THE RECRUITING GUY

Kansas defensive end gets an earful about Razorbacks

Wisconsin defensive coordinators Charlie Partridge, left, and Chris Ash answer questions during a news conference in Los Angeles on Friday, Dec. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
Wisconsin defensive coordinators Charlie Partridge, left, and Chris Ash answer questions during a news conference in Los Angeles on Friday, Dec. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

— Arkansas is getting an assist from a native Arkansan in the recruitment of highly regarded defensive end Peyton Newell of Hiawatha, Kan.

Newell, 6-2, 270 pounds, 4.79 seconds in the 40-yard dash, received his latest and 29th scholarship offer from Arkansas on March 1. South Carolina, Georgia , Nebraska, UCLA and Northwestern are among his other offers.

“I’m definitely really interested,” Newell said. “Actually, one of my best friends who’s my age is going to go to school down there. She’s always telling me stuff about Arkansas. I’m not really sure when we’re make it down there yet, but we’re going to do everything we can to get down there.”

His friend, Kayla Parker, lives in Kansas but is originally from Fayetteville and plans to attend Arkansas after graduating high school.

“She told me about the game atmosphere and how crazy it is down there and how people treat the football players,” Newell said.

He said he has spoken to Arkansas defensive line coach Charlie Partridge once on the phone.

“When I talked to him, he seemed like he had quite a bit of energy,” Newell said.

Newell has speed and quickness off the ball and excellent strength, with a 385-pound bench press and a 700-pound squat recorded last summer.

So far, Georgia is the only school Newell has scheduled for a visit. His interest in the Bulldogs stems from when his grandfather, Billy Howard, lived in Atlanta and performed as a professional wrestler for what is now World Wrestling Entertainment

“My dad has some stories,” said Newell, who has a 3.96 grade-point average. “He used to jump off of Andre The Giant’s shoulders when he went swimming.”

HOGS INTEREST SAFETY

Cincinnati Winton Woods safety Mike Edwards called cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson on Monday night for a get-to-know-you session.

“He was telling me they really like me and they were going to keep in contact with me and he was going to come down in the spring.” Edwards said.

Edwards, 6-0, 187, 4.5, has scholarship offers from 13 schools, including Nebraska, Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Louisville and Illinois. He learned that Johnson is a Cincinnati native.

“His mom lives down here,” said Edwards, who has yet to be offered by Arkansas. “He was telling me when he comes he visits.”

Edwards’ spring break starts March 29, and Johnson is working to get a visit.

“He said to come down sometime in the spring, so I might come during my spring break,” Edwards said. “He said they really like my film and they want to talk to me more and try to get me to come down and get a feel for things.”

Playing in the SEC is attractive.

“Most of the guys from the NFL come from the SEC,” Edwards said. “It’s a big conference. A lot of good teams come out of the SEC. If you play in the SEC, it’s a tough schedule and it’s top competition.”

LINEBACKER OFFERED

Arkansas offered a scholarship to linebacker Kyle Berger of Cleveland St. Ignatius on Thursday after he talked to cornerbacks coach Tavor Johnson and linebackers coach Randy Shannon during the week.

“They seem to be interested because I’ve talked to them almost every day this week,” Berger said. “They were saying they liked my speed and my feet. My speed would really do well in the SEC, and they like my aggressiveness and how hard I play.”

Berger, 6-3, 210, 4.49, has offers from approximately 14 other schools, including Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State and Illinois.

E-mail Richard Davenport at

rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports, Pages 36 on 03/10/2013

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