96   Ron Newcomb
	Class: RS Senior Hometown: Wheatfield, IN High School: Chicago Mt. Carmel Height / Weight: 6-3 / 280 Position: DL Experience: 2L

Finished his time at NIU with 67 tackles, 17 TFLs and six sacks. Entered his senior season with just 18 tackles in an injury-laden career.

2011: A second team All Mid-American Conference selection by Phil Steele after putting up a career season in 2011... Played in 13 games with 12 starts at defensive tackle before tearing his Achilles tendon in the MAC Championship game and missing the final game of the season... Tied for the team lead with 12.5 tackles for loss... Ranked third on the team with 4.5 sacks... Finished the year with 49 tackles, in addition to four pass breakups, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick... Recorded at least one tackle in every game he played... Posted a tackle for loss in eight games... Named the NIU Defensive Lineman of the Week a team-high four times during the season... Compiled career-highs in tackles (nine), tackles for loss (4.5) and sacks (2.5) versus Kent State (10-8) to earn MAC West Defensive Player of the Week and NIU Defensive Lineman of the Week recognition... Blocked a Golden Flashes field goal after forcing a fumble on the previous play... Tallied six tackles and broke up a pass at Toledo (11-1)... Made five stops, four solo, and a tackle for loss to force a three-and-out against Cal Poly (9-24) to earn NIU Defensive Lineman of the Week honors... Named the NIU Defensive Lineman of the Week after recording a sack and a half tackle for loss at Bowling Green (11-8)... Garnered the NIU Defensive Lineman of the Week award after making four stops and breaking up a pass versus Ball State (11-15)... Made three tackles, two for losses, and a crucial sack against Eastern Michigan (11-25) that forced the Eagles to attempt a field goal... Recovered a fumbled at Kansas (9-10) that led to an NIU touchdown... Credited with five tackles at Buffalo (10-22)... Made one tackle for loss in both the Central Michigan (10-1) and Western Michigan (10-15) games.

2010: Played in seven games as a back-up interior defensive lineman. Suffered a foot injury in the season opener at Iowa State (9-2) and did not return until the Western Michigan contest (10-30). Saw action in each of the last six games of the season. Finished with five tackles, one tackle for loss and half a sack on the year. Made his first two stops of the year at WMU and recorded half a tackle for loss. Recorded a half sack for a three-yard loss at Ball State (11-20). Credited with a solo stop at Eastern Michigan (11-26) and an assist in the Humanitarian Bowl game versus Fresno State (12-18),

2009: Saw action as NIU's second team defensive tackle in all 13 games. Totaled 13 tackles on the season, including nine solo stops, with 3.5 tackles for loss and three pass break ups. Compiled a season-high three tackles against Ohio (11-21) and South Florida (1-3). All three tackles against Ohio were solo stops. Recorded his first career sack against Miami for a loss of seven yards and was named the team's co-defensive lineman of the week. Credited with 1.5 tackles for loss, a pass break up and two tackles versus Eastern Michigan (11-5). Also had a tackle for loss against Akron (10-31) and broke up a pass versus Western Michigan (10-3). Had one tackle in games against Western Illinois (9-12) and Idaho (9-26).

2008: Made his collegiate debut against Indiana State (9-20).

2007: Redshirted.

High School: Picked up second team All-State recognition from the Chicago Tribune. Named the Northwest Indiana Times Defensive Player of the Year for 2006. A Sports Illustrated Prep Player of the Week (11- 18-06). Earned first team all-conference honors as a senior and was a second team choice as a junior. Selected to the first team All-Area squad by the Northwest Indiana Times, the Daily Southtown, the Sun-Times and the Tribune in 2006. Member of the Sun-Times' Area Top 100 list at tight end. Honorable mention all-area his junior year. In his final two seasons, tallied 91 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and 16 pass deflections. Scored five career touchdowns with 23 catches as a senior. Compiled a career punting average of 34.5 yards. Three-year letterwinner. Most Valuable Defensive Lineman and was a team captain his senior year. Helped lead Mt. Carmel to back-to-back runner-up finishes in the Illinois State Championship game in 2005 and 2006.

Personal: Born Jan. 25, 1989 in Palos, Ill. Son of Kimberly and Ronald Newcomb. General studies major enjoys fishing. Fan of Dick Butkus and Walter Payton.

NEWCOMB'S CAREER DEFENSIVE STATISTICS

NEWCOMB'S CAREER GAME HIGHS
Tackles: 3, twice, last vs. South Florida (International Bowl), 1-2-10
TFL: 1.5, vs. Eastern Michigan, 11-5-09
Sacks: 1, at Miami (OH), 10-24-09