Defensive lineman Peyton Newell is one of the most sought after big men in the class of 2014, a fact not lost on the junior from Hiawatha, KS.
“Very few people get to go through this great process,” Newell said when asked about his whirlwind recruitment. “The attention is great. It’s definitely a lot of fun.”
The 6-foot-3, 275-pound defensive end holds 16 division one scholarship offers, a staggering number for any prospect.
Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, South Carolina, and TCU have all come calling, and were included in the nearly forty letters that flooded the Newells’ mailbox on Tuesday.
“When you come home from school and see that…it definitely puts a smile on your face,” Newell said with a laugh.
Coming off an opening week win over Perry-Lecompton in which he logged nine tackles, two sacks, and five tackles for a loss to go with three receptions and a touchdown as a tight end, Newell plans to take it easy this weekend.
But that won’t last long.
The 'Peyton Newell Parade' is scheduled to move through Lawrence on September, 15th for the Kansas – TCU game, with stops at Kansas State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, and Missouri later in the season.
The Kansas visit will be another of many trips to Mount Oread for Newell. He claims 30 KU alumni in his family, with several enrolled there now.
His 76-year-old grandmother will join him for the trip, where he will once again renew acquaintances with Jayhawk assistant coach Buddy Wyatt.
“Me and Coach Wyatt, we’ve had a strong relationship, ever since I camped there in eighth grade,” Newell said. “After all the hard work I’ve put in, I’m glad I can go and just enjoy the process now.”
For the self-described “laid-back, family guy” from the Sunflower State, it’s almost impossible to imagine him doing anything else.
