roster including 11 Rookies. Sports Illustrated. Rowland, Tyler. August 30, 2023.
  14. Web site: Titans Move WR Kyle Philips to the Team's 'Designated for Return' List While Waiving WR Mason Kinsey, OL Xavier Newman. Wyatt, Jim. TennesseeTitans.com. October 2, 2023.
  15. Web site: Jets Sign OL Xavier Newman to Practice Squad. Greenberg, Ethan. NewYorkJets.com. October 5, 2023.
  16. Web site: Greenberg . Ethan . Jets Activate OL Duane Brown, Sign Xavier Newman . newyorkjets.com . 23 November 2023.
  17. Web site: Jets Activate CB Justin Hardee, OL Wes Schweitzer. Greenberg, Ethan. NewYorkJets.com. December 2, 2023.
  18. Web site: Jets Sign OL Xavier Newman to Active Roster; Place LB Zaire Barnes on IR. Greenberg, Ethan. NewYorkJets.com. December 16, 2023.