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WR who caught passes from Newton at pro day: 'I think he's still got it'
Former Auburn quarterback and NFL MVP Cam Newton runs a drill during Auburn Tigers Pro Day. Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK

WR who caught passes from Cam Newton at Auburn pro day: 'I think he's still got it'

Auburn's pro day was a big moment for several Tigers with hopes of playing in the NFL to show off their skills in front of scouts. It was also an opportunity for Cam Newton, who won a National Championship and Heisman Trophy at Auburn before becoming the first overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, to remind NFL scouts that he still belongs.

Whether or not those scouts believe that Newton can still be a high-level NFL quarterback is up in the air. At least one person who attended the pro day thinks it's a no-brainer, though. That person was Auburn wide receiver Shedrick Jackson, who caught passes from the three-time Pro Bowler.

"That was fun," Jackson said, per ESPN. "That was probably my most favorite part, just learning his lingo, seeing his cadence. He's got good touch on the ball. I think he's still got it."

For what it's worth, Newton's brother, Caylin Newton, thinks his older bro still has "it" as well. The younger Newton was a receiver for Auburn in 2021 before transferring to William & Mary in 2022. He was at Auburn's pro day and was the one who invited Cam to throw.

"This was him showing love to me," the younger Newton said. "He doesn't owe anybody anything. He has had an amazing journey, an amazing career in the NFL. He has nothing to prove to anybody. He came to show his ability, show he still has it.

"I think, for him, this was a selfless act. But it was also to show and prove to everybody he's not sitting around. He's still got it. Whatever organization wants to get a winning quarterback, his number's still open and available."

Newton was a star for the Panthers from the get-go, winning the NFL's MVP award in 2015 while leading the Panthers to Super Bowl 50 -- where they ultimately lost to Peyton Manning, Von Miller and the Denver Broncos.

Unfortunately, Newton could never replicate the success of that season and injuries caused him to slowly fade away as a star quarterback before Carolina released him in March of 2020. Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots picked him up but it was ultimately a failed experiment in the northeast.

Newton had one final run with the Panthers in 2021, but he lost all five games he started for the team that season. He didn't play at all in 2022, but perhaps this pro day will catapult him back into the league.

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