2011 NFL Draft: Can Cam Newton Be "Aaron Rodgers" Elite in The NFL?

After struggling with the law a little in Florida, Cameron Newton decided it would be best for him to venture off to Blinn College in Texas, where Gene Chizik sent one of his staff to scout a wide receiver. Luckily for Cam, the wide receiver mission turned out to be a fail and he was the one being scouted ultimately. As reluctant as Chizik was in Newton’s case, the decision to recruit him proved to be Chizik’s most important and successful move to date.

With an undefeated season and a BCS Championship title under his belt, the Heisman trophy winner is moving on to the professional league of football. Too bad there are people hanging his father’s pay-for-play scheme over his head and doubting his mechanics and potential success in the NFL. However, much like Tebow in the months prior to the draft, Newton is doing everything in his power to improve and impress.

Junior college transfer, forgoing a senior season to enter the draft, starting quarterback in the first year of transfer, immediate impact? Sound a little familiar?

Aaron Rodgers transferred from Butte Community College to the University of California and set school records after being named the starting quarterback a short ways into the season. But if the similarities are not there for you yet, let’s go back a little further to high school years. Cam Newton as a junior, threw for 2,500 yards and Aaron Rodgers set a single season record with 2,466 yards. Kind of cool, huh?

But, don’t just compare the numbers. Compare the style of play. Both players, even though Rodgers is much more seasoned and polished than Newton, have amazing footwork and the ability to spin out of a tackle long enough to do a field read and get the ball into the right receiver’s hands. Each has an innate ability to release the ball from their fingers with record speed and when given an adequate offensive line, can make magic happen right in front of your eyes. Neither is afraid of a hit.

Newton needs a chance to sit back and study under a veteran, but analysts who say that he is overrated and will be a bust in the league are outright ill informed. His size, by any means necessary mentality and competitive edge will make him an elite QB.

 PS: Aaron Rodgers may have been first round but he was not first QB choice in anyone’s eyes either.