Three-star running back Malik Newton from Lake Taylor High School in Norfolk, Virginia announced a big decision on Thursday.
After it was announced on Wednesday that fall high school football will not be played this fall in Virginia, Newton decided it was time to move on from high school and to the next chapter of his life.
Newton has decided that he will graduate from Lake Taylor High School and enroll in college early. The good news for Pat Narduzzi and the Panthers is that he will be coming to Pitt in January.
As far as not getting to play another game in high school, Newton was disappointed but not surprised.
“I was sad and disappointed but I honestly had a feeling this would be happening,” Newton told Pittsburgh Sports Now. “I really wanted the chance to break the record but that’s ok, their are more records out there for me to try and break I guess.”
Newton told PSN that he was less than 500 yards from becoming the all-time leading rusher in the history of Lake Taylor High School, but that’s not going to happen and he feels it’s time to move on to Pitt.
“I just felt it was best to start getting prepared for college early,” said Newton. “Even if they decide to play football in the fall, I didn’t feel it was worth the risk of possibly getting hurt right before going to college. Plus, I would be finishing a high school season right before starting up camp in college. It would be much time for me to rest but also be properly prepared.”
Now that the decision has been made, Newton says he will be working with a trainer to get himself physically ready to compete for early playing time in the Panthers backfield.
With the news of defensive Trevion Stevenson de-committing, we asked Newton if he’s been approached by other schools trying to get him to flip and he said not really. He said that programs have respected his decision, with a couple telling him they’d still be interested if things change with him and Pitt.
YES! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ H2P!