JONESBORO (4/30/11) - An All-Sun Belt Conference performer the last two seasons at Arkansas State, Derek Newton (Utica, Miss.) was selected by the Houston Texans in the seventh round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

The Texans spent their seventh pick of the draft on Newton, who was the 11th player taken in the seventh round and the 214th player chosen overall.  Newton is the first ASU player to ever be drafted by the Houston Texans, which joined the NFL in 2002 as an expansion team.

The Red Wolves have now had a player chosen in each of the last five NFL Drafts, including Oren O'Neal in 2007, Tyrell Johnson in 2008, tight end David Johnson in 2009 and defensive end Alex Carrington in 2010.  Newton became the 43rd A-State player to ever be selected in the NFL Draft.  Over 100 all-time Arkansas State players have signed pro contracts with an NFL franchise.

After earning second team All-Sun Belt recognition in 2009, Newton entered his senior campaign as a preseason all-conference pick and delivered on those expectations.  He started every game for the Red Wolves in 2010 and was named first team All-SBC at the end of the year.

As a senior, Newton helped lead the ASU offense to a school-record 4,841 yards of total offense that also ranked as the third most in the Sun Belt Conference.  He was part of an A-State offensive line ranked tied for third in the Sun Belt Conference in sacks allowed per game.  He paved the way for 23 rushing touchdowns and was also part of ASU's offense that broke the school records for first downs and passing yards.

Behind Newton and the o-line, the ASU offense averaged 5.7 yards per play to rank tied for second in the league.  The Red Wolves also ranked second in the Sun Belt in scoring offense with 30 points per game and ranked 40th in the nation in total offense.