George Whitfield Jr. says there’s a lot to like about Cam Newton, from his playfulness to his willingness to learn, from his aptitude for football to his love for his family.
But in the world of big-time sports, Whitfield finds something even more intriguing about the former Auburn quarterback.
“No quarterback in the NFL has his physical attributes,” he said.
That’s high praise from Whitfield, who runs a private quarterback school in San Diego, where his 6-foot-6, 250-pound prized pupil arrived last Monday and will be there at least another month as he prepares for the NFL Combine and the NFL Draft.
With Newton is his father, Cecil Newton Sr., and his older brother, Cecil Jr., to lend support.
“Team Newton,” says Whitfield, director of the Whitfield Athletix
Few college players have received as much publicity and as much scrutiny in a single season as Newton did on the way to his Heisman Trophy, but Team Newton and Whitfield have devised a plan to keep the quarterback in the public’s consciousness. Newton will be in front of the media again on Feb. 10 in San Diego for an unusual exhibition of his skills. NFL scouts can’t attend, by rule, but Newton’s performance will certainly be analyzed pubilcly.
That will play into the marketing of Cam Newton, the quarterback with the Million Dollar Smile who could cash in with endorsements before ever taking a snap in professional football, says CNBC sports business reporter Darren Rovell.
Rovell says Newton has already had a big marketing head start.
“I do think Cam Newton is a one-of-a-kind in that he’s probably the most commercialized college athlete ever,” Rovell said.
How so? “I’m talking about the 17 Under Armour logos he wore every Saturday.”
Drop-back passer
Cam Newton reports to Whitfield each day with football and notebook in hand. One is as important as the other, says Whitfield, whose pupils have included Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger.
A typical day consists of Newton learning how to be a drop-back passer after spending his college career in the shotgun, mixed with film study and other classes.
George Whitfield Jr. is Cam Newton’s private coach
“The public really won’t see it in his public exhibition, but the NFLcoaches will get to see how much he understands the game when they interview him,” Whitfield said. “That will be the part I think people will really be blown away by — just how well versed he is in the defense’s coverages.”
via The marketing of Cam Newton: Private lessons, a public exhibition and endorsements | al.com.
