When Lew Johnston hears people wonder if Kevin Newsome can make it as a quarterback, he can't help but act surprised.
"I kind of raise my eyebrows," Johnston said. "What are you talking about? He's everything people look for in a quarterback this day and time.' "
Newsome, who played for Johnston at Western Branch High School in Chesapeake, Va., will be playing in his first Blue-White game Saturday.
The true freshman enrolled early at Penn State after competing for Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va., his senior season after finishing up high school at Churchland High School in Portsmouth, Va.
His father, Kevin Newsome Sr., said he and his wife Theresa will be up for the Blue-White game and will try to make as many games as possible once the season starts.
When it came to making a college choice, Newsome originally committed to Michigan before re-opening his recruitment last August.
His father said the family has "long since put that behind us," and that he feels his son made the right decision in the end.
Johnston said that Newsome may have been simply swept up into the situation at Michigan, where the opportunity to play immediately was intriguing.
Virginia Tech was also an option for the quarterback. Johnston said that while he's a Hokie fan, he made sure to not pressure Newsome into going to Virginia Tech. Instead, he said it was a win-win situation when the choice came down to Penn State and Virginia Tech.
As a Nittany Lion, Newsome is one of five quarterbacks on the roster and figures to be a leading candidate for the backup role along with Matthew McGloin behind starter Daryll Clark after Pat Devlin decided to transfer.
When it comes to preparing as a backup as opposed to a third-stringer or farther down the depth chart, Paul Cianciolo said there's a difference.
This past season, Cianciolo was Clark's backup for the Rose Bowl after Pat Devlin decided to transfer.
"It was definitely a good time knowing you're one play away instead of two or more plays," Cianciolo said.
"Preparation is key and the team will be dependent on you to come in and run the show if something happens to the starter. A lot of responsibility falls to the backup quarterback."
Newsome's father said he's excited his son will have a chance to learn behind an experienced signal caller like Clark, who's already won a Big Ten Championship.
Johnston felt the same way. He said he told Newsome he will begin to understand why a quarterback needs a year to learn, especially when he can "learn from one of the best."
As for deciding to enroll at Penn State early, Johnston said he "kind of planted a seed" about going in a semester early.
Johnston, who is now the head coach at Chesapeake's Jolliff Middle School, called Newsome one of the best he's ever coached both on and off the field.
As a freshman in high school, Newsome saw playing time out of the shotgun spread package.
Almost four years later, Johnston said Newsome retains that quarterback mentality. Johnston said Newsome would say that he likes the ball in his hands so he could make plays for his team.
As for his quarterback approach, Johnston said Newsome went to the Susquehanna Valley Sports Football Camps and attended a session for quarterbacks.
Johnston said while other kids there were intent on just throwing the football, Newsome was more prone to talking about reading defenses and patterns.
"He's very bright academically," Johnston said. "He converts that to the playing field. You explain things to him once, and he's got it.
"He did some things considered pretty advanced as far as he is concerned. He just ate it up."
