Xavier Newman-Johnson

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Xavier Newman-Johnson

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| current_team = New York Jets

| number = 65

| position = Guard

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|8|4}}

| birth_place = DeSoto, Texas, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lbs = 297

| high_school = DeSoto

| college = Baylor (2017–2021)

| undraftedyear = 2022

| pastteams =

Tennessee Titans ({{NFL Year|2022|2023}})
New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2023}}–present)

| status = Active

| highlights =

| statseason = 2024

| statweek = 3

| statlabel1 = Games played

| statvalue1 = 14

| statlabel2 = Games started

| statvalue2 = 5

| pfr = NewmXa00

}}

Xavier Newman-Johnson (born Xavier Newman; August 4, 1999){{Cite web |title=Xavier Newman-Johnson |url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/team/players-roster/xavier-newman/ |access-date=March 4, 2023 |website=Tennessee Titans}} is an American professional football guard for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Baylor Bears and was signed by the Titans as an undrafted free agent in {{NFL Year|2022}}.

Early life

Newman-Johnson was born on August 4, 1999, in DeSoto, Texas.{{Cite web |title=Xavier Newman Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/N/NewmXa00.htm |access-date=March 4, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}} He attended DeSoto High School and was an All-American and all-state selection in football.{{Cite web|url=https://baylorbears.com/sports/football/roster/xavier-newman-johnson/10515|publisher=Baylor Bears|title=Xavier Newman-Johnson}} He was ranked among the top 300 best recruits nationally by ESPN and helped his team average 540 offensive yards-per-game as a senior. Newman-Johnson initially committed to play college football at Texas.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115738820/austin-american-statesman/|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|via=Newspapers.com|date=April 22, 2016|page=C5|title=Texas receives commitment from lineman}} {{Open access}}

Newman-Johnson later flipped his commitment to Colorado, then to Baylor.{{Cite web |last=Sayles |first=Damon |date=January 16, 2017 |title=B/R Recruiting Notebook: Top-Ranked Uncommitted JUCO Prospect Close to Decision |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2687300-br-recruiting-notebook-top-ranked-uncommited-juco-prospect-close-to-decision |access-date=March 4, 2023 |website=Bleacher Report}} As a true freshman at Baylor, he appeared in 11 games, starting eight as a left guard. The following season, Newman-Johnson started three games at left guard and appeared in a further four. As a junior, he started eight games at right guard and appeared in a total of 10. In his senior season, he appeared in five games, starting four, three of which came at left guard and the remaining one at center.

After being given an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Newman-Johnson opted to return to Baylor in 2021 for a fifth season.{{Cite web |last=Barber |first=Colt |date=December 14, 2021 |title=Baylor senior Xavier Newman-Johnson plans to return for 2021 |url=https://sicem365.com/s/8333/baylor-senior-xavier-newman-johnson-plans-to-return-for-2021 |access-date=March 4, 2023 |website=Sic'em 365}} That year, he started all 14 games at left guard and helped the team average 219.3 rushing yards per-game, which placed 10th in the nation.{{Cite web |last=Melo |first=Justin |date=May 9, 2022 |title=Titans UDFA Profile: Baylor OL Xavier Newman-Johnson |url=https://www.musiccitymiracles.com/2022/5/9/23061807/titans-udfa-profile-baylor-ol-xavier-newman-johnson |access-date=March 4, 2023 |website=Music City Miracles |agency=SB Nation}} He was an honorable mention all-conference selection and finished his college career with 47 games played and 37 starts.

Professional career

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 6

| height in = 1 7/8

| weight = 297

| dash = 5.13

| ten split = 1.72

| twenty split = 2.95

| shuttle = 4.75

| cone drill = 8.32

| vertical = 27.0

| bench = 23

| arm span = 33 1/4

| hand span = 9 3/4

| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |title=2022 NFL Draft Scout Xavier Newman-Johnson College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1023792&DraftYear=2022 |access-date=December 29, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}

}}

=Tennessee Titans=

After going unselected in the 2022 NFL draft, Newman-Johnson was signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent.{{Cite web |last=Moraitis |first=Mike |date=May 22, 2022 |title=What scouting reports said about Titans UDFA IOL Xavier Newman-Johnson |url=https://titanswire.usatoday.com/lists/what-scouting-reports-said-about-titans-udfa-iol-xavier-newman-johnson/ |access-date=March 4, 2023 |website=USA Today}} He was waived at the final roster cuts,{{Cite web |last=Arthur |first=Ben |date=August 30, 2022 |title=Tennessee Titans set 53-man roster: Here's who did — and didn't — make the cut |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nfl/titans/2022/08/30/tennessee-titans-53-man-roster-cuts-2022/7927620001/ |access-date=March 4, 2023 |newspaper=The Tennessean}} but was subsequently brought back to the practice squad.{{Cite magazine |last=Boclair |first=David |date=August 31, 2022 |title=Woodside Ready to do His Part on Practice Squad |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/titans/gm-report/tennessee-titans-practice-squad-nfl-logan-woodside |access-date=March 4, 2023 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}} Newman-Johnson was signed to the active roster on December 23,{{Cite web |last=Wyatt |first=Jim |date=December 23, 2022 |title=Titans Activate LB Zach Cunningham While Placing Guard Nate Davis on Injured Reserve |url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-activate-lb-zach-cunningham-to-while-placing-guard-nate-davis-on-injured- |access-date=March 4, 2023 |website=Tennessee Titans}} and made his NFL debut six days later against the Dallas Cowboys.{{Cite web |last=Moraitis |first=Mike |date=December 30, 2022 |title=Titans unlikely to break players fielded record |url=https://titanswire.usatoday.com/2022/12/30/tennessee-titans-players-fielded-record-week-18/ |access-date=March 4, 2023 |website=USA Today}}

Newman made the Titans' final roster in 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/titans/news/tennessee-titans-set-initial-53-man-roster-including-11-rookies|website=Sports Illustrated|title=Tennessee Titans Set Initial 53-Man Roster including 11 Rookies|author=Rowland, Tyler|date=August 30, 2023}} He was waived on October 2, 2023.{{cite web|title=Titans Move WR Kyle Philips to the Team's 'Designated for Return' List While Waiving WR Mason Kinsey, OL Xavier Newman|url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-move-wr-kyle-philips-to-the-team-s-designated-for-return-list-while-waivi|author=Wyatt, Jim|website=TennesseeTitans.com|date=October 2, 2023}}

=New York Jets=

On October 5, 2023, Newman was signed to the New York Jets practice squad. He played both guard and center for the Jets on October 29 vs. the New York Giants.{{cite web|title=Jets Sign OL Xavier Newman to Practice Squad|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-sign-ol-xavier-newman-to-practice-squad|author=Greenberg, Ethan|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=October 5, 2023}} He was signed to the active roster on November 23.{{Cite web |last=Greenberg |first=Ethan |date=November 23, 2023 |title=Jets Activate OL Duane Brown, Sign Xavier Newman |url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-activate-ol-duane-brown-sign-xavier-newman-11-23-2023 |access-date=23 November 2023 |website=New York Jets}} He was waived on December 2 and re-signed to the practice squad.{{cite web|title=Jets Activate CB Justin Hardee, OL Wes Schweitzer|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-activate-cb-justin-hardee-ol-wes-schweitzer|author=Greenberg, Ethan|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=December 2, 2023}} He was signed back to the active roster on December 16.{{cite web|title=Jets Sign OL Xavier Newman to Active Roster; Place LB Zaire Barnes on IR|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-sign-ol-xavier-newman-to-active-roster-place-lb-zaire-barnes-on-ir|author=Greenberg, Ethan|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=December 16, 2023}}

On October 20, 2024, Newman suffered a high-impact hit during a game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers, and as he began to walk back to the Jets team bench, he collapsed on the Jets sideline. He was conscious, but unable to move his body after being loaded on to the gurney. He was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. It was reported later in the game that Newman had regained some movement in his limbs after he squeezed the hand of one of the athletic trainers as he was leaving for the hospital. The next day on October 21, 2024, Newman was released from the hospital after his tests came back negative for major injury and was able to return to the Jets following their 37-15 loss to the Steelers.

On April 2, 2025, Newman re-signed with the Jets.{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Charean |author-link=Charean Williams |date=2 April 2025 |title=OL Xavier Newman-Johnson re-signs with Jets |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/ol-xavier-newman-johnson-re-signs-with-jets |access-date=3 April 2025 |website=NBC Sports}}

References

External links

[https://www.newyorkjets.com/team/players-roster/xavier-newman/ New York Jets bio]
[https://baylorbears.com/sports/football/roster/xavier-newman-johnson/10515 Baylor Bears bio]