Newcomer will bid for playing time at right guard in 2023 . . . JUNIOR COLLEGE HIGHLIGHTS: Ranked among the nation’s Top 20 JUCO interior offensive linemen by 247Sports (No. 19) . . . also rated among Mississippi’s Top 50 JUCO prospects by 247Sports (No. 46) . . . spent three seasons at Jones College in Ellisville, Mississippi, and became a two-year starter for Coach Steve Buckley . . . named to NJCAA All-Region 23 Team in 2022 . . . also earned All-MACCC South First-Team selection as a sophomore . . . emerged as a key figure on an O-line that helped the Bobcats average 363.7 total yards and 31.1 points per game (No. 13 nationally) . . . started all 10 games for the Bobcats as a red-shirt freshman in 2021 . . . graded out 88 percent for the season . . . scored over 90 percent in consecutive games vs. Mississippi Gulf Coast (93) and Copiah-Lincoln (season-best 96) . . . saw action in four of five games played as a true freshman during the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season . . . named to the Jones College Dean’s List for the 2022 spring semester . . . HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS AND PERSONAL DATA: Played three varsity seasons at Biloxi (Miss.) High School and developed into a two-year starter for Coach Katlan French . . . named All-Region First Team as a senior after helping the Indians rush for 2,682 yards and 31 rushing touchdowns en route to a playoff appearance (8-4 record) in 2019 . . . ground game averaged 6.6 yards per carry and 223.5 yards per game . . . Biloxi produced four 300-yard rushing games in 2019, including a pair of 400-yard outings . . . Indians averaged 342.8 yards during a four-game stretch (3-1 record) late in the season (174 rushes for 1,371 yards and 18 TDs), including three-straight 300-game efforts . . . Biloxi ran 69 times for 404 yards (5.9 avg.) and five rushing TDs vs. Gulfport . . . Indians gained 386 yards (37 attempts; 10.4 avg.) and scored a season-best six rushing TDs vs. West Harrison . . . team rolled up a season-high 433 yards on the ground and scored four rushing TDs vs. Stone . . . born June 6, 2001 . . . son of Quita Walker . . . majoring in general studies.

Markell Smith