2021 Season Countdown: #38 Gabe Newburg

 

Gabe Newburg (image via Twitter)

Name: Gabe Newburg
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 265 lbs.
High school: Clayton (OH) Northmont
Position: Defensive end
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #99
Last year: I ranked Newburg #60 and said he would be a backup defensive end (LINK). He made 3 tackles.
TTB Rating: 72

Newburg redshirted in 2019 and spent the first two games of 2020 on the bench before moving into the rotation for the final four games. That playing time coincided with the injury to Aidan Hutchinson, who left early in game three against Indiana and did not return for the remainder of the season. Newburg looked physically underdeveloped to be playing the role he was, but that seemed to be the case with a number of players who were thrown into the fire too early due to injuries, opt-outs, etc.

With the new defensive system brought by Mike Macdonald and the graduation of Kwity Paye, I expect Newburg to move up in the pecking order a little bit this year. There is stiff competition for playing time in the front seven, but other guys would need to leapfrog him, at least with respect to last year's depth chart. Hopefully with another year of lifting under his belt, he's a little more physically ready. He is an adequate defensive lineman with limited upside who should be a solid backup.

Prediction: Backup defensive end