RELATED: Get a full recap of the Chicago Bears 2025 NFL Draft picks

Last year, Luke Newman attended a draft party for former Holy Cross teammate C.J. Hanson, who was selected by the Chiefs in the seventh round.

On Saturday, it was Newman's turn to experience the life-changing event—when the Michigan State offensive lineman was chosen by the Bears in the sixth round.

"It was a very unique and special moment ... I'm almost at a loss of words for a moment quite like this," Newman said.

"I've seen it happen before. I've been to a draft party with a friend of mine last year and saw him go through it. To actually experience it, to be blessed to have an opportunity and a franchise that believes in your abilities and is willing to have you grow and develop as a person and player in your building, that's special.

"A lot of people in that office have invested a lot in me, just to hear my name called. I can't wait to deliver it back to them and give them all I have."

Newman started at left tackle from 2021-23 at Holy Cross, where he was a two-time FCS All-American and three-time All-Patriot League first team selection. He transferred to Michigan State in 2024 and started all 12 games at left guard last year, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition.

"Holy Cross is home for me," Newman said. "That's the place that gave me my first shot and let me get my foot in the door in college football and let me grow and succeed as a person and a player. Leaving was hard, for sure. I wanted to showcase more of my abilities at different positions and also take a step up and play against some of the best in the country."

Newman landed on the Bears' radar after arriving at Michigan State. He was not invited to the NFL Combine but improved his draft stock at the East-West Shrine Bowl by showing that he could excel at both guard and center.

"You see him play center there, so that's really when it kind of piqued the interest, the versatility piece," said Bears director of college scouting Brett Ackley.

Newman proved at the Shrine Bowl that he possesses the initial quickness to play center.

"Some of these guys, some of the traits are better suited for one [position] or the other," Ackley said. "He's a guy that played tackle his whole career.

"He goes to Michigan State, you see he can anchor and handle big bodies. They play good competition obviously. He played some NFL guys there and then you're always projecting the center thing, which on our end can be a little bit scary until you've seen him actually do it. But for him, he goes there, you see him snap, get out of his stance, you see him handle the calls they give him."

Newman continued to impress at his Pro Day and during a visit to Halas Hall, especially demonstrating his football intelligence.

"He was one of those guys that as you went through the process, he slowly checked every box and did everything right," Ackley said. "And you get to the end of the process and he's clean, bring him on a top 30 [visit], coaches liked him, and it kind of married up."

Growing up in the Detroit area as a Lions fan, Newman is fired up about playing for first-year Bears coach Ben Johnson, Detroit's former offensive coordinator.

"I love it, man," Newman said. "He's a competitor. He loves to win. He loves to grind. He's just the ultimate competitor and really is someone that you'd really hope is your coach, and I'm just really excited to play for that guy. He's had a lot of success in Detroit, and I think he'll carry that over big time here in Chicago."