After the first game of the 2010 season, Tre’ Newton (briefly) replaced Cody Johnson as Texas’ starting running back.
Two months later, Newton has decided to hang up his cleats for good.
According to head coach Mack Brown, Newton has decided to give up football following a string of injuries, including more than one concussion. Newton suffered a head injury in the loss to Kansas State Nov. 6, then sat out this Saturday’s loss to Oklahoma State.
After consulting with team doctors over the weekend, Newton and his family -- his dad is former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Nate Newton -- decided to pull the plug on his playing career.
“He is a great young man and has been fighting a head injury,” Brown said. “He has done everything we’ve asked him to here. He’s been an outstanding player for us, he’s won ball games.”
Newton was fourth on the Longhorns this season with 229 yards rushing, one year after leading the team in that category.
Brown said that Newton will remain on scholarship and could become a student-coach.