SEC Report

Quarterback Cam Newton's excellent season is coming as no surprise to many college football experts who were well aware of Newton's singular talents and the ability of Auburn offensive coordinator Guz Malzahn to exploit them. Well, maybe no one expected him to be this good. Newton is the scary combination of an athlete with all the gifts who also works hard and studies the game. Basically he has it all, including the "it" factor that few athletes possess but that those who do can just will themselves or their team to victory. Newton has many more huge games to still perform in, including this Saturday against LSU, but all signs point to his continuing to be a dominant player for 2010 and beyond.

All of this has got to be killing Florida coach Urban Meyer, who recruited Newton to Gainesville for the 2007 season. Newton beat out fellow frosh John Brantley for the back-up job to Tim Tebow and was developing into the rare replacement for a legend who could keep up the high standards of his predecessor. All was fine and dandy until November of 2008 when the then redshirted Newton was arrested for stealing a laptop. Later it was revealed that Newton bought the already stolen computer and did not do the actual stealing. Still the damage was done despite all of the other crimes committed by fellow Gators. You see, none of those guys was trying to replace the sainted Tebow.

Meyer, of course, would have welcomed him back. He knew that the Gators offense that was built for Tebow was perfect for Newton and not for Brantley--as we are all seeing this year. But Tebow surprised many by deciding to return for his senior season last year which prompted Newton to leave Gainesville. To be as good as he is and sit around for a third year--all while being labeled a felon--would have been a waste for someone as good as Newton. And so he signed on with Blinn Junior college in January of 2009. After leading Blinn to the juco national title Newton signed on with Auburn on December 31, 2009. Happy New Years Tiger fans!

And so while the Florida offense struggles, the Auburn offense dazzles. Amazingly Newton both leads the SEC in rushing and is second in the nation in passing efficiency. He will be tested by the LSU defense this weekend that features a host of great athletes. And if Newton ever smashes into the equally massive DT Drake Nevis, the sound created will boom out to neighboring states.