First Name
Steve
Last Name
Newberry
Years at WVU
1980-83
Year Inducted
2011
Bio
One of the top defensive backs in school history, Peterstown, West Virginia, native Steve Newberry finished his career as the all-time career interceptions record at WVU with 20.
A four-year letterman from 1980-83 playing for coach Don Nehlen, Newberry registered 191 tackles, including 138 solo, with three tackles for loss during his career. A part-time starter as a freshman, Newberry recorded 42 tackles and had a team-high six interceptions, the most picks by a freshman at that time. He had 37 tackles and four interceptions as a sophomore, 65 tackles and five interceptions as a junior and 47 tackles and five interceptions as a senior. Newberry had 20 career passes broken up and returned 13 punts during his career for 162 yards.
Newberry played in three bowl games during his Mountaineer career: the upset win over Florida in the 1981 Gator Bowl, the 1982 Gator Bowl against Florida State and the 1983 Hall of Fame Bowl comeback victory over Kentucky.
Newberry set the career interceptions record against Pacific with the 16th pick of his career on Sept. 10, 1983. He also had a career best eight tackles in that game. Newberry had seven solo tackles in the Gator Bowl win over Florida. He broke up four passes against eventual national champion Miami on Oct. 29, 1983.
As a senior, he earned Associated Press honorable mention All-America honors and was named to the AP All-East first team. Newberry received the Ideal Mountaineer Award, exhibiting the characteristics of a West Virginia football player – a positive attitude, solid academic standing, outstanding leadership, perseverance on the field, outstanding athletic achievement and good citizenship. Newberry is a member of the 1980-89 WVU all-time football team.
Newberry graduated from WVU with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. Following his graduation, he signed a free agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys in 1984.
A four-year letterman from 1980-83 playing for coach Don Nehlen, Newberry registered 191 tackles, including 138 solo, with three tackles for loss during his career. A part-time starter as a freshman, Newberry recorded 42 tackles and had a team-high six interceptions, the most picks by a freshman at that time. He had 37 tackles and four interceptions as a sophomore, 65 tackles and five interceptions as a junior and 47 tackles and five interceptions as a senior. Newberry had 20 career passes broken up and returned 13 punts during his career for 162 yards.
Newberry played in three bowl games during his Mountaineer career: the upset win over Florida in the 1981 Gator Bowl, the 1982 Gator Bowl against Florida State and the 1983 Hall of Fame Bowl comeback victory over Kentucky.
Newberry set the career interceptions record against Pacific with the 16th pick of his career on Sept. 10, 1983. He also had a career best eight tackles in that game. Newberry had seven solo tackles in the Gator Bowl win over Florida. He broke up four passes against eventual national champion Miami on Oct. 29, 1983.
As a senior, he earned Associated Press honorable mention All-America honors and was named to the AP All-East first team. Newberry received the Ideal Mountaineer Award, exhibiting the characteristics of a West Virginia football player – a positive attitude, solid academic standing, outstanding leadership, perseverance on the field, outstanding athletic achievement and good citizenship. Newberry is a member of the 1980-89 WVU all-time football team.
Newberry graduated from WVU with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. Following his graduation, he signed a free agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys in 1984.
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