 He committed to the University of Florida at the beginning of his senior year, becoming part of the top-rated recruiting class in the country for 2007.Newton initially attended the University of Florida, where he was a member of the Florida Gators football team in 2007 and 2008.As a freshman in 2007, Newton beat out fellow freshman quarterback John Brantley as the back-up for eventual Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow.