In late January 2011, Newton began working out with [[George Whitfield Jr.]] in San Diego.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 10, 2011 |title=Newton demonstrates workout routine for media |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2011/news/story?id=6109802 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228175636/https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2011/news/story?id=6109802 |archive-date=December 28, 2019 |access-date=April 25, 2020 |work=ESPN.com |language=en |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Whitfield has worked with other quarterbacks such as [[Ben Roethlisberger]] and [[Akili Smith]]. On April 28, 2011, Newton was selected with the first overall pick in the [[2011 NFL draftDraft]] by the Carolina Panthers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 29, 2011 |title=Newton's the 1: Panthers make QB the first pick |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2011/news/story?id=6445107 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701020306/https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2011/news/story?id=6445107 |archive-date=July 1, 2020 |access-date=April 25, 2020 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He was the first reigning Heisman Trophy winner to go first overall since [[Carson Palmer]] in 2003, in addition to being the first player drafted to simultaneously be the top pick and win both the Heisman and a national championship in the same season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Huston |first=Chris |date=May 22, 2019 |title=Heisman winners in the NFL draft (Updated) |url=https://www.heisman.com/articles/heisman-winners-in-the-nfl-draft/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211212171129/https://www.heisman.com/articles/heisman-winners-in-the-nfl-draft/ |archive-date=December 12, 2021 |access-date=July 8, 2022 |website=Heisman |language=en-US}}</ref> He also was Auburn's fourth No. 1 selection after [[Tucker Frederickson]] (1965), [[Bo Jackson]] (1986), and [[Aundray Bruce]] (1988).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Auburn No. 1 Overall Picks |url=http://pfref.com/tiny/9uGRh |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708181111/https://stathead.com/tools/tiny.fcgi?id=9uGRh |archive-date=July 8, 2022 |access-date=February 27, 2018 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He became Blinn College's fifth player to get drafted and the first in school history to be selected in the first round.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blinn College (TX) Players/Alumni |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/blinncoll(tx)/index.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125072046/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/blinncoll(tx)/ |archive-date=January 25, 2022 |access-date=July 8, 2022 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
During the 2011 NFL lockout, he worked out for up to 12 hours a day at the IMG Madden Football Academy in [[Bradenton, Florida]], spending up to two hours per day doing one-on-one training with fellow Heisman Trophy winner and ex-Panthers quarterback [[Chris Weinke]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rosenthal |first=Gregg |date=May 13, 2011 |title=Cam Newton working daily with Chris Weinke |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/13/cam-newton-working-daily-with-chris-weinke/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808032208/https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/13/cam-newton-working-daily-with-chris-weinke/ |archive-date=August 8, 2020 |access-date=April 25, 2020 |website=ProFootballTalk |language=en-US}}</ref>
