Mike Wright #5 of the Northwestern Wildcats (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Mark Twain famously said, "History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” Northwestern quarterback Mike Wright will begin his first season with the Wildcats, having already played at two different Southeastern Conference schools, just like his mentor and fellow Atlanta native, Cam Newton.
Wright has a lot to do yet to catch up to the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner and 2011 #1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, but he learned the game directly from Newton, who is considered the greatest of all-time dual-threat quarterback. A month ago, Newton, who retired after the 2021 season, said that current NFL Most Valuable Player, Baltimore Ravens franchise signal caller Lamar Jackson, is the actual dual threat G.O.A.T.
"I think he (Jackson) is, when you really break it down," Wright said in an exclusive conversation with RG at Northwestern's practice facility this week. "I also think Cam is too. Those are the two G.O.A.Ts in my eyes.
"Cam is my guy. I grew up in the Atlanta area; he mentored me throughout high school, playing on his 7-on-7 team. I stayed in connection with him through college, so there might be some bias in my eyes."
Wright, who holds his high school's (Woodward Academy) record in the 200m dash, discussed how Newton specifically tutored him.
"Just learning different things about the game of football, cover two, cover three, quarters, and your mental mindset in this situation or this situation.
"And I think that mental element that Cam brought to the game is amazing; everyone knows that famous clip where he's getting ready to throw the wheel route, and he says, 'I got you right here,' because he already knows what's going to happen out there."
Wright was referring to the most viral highlight reel play of Newton's career. Coincidentally, the 2015 NFL MVP and three-time Pro Bowler recently broke down this clip on an episode of his podcast.
Opposing linebacker Clay Matthews of the Green Bay Packers is clearly heard yelling, "Watch that wheel route," as Newton and the Panthers are setting up shop inside the 5-yard line.
Newton then responds to Matthews, "Oh, you've been watching film." He promptly throws a touchdown pass. Newton revealed that the play wasn't actually a true wheel route, which the Panthers would play-call as "arrow." It was actually an angle route, or what some call a Texas route, for which their play-call was "bolt."
Newton is the all-time rushing yards leader among quarterbacks, but it is only a matter of time before Jackson surpasses him. Lamar already has the single-season rushing yards by a quarterback milestone to his credit.
"I love watching Lamar. What makes him special is that he's hard to imitate," said Wright.
"It's very hard to imitate what they do."
Speed is what Wright has in common with Newton and Jackson, for that matter, as he was a member of the track and field team at Mississippi State. He ran 60m in 7.07 seconds in Missouri while posting another impressive time of 22.36 in the 200m in Arkansas.
The native of the ATL explained how the term "dual threat" is a tremendous compliment but can also be misconstrued as a pejorative.
"It's easy to fall in love with how fast a quarterback is," Wright continued.
"I've heard it my entire career, whenever you see a quarterback run as fast as he can- you're like, 'oh my god, this guy is fast.' That's the first thing you think about whenever you read a scouting report on myself or Lamar, you think about how fast he is and what he can do in the run game.
"That's what makes guys like Lamar and Cam such a threat; they also beat you with their arm. For me, I hope defensive coordinators have that mindset because it makes my job easier."
Critics of Lamar Jackson claim he isn't a great passer, but a lot of that is because his extremely rare run-game prowess overshadows his passing efficiency. However, Jackson's passing statistics are truly as impressive as it gets.
The same phenomena surrounded Newton during his playing days. Wright, who earned an SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week award his junior year at Vanderbilt, explained why some people might believe in some misnomers about what the term "dual threat" actually means.
"I like the word dual threat just because it gives that creative element to the game," he continued.
"The misconception is that when you say dual threat, there's a lack in the ability to move the ball down the field with your arm.
"I like to see myself as a quarterback who can make all those throws, but when the receivers are all covered, instead of me throwing it away, I'm able to go get six yards and save the OC [offensive coordinator] from throwing his cards up in the air and saying 'oh, ok, now what are we going to do on 2nd-and-16?"
Newton originally enrolled at Florida, but at conference rival Auburn, he first made a name for himself. Wright went from Vanderbilt to Mississippi State and now to Northwestern, where he had a chance to use that famous "SEC speed" to change the game in the Big Ten.
Having been productive and efficient at two different SEC schools, watching him reach new heights in a new league will be fun.
Paul M. Banks
