Durron Newman is living proof that anything can happen if you put your mind to it. Newman was a walk-on to the football team this season, and with mounting injuries to other running backs and ineffective play, he found himself as the starting tailback for the Red Storm.

He made his debut midway through the first half against Albany on Oct. 13. He came in the game once freshmen Derek Jones was lost for the season with a injury.

Newman, a senior, was on the track and football teams during his high school years at Cardinal Hayes in the Bronx.

When he came to St. John’s, Newman concentrated on track until this year when he tried out for the football team. “College wise the transition between football and track was different. What football did for me was it gave me a sense of teamwork,” said Newman.

He added that football and track do have similarities. “The extra stuff to make yourself, the team better,” Newman said.

When the season started, Newman was on the bench, but injuries to Red Storm running backs forced the coaching staff to play Newman. “I’m not too happy about the injuries, but you gotta be ready to step up and I was glad to step up and take that responsibility,” the sports management major said.

Newman’s picking up the slack for the Red Storm delighted Head Coach Bob Ricca. ” I was pleased with his play. He made nice runs against LaSalle. He had 25 carries and scored two touchdowns,” Ricca said.

In the homecoming game, Newman was a one man wrecking crew. He carried 25 times for 72 yards, an average of 2.9 yards a carry. The statistics aren’t gaudy, until you realize that his work allowed St. John’s to control the clock against the explosive LaSalle Explorers in a 28-2 win. “I felt pretty happy. A lot of different people told me I would get the ball and I got really focused,” said Newman.

Newman, who looked like Curtis Martin against LaSalle, uses another star NFL running back’s style for his game. “I pattern my game after Marshall Faulk, the way he moves. I try to pattern the way he runs, the way he follows his blockers,” Newman said.

Ricca said that Newman will improve with more playing time. “He might get playing time. We’re hoping that he’ll work on his blocking and become a complete player. He runs his own play very well. He will share time for the remainder of the season,” Ricca said.

Even though Newman, is a senior academically, he has a year of eligibility of remaining and he said that he would use it.
Newman is not sure what the future holds for him, but if he had the chance to play in the XFL he’d welcome the opportunity.