Mizzou Senior Feature: Donavin Newsom
10/25/2016 3:15:00 PM | Football
Breakout seventh-grade season steered Newsom towards a college football career.
Donavin Newsom spent the first nine years of his childhood in Rolla, Mo. He didn't play sports, in fact, sports were one of the last things ever on his mind.
"When I lived in Rolla I had no idea about sports," Newsom said. "We only had like five channels on the TV which we barely even watched so we barely ever saw sport or heard about sports."
In fourth grade, Newsom moved to St. Louis, a move that would change his life in ways he couldn't even begin to imagine. Donavin's grandfather, Robert Newsom, saw his potential and got him in sports immediately.
"We were closer than close," Donavin Newsom said of his bond with his grandfather. "He attended every sporting event that I ever went to since we moved to St. Louis…he would wait for me after each game or event and tell me, this is what you've got to do to get better next time so he was like my second coach."
Newsom's athletic career began with baseball in elementary school but after one wrong hop found his face, that was the end of his career on the diamond. He then began playing basketball. Though he continued to play basketball through high school, it wasn't until middle school that he found football.
"Seventh grade year came and my whole life changed," Newsom said. "Even then I didn't even know about college football I just thought I was going to do this in middle school and high school and then go try to help support my family."
The now 6-foot-2-inch, 240 pound linebacker got his first start with the Parkway Northeast Middle School Vikings and knew that the third sport was finally the charm.
"In middle school, I was probably one of the biggest guys there and [I was like] you know this sport is kind of fun," Newsom said. "You get to hit people, run around, make friends, might as well stick with it."
And stick with it he did.
Newsom was rated the No. 6 overall prospect at any position in the state of Missouri and the No. 12 inside linebacker prospect in the nation by ESPN for the Class of 2012, Newsom had the likes of Nebraska, Wisconsin, Kansas State, Tennessee, Iowa, Wake Forest, Indiana, Minnesota, Illinois and others calling his name. There were 12 offers in total, but in the end it came down to one thing, Newsom wanted his grandfather in the stands.
"I knew if I went to Nebraska, Wisconsin or somewhere else, it would be way too hard for my grandfather to travel up there," Newsom said.
It was Missouri that snagged one of the nation's best and he has since shown that that title wasn't just given, it was earned.
In 2013 as a redshirt freshman Newsom appeared in 10 games and recorded five tackles, one of which came in Mizzou's Cotton Bowl Victory. In 2014 he played in all 14 games including the SEC championship game where he recorded a pair of tackles. Newsom finished fourth on the team in tackles in 2015 recording 63 total, 41 of which were solo. He posted nine tackles for a loss and had 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two pass break-ups on the season.
Despite being a driving physical force on the field, he is also a key leader in the program. He was awarded the Rigman Outstanding Underclassman Leadership award at the end of the 2015 season.
"I have always been a leader just not a vocal leader," Newsom said. "I'm more of a lead by example, show people how it is done rather than tell people how it's done."
Newsom will leave his mark on the program and this program will leave its mark on him.
"My greatest memory is probably the first time running out of the tunnel and just running and seeing all the fans cheering," Newsom said. "You can't even explain; it's just something that you have to go through because when you go through it it just feels like your body shuts down and you're just soaking everything in."
Now, the little boy who didn't know college football existed has bigger dreams. Dreams of playing the game that he began a short 11 years ago at the highest level.
"The NFL, that's a high priority," Newsom said.
However, there is also another plan to give back to the community that he grew up in.
"If not [the NFL] I want to go back home, and open up a facility like a recreational center for the youth in St. Louis and then spread it out," Newsom said.
No matter where he ends up there is one thing that is for sure. The same thing that fuels Newsom's success on the field will fuel him in everything he pursues.
"I just think back to what my family has been through," Newsom said. "Any way I can help them is what pushes me through each game to be the best I can."
