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The Roanoke-Chowan region of North Carolina may not boast the towering skylines of Charlotte or Raleigh, but there lies a tradition of athletic excellence within its tight-knit communities that often goes unnoticed beyond county lines. Nestled in Hertford, Bertie, Northampton, and Gates counties are stories of grit, determination, and triumph and of athletes who chased their dreams to their chosen sports’ biggest stage.

These individuals, raised in the heart of rural North Carolina, didn’t have the luxuries that come with big-city training facilities or elite prep academies. Instead, they had heart, discipline, and vibrant communities that believed in them. Their journeys from modest beginnings to the big leagues are a source of local pride and remind us that greatness can come from anywhere.

Timmy Newsome’s Legacy

Ahoskie native Timmy Newsome is one of the most celebrated examples of homegrown talent rising to the professional ranks. Newsome’s football career began at Ahoskie High School way before the best North Carolina betting apps were invented. Had they been around in those days, Newsome would have been a hot favorite to go all the way and become an NFL star. Newsome played safety and cornerback at high school before becoming a running back at Winston-Salem State University in 1977.

Newsome shone brightly in college and won three consecutive Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Offensive Player of the Year awards between 1977-79. He would later be inducted into the CIAA Hall of Fame, the Winston-Salem State University Athletic Hall of Fame, the Black College Football Hall of Fame, and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.

The Dallas Cowboys selected Newsome as the 162nd overall pick in the sixth round of the 1980 NFL Draft. Many might have thought that the NFL teams would overlook a player from a smaller school, but they were wrong. Over nine seasons, Newsome earned a reputation for being a versatile running back and fullback who racked up 1,226 rushing yards and 1,966 receiving yards and scored 30 touchdowns over 121 appearances.

Since retiring from football, Newsome has launched a successful FinTech business and has served on several boards, including Winston-Salem State University’s Computer Science Industry Advisory Board.

Curtis Deloatch: From Bertie County to the New York Giants

Photo Credit: Haythem Lafhaj

Curtis Deloatch was born in Murfreesboro and raised in the Roanoke-Chowan area. A Hertford County High School graduate, Deloatch attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, where he played as a safety and cornerback for the college’s football team. While at North Carolina A&T, Deloatch earned First-team All-MEAC, Second-team All-MEAC, and Consensus FCS All-American honors.

Despite his college accolades, Deloatch went undrafted in the 2004 NFL Draft. However, the New York Giants signed him as an undrafted free agent and wasted no time deploying him on the field. In 2014, Deloatch and Reggie Torbor were the only Giants 2004 rookie class to play in all 16 regular season games. Deloatch again played in all 16 games the following year, starting 13, yet the Giants waived him after the season concluded.

Deloatch signed for the New Orleans Saints. He scored a dramatic touchdown three weeks after joining the Saints, recovering a blocked punt and scoring the first touchdown in the Saints’ first home game in almost two years since Hurricane Katrina devastated the city.

Deloatch then played for the Carolina Panthers for one season in 2007 before hanging up his cleats. He ended his NFL career with 99 tackles, one forced fumble, one interception, and one touchdown from 45 games. The North Carolina A&T’s Sports Hall of Fame inducted Deloatch in 2018.

Jaquarii Roberson’s Promise

Jaquarii Roberson may be the present-day torchbearer of Roanoke-Chowan athletic ambition. A native of Murfressboro and a Hertford County High School graduate, Roberson became an impressive wide receiver at Wake Forest University. Roberson played for Wake Forest from 2018 until 2021. He caught 146 passes for 2,158 yards and 17 touchdowns across 29 games, which he and his coaches believed would be enough to catch the eye of NFL scouts.

Unfortunately, that was not the case, and Roberson went undrafted in 2022. The Dallas Cowboys signed Roberson as an undrafted free agent in late April 2022 but waived him four months later. He then joined the practice squads of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, and Los Angeles Rams but didn’t break into the active rosters. Roberson then tried his luck with the Houston Roughnecks of the now defunct XFL before trying his luck with the BC Lions and Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League.

Roberson may currently be without a team, but he has not given up on playing professional football. His journey is still unfolding, and everyone from the Roanoke-Chowan region has everything crossed for him to still make the grade.

Why These Stories Matter

Tales of future professionals developing within top-tier programs are almost expected in major metropolitan areas. Conversely, such stories from rural regions often feel like exceptions to the rule. The path from Ahoskie or Murfreesboro to the NFL is not easy due to limited exposure, fewer resources, and less recruitment attention. However, those challenges resulted in Timmy Newsome, Curtis Deloatch, and Jaquarii Roberson being more resilient athletes.

When local players rise through the ranks, they carry the spirit of their communities with them. Every coach who stayed after practice, every teacher who offered support, and every neighbor who cheers from the bleachers are part of their story. Their stories will motivate aspiring athletes and the broader community for years to come.

Newsome and Deloatch progressed to the NFL and made a name for themselves on football’s grandest stage. Roberson may have suffered setbacks during his fledgling career, but he picks himself up and dusts himself down with each rejection. Hopefully, his perseverance will reap the rewards as it did for Newsome and Deloatch.

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