One of the most sought after defensive recruits in the nation this season played his high school football in the state of Kansas. Some ask, where's he from, Kansas City, Wichita? Nope...Peyton Newell, a 6-3 285 pound senior, is from Hiawatha which features a population just over 3,000 people in the northeastern corner of Kansas.
Newell, who has verbally committed to play football at Nebraska next season, is one of the most prized defensive recruits in the country for the class of 2014. He had 34 division one scholarship offers by August of 2013. One must think, how did they find this kid at 3A Hiawatha? The senior defensive lineman bench presses 380, squats 695, runs a 4.8 forty-yard dash and has a 33-inch vertical (all verified). He has been attending camps and combines all over the country since a very young age.
"Every game I play for is for my dad and my six year old brother who watches every move I make," Newell said. Newell uses his family as motivation and also plays every single game for his mom who passed away at a young age. "I have a huge chip on my shoulder to play for my mom who passed away from breast cancer when I was just six years old."
The all-state lineman, who is a four-year starter, notched 257 tackles in his career, 105 which went for loss (33 sacks). He was double/triple-teamed nearly every play and still put up 76 tackles (32 TFL, 12 sacks) this season for the Redhawks. For his play as a senior, he was selected as a top 11 selection in all-classes by both of the states major newspapers.
Hiawatha, led by head coach Chris Diller, finished at 7-4 on the season and lost to eventual 3A state champion Silver Lake in the second round of the state playoffs. We caught up with Peyton below...
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How did you get involved in athletics?
Sports have always been a big part of my life. My first sport I got involved in was soccer when I was five years old.
Talk about your off-season workouts and what you do to prepare to be the player you are?
Football is an all year around sport for me. I stopped playing all the other sports I was involved in to pursue my dream of playing Division 1 football. My off-season workouts are usually 4 times a week for a 3 hour workout session.
What keeps you motivated?
My family is my motivation. Every game I play for is for my Dad and also my six year old brother who watches every move I make. I also have a huge chip on my shoulder to play for my mom who passed away from breast cancer when I was just six years old.
How does a 3A player from tiny Hiawatha get recruited by every school in the country?
Traveling all over the nation, going to over 20 camps and combines in two years.
How can 3A players even think to match-up with a 6-3 280 all-american DL in high school?
I have been triple teamed most of my high school football career. I have also had to make a lot of run down tackles with the opposing team running the ball too my side one or two times a game.
Talk about the college recruiting process, was it stressful with all the offers?
I personally enjoyed the college recruiting process. It was a lot of fun having over 40 D-1 schools coming to my high school and telling me why I should come to their schools. Some of those schools include Michigan, USC, South Carolina, Nebraska, and Alabama.
What does it mean for you to play for Hiawatha?
It means a lot too me to be a Red Hawk. Its very important to me that I was able to have a lot of success at my school. Also it means a lot to me that I was able to do that at my mom's alma mater.
What is the typical Friday night atmosphere like at a Hiawatha football game?
With the attention of all the colleges coming to the game to watch me and my teammates play the stands were always packed!
Who were some of the other key players at Hiawatha?
Conner Bigham, Bryce Oldgride, Parker Hasenkamp, Nicholas Reese, Brendan Steele, Marshall Swearingen, Shawn Green and Quentin Overdick
What will you need to work on to become the player you want to be in D1?
I will need to work on getting bigger and stronger.
Do you play any other sports, which ones?
Football is the only sport I play.
Favorite subject in school?
Math
When you are not playing sports, what do you like to do?
Spending time with my family.
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More on Newell:
School Records Broken – 257 career tackles, 105 career tackles for loss, 37 tackles for loss in season (2012), 33 career sacks, 4 sacks in a game (2012), 12 sacks in a season (2013)
Career numbers - 257 Tackles, 105 tackles for loss, 33 sacks, 16 forced fumbles, 5 fumbles recovered, 9 blocked PAT, 3 blocked punt and 2 defensive touchdowns… caught 37 passes for 583 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Senior - 76 Tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 3 fumbles recovered, 2 blocked PAT, 1 blocked punt and 1 defensive touchdown… caught 7 passes for 118 yards and 1 touchdown… Led team to Class 3A/ District & Bi District Championships.
Junior - 61 Tackles, 37 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 2 fumbles recovered, 2 blocked PAT, 1 blocked punt and 1 defensive touchdown… caught 14 passes for 162 yards and 3 touchdowns…Led team to Class 3A/ District & Bi District Championships.
Sophomore - 76 Tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 4 blocked PATs and 1 blocked punt… caught 12 passes for 246 yards and 3TD.
Freshman - 44 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 blocked PAT… caught 4 pass for 57 yards.
Honors and Awards:
2013 Topeka Capital Journal Top 11 All-Class, All-State Team… 2013 Wichita Eagle Top 11 All-Class, All-State Team… 2013 St. Joseph News Press Defensive Player of the Year
2012 Topeka Capital Journal All-State Defense… 2012 Wichita Eagle All-State Defense… 2012 St. Joseph News Press Defensive Player of the Year.
2011 Topeka Capital Journal All-State Honorable Mention Defense… 2011 Wichita Eagle All-State Honorable Mention Defense… 2011 St. Joseph News Press All-Area 1st Team Defense… Sophomore, Junior, Senior Big 7 All-League (Unanimous) Defense… Sophomore, Junior, Senior Varsity Football Team Captain… 2010 US Army Youth All-American.
Video of Newell from 2013 season
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