Parkway North’s Newsom signs letter to play football at Missouri

Parkway North’s Donavin Newsom decided last summer he would go to Missouri to play football and he made it official Wednesday by signing his national letter of intent.

“I was so stuck on Missouri,” Newsom said. “Since the eighth grade when I saw my first game, I wanted to go there.

“It wasn’t a tough decision. I talked it over with my grandparents and we just decided this was best for me. We thought it would be good to stay close to home and the family.”

As he signed his letter before a packed bleacher crowd of his classmates, the chant “Miz-Zou” broke out. Newsom put on his Missouri cap to cheers from those in attendance.

Newsom is part of a Missouri class that includes Springfield’s Dorial Green-Beckham, touted as the No. 1 recruit in the nation. The 6-foot-6, 220-pound Beckham, a St. Louis native, signed Wednesday to end the suspense of what school he would choose. In addition, MICDS’ Michael Scherer signed to Missouri to play linebacker.

The 6-2, 220-pound Newsom has great speed and quickness which he uses to cover sideline to sideline from his middle linebacker position for the Vikings. He also brings a lot of pressure on the blitz and has good cover skills as well. He is physical and plays with a mean streak on the field.

There was competition for Newsom, who will be a weakside linebacker at Missouri. Nebraska and Arkansas both vied for his services.

Missouri is getting a good player, Parkway North coach Bob Bunton said.

“He’s a great, great kid,” Bunton said. “He was a four-year varsity starter for us and he’s a three-sport athlete. He has really, really progressed in our football program.

“Missouri was in early on Donavin,” Bunton added. “He committed last June 5 so he’s been a Tiger since then.”

Newsom has very good hands and ball skills. He could probably be a very talented tailback with his size, speed, vision and natural ability to make plays with the ball in his hands but Missouri will keep him at linebacker.

“I liked the atmosphere there and all the nice people,” said Newsom, who plays to study criminal justice or business at Missouri. “I liked the campus. My first impression was the best impression. I liked it.”

He has been told me could fit in “sooner than most players would” as far as playing time goes.

“They haven’t really told me but I’m thinking about sitting a year so I could try and get better performance,” Newsom said. “I want to work on my footwork the most.”

Newsom was a four-year varsity starter at Parkway North. He was an all-Suburban South selection and all-state player in his career.

“The thing that comes to mind with Donavin is his athletic ability and it’s not an understatement,” Bunton said. “He may be in my years here at North, the most athletic kid we’ve had. He’s going to jump into the fire with Missouri going into the SEC and all that. He’s a great levelheaded kid and he’ll take the coaching.

“I think he’ll be a great one.”

His senior year was interrupted by a torn meniscus in his left knee. He missed five games as a result.

“It hurt all of us,” Bunton said. “It was a big loss for us. He was disappointed but that happens. That’s the nature of the game.”

For Newsom, it’s a thing of the past. He’s over it.

“I had surgery and got it cleaned up and I missed half the season,” Newsom said. “I came back and my knee is completely fine. It doesn’t bother me at all.”

Besides football, Newsom also is a talented basketball player and sprint racers for the Vikings’ track team.

He is the third Viking under Bunton to become a Missouri Tigers. The late Aaron O’Neal was the first Viking to play for Missouri. O’Neal died tragically on the afternoon of July 12, 2005, when he passed away following a voluntary workout with his teammates. Anthony Gatti was second MU recruit from Parkway North. Gatti, an offensive lineman, played as a redshirt freshman last season after sitting out the 2010 campaign.

Several other athletes signed their letters in the ceremony at Parkway North. In football, Jovonte Suber will play at St. Cloud State and Phil Posley will play at Lindenwood. Katie Kuehl will compete in gymnastics at Lindenwood. Michael Bozarth will play baseball at Saint Louis University. Joe Brinckwirth will play soccer at DePaul. Natalie Gray will dive for Ohio University.