Big-play Newcom
Senior linebacker leads defensive-minded Red Devils determined to rebound from 2019
Kyler Newcom is ready for anything.
That even means playing center for Lowell’s basketball team.
The 5-foot-10 Newcom has learned to compensate for his lack of size on the court, although he laughs when he talks about trying to guard Cooper Jones, Valparaiso’s 6-6, 250-pound center who also is the mainstay of the Vikings’ defensive line. Jones has committed to Indiana to play football.
“That was really tough,” Newcom said. “That man is big.”
Newcom, a senior linebacker for the Red Devils, is the kind of player a coach wants anchoring his defense.
He’s fearless, fast and committed. Big doesn’t scare him.
Newcom was selected to the
Indiana Football Coaches Association’s junior all-state team in 2019 and was named honorable mention all-state by The Associated Press. He finished with 67 tackles, five sacks and two fumble recoveries.
Lowell, ranked No. 6 in the preseason by the Post-Tribune, will lean on its defense to rebound from a 2019 season that was subpar by its standards.
The Red Devils (7-5) had won five straight sectional titles until last season.
The dip wasn’t a surprise.
“We didn’t play up to our normal expectations,” Lowell coach Keith Kilmer said. “We just didn’t have the experience. We only had one starter back on each side of the ball.”
Lowell has eight starters with experience returning on defense. A few of the big names include junior linebacker Spencer Barta and senior defensive back Reec Ison. Barta finished with 52 tackles and two interceptions last season, and Ison had three interceptions.
Newcom is excited about getting to play with an experienced group.
“I’m the type of guy that thinks defense wins championships,” he said. “We are going to be good for sure.”
Newcom played on offense as a sophomore, filling in at fullback for a few games.
He might see some time on that side of the ball occasionally, but he’s penciled in as a big-play defensive guy.
Kilmer said Newcom can make plays. Newcom also runs on the track team.
“He’s an athlete,” Kilmer said. “He’s a guy that quietly goes about his business and gets it done for us. He’s willing to stick his nose in there upfront and be physical.”
Offensively, the Red Devils return starting quarterback Cameron Stojancevich, a 6-2 senior. He completed 58 of 118 passes for 793 yards and eight touchdowns last season. Joe Heuer, Jacob Chandler, Adam Bank and Ryan Marx all have experience at running back. Chandler is the leading returning rusher. He ran for 444 yards and scored eight TDs last season.
Kilmer isn’t sure how quickly his team will jell. The Red Devils opted out of playing a scheduled scrimmage against Merrillville. The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted normal practice routines.
It’s going to be interesting early in the season, Kilmer said.
“It’s hard to tell how good he (Stojancevich) looks,” Kilmer said. “I haven’t seen anything. That’s the exciting and scary part. We just don’t know. It might take us a couple of weeks to get back in the groove.”