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Hey everyone. The recruiting czars -- AuburnUndercover.com, AuburnSports.com and Inside The Auburn Tigers -- are reporting that quarterback Cameron Newton has committed to play with the Tigers beginning next week.

He is, according to Rivals.com, the nation's No. 1 junior-college prospect.

Newton chose Auburn over Mississippi State and Oklahoma.

He signed with Florida in 2007 out of an Atlanta high school. He was arrested in November 2008 for grand theft and larceny for allegedly stealing a student's laptop computer. Urban Meyer suspended Newton and the quarterback soon landed at Blinn (Texas) College, which recently won the junior college national championship.

In a telling demonstration of what former Florida staffers thought of him, head coaches Dan Mullen (Mississippi State) and Charlie Strong (Louisville) have pursued him during the past few months. Both coaches were UF assistants during Newton's days in Gainesville.

The Florida State Attorney's Office recently dropped the charges after Newton successfully completed a pre-trial intervention program.

Newton stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 235 pounds. He was an option quarterback in high school and is considered an advanced runner. He threw for 2,800 yards at Blinn last season, though observers said his mechanics will need significant refinement.

Photo credit: Curtis Compton / Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Questions? Comments? Post directly to the blog below or email me at jgtate@gannett.com.

235 Comments:

Jet said...: Happy New Year!; 1:25 AM
Kathy said...: Turfman just popped up out of nowhere, so naturally I had to wonder.; 1:27 AM
Kathy said...: Not surprised that Eric Berry is going pro. He said both his parents got laid off and he wanted them to be able to relax.; 1:29 AM
E-Bro said...: Happy New Year all.

Now that that's out of the way, let's go beat Northwestern.

WDE!!; 2:10 AM
Unknown said...: Believe it or not, Cam Newton has a wikipedia page. Who would have thunk it?; 2:14 AM
LuvAU41 said...: Good morning, Hotties, and Happy 2010! I am SO impressed w/ this new staff! How many times during Tuberville's tenure did you hear the recruits talk so incredibly positively not only about the coaches, but about how they would like help the program?; 5:29 AM
Jay G. Tate said...: Wet here in Tampa this morning. Not pouring rain; just misty and wet.

I'm leaving for the stadium at 8:30 p.m. EST, some 55 minutes from now. I'll update once I arrive.

Happy New Year, peeps!; 6:36 AM
Dear Leader said...: a big rooo hoo from here... great news last night....

JGT I woudl leave earlier if you want to make the game...; 6:50 AM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: Hottie Ho!!!; 6:51 AM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: LUV - if you're checking in to HABOTN, we'll be outside ENTRY RAMP C (southeast corner of the stadium) around 9:30 a.m.....assuming I can get THTjr to wake up); 6:54 AM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: HOTTIE TEAM PHOTO 9:30 a.m.

outside of ENTRY GATE C - that's at the southeast corner of the stadium.

be there or be somewhere else.; 6:55 AM
Dear Leader said...: give em heck THT...

wish I was in Tampa...; 6:56 AM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: hourly weather.com forecast is ugly. Very pleasant overcast up until game time, then rain & thunderstorms throughout the game with wind and dropping temp. Bring your ponchos!

It will be partly sunny and in the 50s late this afternoon when we are celebrating our VICTORY!!!; 6:57 AM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: I wish you were, too, DL.; 6:58 AM
Norm said...: Morning Hotties and a happy new day to you all. After once again making it through a night where traditional fireworks are set off until all hours of the morning, my hot wife and I have decided that neighbors are highly overrated. Times like this make me wish I were a vindictive sort, then I'd actually carry out a plan like cranking up the leaf blower and other power equipment when I woke up shortly after 6. Bunch of jerks.

So, wtc's mom thinks we'll get Lattimore? I think that would thrill most of us to no end. But, SteveFC feels a bit stronger (or perhaps looser) about it than we do:
SteveFC said...
Should we get Lattimore or Seastrunk, I may soil myself.

6:07 PM; 7:02 AM
Norm said...: DL - apparently, JGT plans to watch the game on tv then get to the stadium later and snare a primo parking space then interview some of the crew prepping the stadium for the next event.; 7:04 AM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: I'm all for soiling myself if we get Lemonier.

I hereby pledge, to Hotties around the world, that if we get Lemonier's signature on NSD, I will go outside and play in the dirt.; 7:13 AM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: Has Tiger Walk occurred yet? I'm itching to get to the stadium, but I don't want to risk seeing any of Tiger Walk.; 7:14 AM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: I think I hear AU Band practicing in yonder distance. Ok, it could be any band, especially since I haven't recognized any of the songs.; 7:16 AM
Norm said...: THT - I play outside a lot these days, so I hereby pledge to join you (figuratively) in my yard.; 7:16 AM
Unknown said...: Steve tends to give TMI.

Now if some of the female Hotties want to go play in the mud...; 7:29 AM
Anonymous said...: Happy New Year Peeps!!

Excited that Navy won, that we are actually doing VERY well in recruiting, and that I am not too dusty this morning to watch the game!

Enjoy the game live for those that are in Tampa!; 7:44 AM
Anonymous said...: WDE!!; 7:45 AM
wtc said...: Mornin' everyone.
Dughter left for the game about 45 minutes ago. Not raining in Olrando, but is supposed by lunchtime.

Maybe we can get some good recruting news today. Let me contact some of my sources. anybody in particular you want Au to sign this year?; 8:27 AM
Jay G. Tate said...: We are live from the Outback Bowl.

Peep it.; 8:28 AM
Anonymous said...: wtc - Happy New Year!!

How about, oh I don't know...

Your list last night was pretty good.; 8:34 AM
Anonymous said...: How's the weather JGT?; 8:34 AM
CHB said...: Good morning all and Happy New Year. WTC-Lemonier! will be ours tomorrow; 8:40 AM
wtc said...: Supercrip-Yeah. we get that list, AU will be OK. I know the players are different, but I recall Tulsa playing in a monsoon last year in the GMAC bowl and racking up 600 yards. It would be great if we can replicate that offensive performance today.; 8:41 AM
CHB said...: Just read a really good post from another site. It was written by some analyst at the UA game in which auburn has several commits playing. This analyst said that he and some of the others noticed something special about the Auburn recruits...they came together as a group (players from both sides) and hung out together. None of the other teams' recruits did this. All of them went to Disney together and other activities. He was basically saying how everyone down there is really impressed not only by the talent level of this years class, but the togetherness and leadership...Who was leading the group? Only the best RB in the country (and IMO could end up as one of the best to come through AU in a while) Michael Dyer.; 8:58 AM
LuvAU41 said...: I'm not happy. Auburn has changed their uniforms. Changing the shoes was bad enough. I used to make fun of my dad when he got upset when tradition was messed with - now I'm the same way.; 9:08 AM
CHB said...: What changes?; 9:12 AM
LuvAU41 said...: Oops! Even with glasses, my eyesight is bad! Now that I see them on the big screen, all is still right in the world - except for the shoes, of course!; 9:14 AM
CHB said...: and then we were alone; 9:57 AM
Jimmy said...: I think this guy will win the heisman and could win the MVP in the NFL.
He is so good he could inspire many celebrate like count dracula.; 12:12 PM