Bryan Colbert – Syndication Server

Rookie DT Johnny Newton: To be with Commanders is like a dream come true

The rookie defensive tackle has long admired new teammates Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne.

Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton is living his dream.

Bryan Colbert Jr. hosted another episode of “Raising Hail with the Rookies,” and Newton was his guest.

Newton was chosen No. 36 overall by the Commanders in April’s NFL draft. The former Illinois defensive tackle had been expected by nearly every analyst to be chosen in the first round. However, he fell to the Commanders at the fourth selection of round two.

“Kids dream about this. I still feel like a kid, you know,” began Newton. Arriving for his rookie minicamp and seeing guys with their uniforms, Newton said to himself, “It’s actually real. I’ve been playing football since I was five. So to be here is actually like a dream come true.”

How about on draft night, when Commanders GM Adam Peters called Newton? “I was trying to keep my composure…I was projected for Day One, so I was waiting for that call. I didn’t get upset about it, but it gave me that chip on my shoulder.”

Newton says that when he hung up with Peters, he told his family that he was going to be chosen by the Commanders, hugged his mom, and instantly broke down crying.

The rookie defensive tackle credits both his parents for being supportive of him in his football and basketball growing up. He talked of how he has no hard feelings about not being drafted in the first round, and he understands it is a business. “But I know there wasn’t 32 people better than me. But there is a plan for everything; it was already written. Now I just got to execute it and play to my God-given ability.”

When he was in middle school and began playing defensive line, he remembers Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, both at Alabama. He also recalls Dante Fowler playing for the Florida Gators. Now, Johnny has become their teammate.

Commanders Larry Izzo wants guys who run and hit

New Commanders STs coach Larry Izzo has deep ties to the area.

Apparently, Commanders fans asked for Larry Izzo to be a guest interview on the “Command Center” show.

Izzo, the newly hired Commanders special teams coach, appeared recently on the “Command Center” with host Bryan Colbert Jr.

“I’m very touched by that; it’s awesome,” responded Izzo.

Izzo is a local DMV guy. He attended Broad Run High School (Loudoun County) before moving to Texas. The area has grown tremendously, and Izzo said it has changed so much in the 34 years since he left that he doesn’t recognize it.

“What shaped me as a young football player, started here in Ashburn. We had a great coaching staff. They developed me growing into that role I was in. I played in the lower Loudoun football league in eighth grade and coach Jerry Smith at Broad Run. I still talk to these guys, so it is cool to be back.”

Izzo talked of remembering growing up here when the Redskins were winning Super Bowls, and he himself played for three New England Patriots Super Bowl Championship teams (2001, 2003, 2004).

Like rookie Luke McCaffrey, Izzo played his college ball at Rice. He said he knew the only way he was going to make it onto an NFL roster was by making a mark on special teams. How good was Larry Izzo?

“Special teams is everything to me,” said Izzo. We always tell the young guys, special teams is going to be the easiest path to the roster to carve out a role. In my career I learned, special teams, that’s how you eat.”

Izzo has played on winning and losing Super Bowl teams and coached on a winning N.Y. Giants team.

“I am looking for dudes that want to run and hit. They want to play fast and physical. That is how we are going to play. Then, guys that really want to be out there, understand their role, have a team-first mentality. Whatever they can do to help the team win, they are going to do it.”

Commanders Ben Sinnott ‘super excited’ to play for Kingsbury, Quinn

Ben Sinnott is excited about the opportunity to play in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense.

Commanders rookie Ben Sinnott says he was just showing up and had no idea what number they were going to give him.

I wanted the player to make the number, so it didn’t matter what they were going to give me, “said Sinnott to Bryan Colbert Jr.

The former Kansas State tight end, drafted 53 overall by Washington, was a guest with Colbert Jr. on another episode of “Raising Hail with the Rookies.”

Here are Ben Sinnott’s Kansas State highlights:

The Commanders issued No. 82 to Sinnott. Many will recall TE Logan Thomas wore No. 82 for his four seasons in Washington (2020-23). Logan Paulsen, another Washington tight end, also wore 82 (2010-14).

GM Adam Peters called Sinnott to inform him the Commanders were selecting him and immediately compared him to 49ers TE George Kittle. Sinnott, born and raised in Iowa, says he has watched and admired Kittle for years, who played at Iowa.

Sinnott actually started ice skating and playing hockey as young as three. Sinnott said the hockey “definitely brought that toughness, attitude, physicality.”

The rookie said in the early workouts he has noticed the coaches and players already “revolving around Dan Quinn. He’s such a natural leader, bringing the guys together and bringing the energy. He challenges us to compete in everything.”

How about his new OC, Kliff Kingsbury? “I’m pumped; I mean, look at all the guys he has developed, getting tight end touches. I’m super-excited to fine-tune my craft and see what he has planned for me.”

Commanders rookie Jordan Magee understands opportunity in front of him

Rookie linebacker Jordan Magee excited about learning under Bobby Wagner.

It’s not how you start, but Commanders rookie Jordan Magee said all the right things last week.

Magee, drafted in round five (139) out of Temple, sat down with Bryan Colbert Jr. recently as Colbert continued to interview all the rookies drafted by the Commanders in April.

So often rookies talk about how much they are going to accomplish, but Magee seems to have an understanding that it is not going to be easy in the NFL.

“I am learning from one of the best coaching staffs in the entire NFL; I’m taking it all in but continuing to work hard.”

Back at home with family and close friends in Delaware, Magee received a phone call on Day 3 of the NFL draft. “All those people in that room played an important part in my life…to have them with me through that journey was priceless.”

His linebacker coach is Ken Norton Jr, and Magee is thankful. “I am happy to learn from him and pick his brain from what he has done over the years…what he was and what he’s continuing to bring to the game.”

Also, Magee has the opportunity to learn from fellow linebacker Bobby Wagner a future Hall of Famer. He spoke of learning aspects from Wagner like, “How do you take on a blocker, how do you learn this play, mindset things, technique things, things that helped him stay in the league a long time.”

Magee also doesn’t seem to over-evaluate himself. He didn’t expect to be drafted until Day 3, “I knew it was coming up soon, but the Commanders were the team with the least communication throughout the draft process, so it was crazy that they gave me that call and changed my life.”

Magee told Colbert that he was not highly recruited by the big football schools. When he arrived at Temple, he was the tenth linebacker on their depth chart.

He expressed that he knows he will be learning and making mistakes, but he understands he must give 100 percent effort to fly around making plays.

When asked about his goals, it was refreshing to hear his response. “I haven’t done anything yet. I haven’t made the 53-man roster…help the team out wherever they need it, like special teams. I love special teams.”

The rookie seems to have his expectations in the right place, which should help him get off to a good start this summer.