Richard Newton Is Back, Patiently Looking for a Crease to Run Through
The new University of Washington football coaching staff took over last winter and immediately wanted to know where all the running backs were. It was like a house without a furnace. You can't live without one warming the place.
The answer was: they were in the training room nursing a variety of ailments, geared for an offensive style not conducive to what Kalen DeBoer and his guys had in mind, and some not for long for Seattle.
To beef up or rearrange the ranks, the Huskies went out and obtained runners through the transfer portal from Nebraska, New Mexico and Virginia.
They had almost no one to work with during spring practice.
They saw a pair of Texas-produced backs go home, either on their own or encouraged to do so.
Finally, DeBoer's staff worked on getting three other carryover ball-carriers healthy, most notably former starter Richard Newton.
Last weekend, the 6-foot, 212-pound junior from Lancaster, California, made a fourth-quarter return against Portland State after missing 11 of the previous 15 games over three seasons.
It went well for Newton, who's always been a fan and team favorite, though he clashed some with the since-departed Jimmy Lake coaching staff. He picked up 59 yards on 10 carries, breaking off runs of 16 and 21. It was the Richard of old.
Richard Newton takes a handoff from Dylan Morris against Portland State.
Skylar Lin Visuals
Coming into last week's game, the Husky pecking order was Wayne Taulapapa, Cam Davis and Will Nixon. Each scored a touchdown against Portland State, with Davis providing two, making all of them productive. Taulapapa supplied a game-high 94 yards rushing on 12 carries, Davis a supplemental 70 yards on 10 tries.
Yet none of them should get too comfortable with their previously doled-out playing time. Unlike the others, Newton provides a power running style, someone who can break tackles downfield. He's also started more games (3) as a UW tailback than Taulapapa (2) and Davis (2), so he has some ownership to the position.
Newton diplomatically says he's prepared himself for whatever DeBoer's staff has in mind for him.
"I just think they want me healthy, honestly, to be a factor on this team — no matter where that's from," Newton said. "But they want me back and healthy and [to] do my thing on the field."
It was two UW coaches ago when he was the ever opportunistic redshirt freshman coming off the bench who found the end zone in so many ways.
In 2019, he ran for 10 touchdowns, caught a pass for another and even threw for a score in the Las Vegas Bowl against Boise State.
RICHARD NEWTON IN REVIEW
He wants to be a good teammate for the others and not a distraction. He rejoins a group that also includes returnee Jay'Veon Sunday and New Mexico transfer Aaron Dumas, who may or may not be a good fit for the new offense and currently aren't in the mix for snaps; the highly regarded Sam Adams, who is just now getting healthy and practicing again; and persistent non-scholarship back Cam Sirmon, who ran three times for 12 yards against Portland State and seems determined to stay in contention for time somehow.
"Obviously, [I'm] supporting these guys when they're toting the rock always, always supporting my brothers, learning from them and supporting them," Newton said. "For me, I need to be ready when my number is called and make the most of that opportunity when I do get the chance."
Starting right away is not a given, considering he's getting off to such a late start after recovering from an ACL tear suffered in the 2021 UCLA game and missing spring practice and fall camp. He can handle it.
"Even if that's not the case, I want to contribute and do my job and be a spark for this team and score some touchdowns," he said.
While he's a fifth-year player for the Huskies, Newton doesn't consider himself a finished product by any means, even when healthy. He's still evolving in terms of his style, taking little nuances from the new guys or even the teammates who have left him.
"I'm trying to get the shiftiness and smooth feet like Sean [McGrew]," he said. "You know what I mean, the moves from Kamari [Pleasant]. I watch all the backs in the country, all the top backs, and get something from everybody."
And now, with that knee all healed up, it's time for the Huskies to get something out of him in return.
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