Cam Newton Selected First Overall by Carolina Panthers in NFL Draft

NEW YORK, N.Y. – After the junior season Cam Newton had at Auburn it was no surprise the Carolina Panthers took the quarterback as the first overall pick in this year’s NFL draft.

The 21-year-old led Auburn to a National Championship and won the Heisman Trophy this year, and as he embarks on the next chapter in his athletic career, one marred by controversy, he’ll look to achieve the same success.

The College Park, Ga. native said he found out just moments before NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell called his name that he’d be joining the Panthers (2-14 in 2010), a team who drafted two quarterbacks last season in Jimmy Clausen and Tony Pike.

He joins a plethora of Westlake High School alums to play in the NFL, including Adam Jones, Keith Adams, Ian Allen, Sean Jones, Anthony Mitchell and Keyraon Fox.

Newton praised new Panthers’ coach Ron Rivera and mentioned the comfort level he had with the organization during pre-draft meetings.

“That's one thing I feared throughout this whole visit process,” said Newton, speaking to media after he left the podium at Radio City Music Hall, “being a part of people that I could be coached by someone that I feel comfortable with; that I could tell them my true feelings and that was going to happen regardless, but at the same time, knowing that this particular coach or this particular general manager has my best interest. And doing the same thing I'm trying to do.”

And what he’s trying to do is successfully earn the starting quarterback job and lead Carolina back to the promise land.

“When you put the tape on, it's undeniable," Rivera told the Panthers.com staff. "When you look at what he does and what he's capable of doing, as a defensive coordinator he's going to impact the way you approach him as an offensive player. He's going to impact the way people call defenses. He can pose problems for your opponent. He'll open some things up."

His lengthy college career included stops at the University of Florida, Blinn College and finally to an undefeated season at Auburn that opened the nation’s eyes to the 6-foot-5’s athletic ability.

Newton’s welcoming message for Carolina fans is that he “can’t wait.”

“I'm not trying to prove nothing to no one that I'm not trying to prove to myself, and I understand that I'm my biggest critic,” he said. “Just consistency playing quarterback, the whole transition from the collegiate level to the NFL, I understand that preparation is going be to be key. That's part of the maturation process in this whole transformation, and you know, I'm willing to make that step and we'll see how it goes.”