<span style="font-family: sans-serif;">As a five-star recruit coming out of Westlake High School in Atlanta in 2007, Newton had MSU among his top three schools before ultimately choosing Florida.</span> <br style="font-family: sans-serif;"> <br style="font-family: sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: sans-serif;">Now at Blinn College in Texas, Newton once again has the Bulldogs among his leaders and has a chance to reunite with his former offensive coordinator with the Gators.</span> <br style="font-family: sans-serif;"> <br style="font-family: sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: sans-serif;">"Mississippi State is a hell of a school," Newton said. "Actually when I was coming out of high school my top three was Oklahoma, Florida and Mississippi State. Mississippi State has always been on my mind for some time. Them giving me an opportunity to come play for their program has been a big part. They haven't went away. Coach Mullen is there and is doing a heck of a job with that program. Every time I talk to him he tells me that they are one or two plays away from beating big time schools. They have a chance there. I like what I am seeing out of their program. They are putting up big numbers and getting the job done. They just need that big play to get them over the hump."</span> <br style="font-family: sans-serif;"> <br style="font-family: sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: sans-serif;">The 6-foot-6, 247-pound signal caller has enjoyed staying in contact with Mullen but admits conversations are unlike any of the other recruiting calls he gets from other coaches.</span> <br style="font-family: sans-serif;"> <br style="font-family: sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: sans-serif;">"Honestly, every time Coach Mullen calls it's like he's not even trying to recruit me," Newton said. "It's always about how am I doing. It's just like a father figure over the phone asking questions as if he were still my coach. We laugh about the memories we had at Florida. I always ask and talk to his wife, Mrs. Megan a lot and always ask about his son little Canon. It's always good to hear from my old ball coach."</span> <br style="font-family: sans-serif;"> <br style="font-family: sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: sans-serif;">* * *</span> <br style="font-family: sans-serif;"> <br style="font-family: sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: sans-serif;">My relationship with the head coach draws a big, big part," Newton said. "I feel like if you don't have a relationship with your coach then you are not going to go anywhere. I'm looking at the role players and guys that are going to be your teammates and the fan base. Everything really plays a big part into it. There are so many that I can't name them all but those are some that standout to me."</span> <br style="font-family: sans-serif;"> <br style="font-family: sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: sans-serif;">Newton stated that knowing Mullen's offense would give him a head start if he were to choose Mississippi State. But he also is looking into playing in a pro-style offense to better his chances of making it to the NFL one day.</span> <br style="font-family: sans-serif;"> <br style="font-family: sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: sans-serif;">"That would be an advantage but at the end of the day I am still looking for a program that is going to fit me," Newton said. "Coach Mullen's program is the best fit and rightfully so but every athlete's aspirations and goal is to make it to the NFL. I look at the Florida aspect of the game but I'm trying to lean more to a pro-style offense. Coach Mullen and I talked about that, him putting in a pro-style bit to the offense. But the main thing is I want to win games."</span> <br style="font-family: sans-serif;"> <br style="font-family: sans-serif;"> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: sans-serif;">Newton is currently majoring in <font size="5">agriculture</font> at Blinn and is on track to graduate in December</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif;">.</span>