Before Mercer: Played for two years at Middle Georgia Junior College under head coach Craig Young … led the Warriors to the 2009 JUCO World Series after earning a win over Georgia Perimeter College in the state final … went 8.1 innings in the contest, allowing just one earned run while striking out five ... tallied a 4-1 record with a 2.81 ERA in his final season at Middle Georgia ... struck out 24 batters in just 32.0 innings of work as a weekend starter for coach Young.

Personal: Son of Jeff and Barbara Newell … has a younger brother, Alex, 16 … majoring in Criminal Justice at Mercer with a minor in business … born on April 2, 1989, in Franklin, Tenn. … lists T.I. as his favorite musician and Denzel Washington as his favorite actor.