CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Former Western Carolina running back Detrez Newsome has signed with the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL), the team announced Monday as a part of its early off-season additions. Newsome’s signing comes just days after the CFL began to allow its teams to make roster moves in anticipation of the 2021 season.
Newsome (2014-17) finished his collegiate career second in the Catamount football record books with 3,728 yards, while his rushing average of 6.0 yards per carry is the best by a WCU back all-time. He is the only WCU running back to post three consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons between 2015-17 and amassed 16 100-yard rushing performances, second-best in Cullowhee. The Raeford, North Carolina, native accounted for 37 rushing touchdowns, tied with Otis McIntosh (1968-71) for first in school history.
All told, Newsome also finished his time in Cullowhee with the school record for all-purpose yards in a career (6,969 yards), all-purpose yards in a single season (2,343 in 2016), and most all-purpose yards per game for both a season (213.0 yds/gm in 2016) and a career (162.1 yds/gm, 2014-17). He was also second in kickoff return yards in a career with 2,279 that included two returns for touchdowns, giving him a WCU-record 46 career TDs (37 rushing, seven receiving, two kickoff returns).
Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Chargers, Newsome battled through preseason camp and landed on the 53-man roster in 2018. He was active for 10 games, including the postseason, seeing limited time on offense minus an eight-touch, 53-yard performance against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 15.
Looking to make a jump in his second professional season, Newsome was sidelined for part of the 2019 training camp with a leg injury before returning to account for 58 yards on six rushes, including a touchdown and a pair of receptions in a preseason victory over the San Francisco 49ers. However, he was eventually waived by the running-back rich franchise before being added to the Chargers’ practice squad in early September 2019.
Newsome was eventually placed on the injured list and ultimately waived by the franchise with an injury settlement. Reports were that Newsome earned a tryout with the Baltimore Ravens in January 2020 but was not signed.
After having its 2020 season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the in-person attendance-driven CFL anticipates a full slate in 2021, beginning with preseason games in May. The nine-team league features two divisions; league champions back in 2016, Ottawa plays in the four-team East division with the remaining five teams comprising the West division. Teams compete for the Grey Cup, the championship trophy awarded every year since 1919 before the season cancellation earlier this year.