UConn RB #22 Arkeel Newsome looks up field after catching a screen pass on September 27, 2014 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, CT. Newsome would take it 74 yards for a touchdown.

UConn RB #22 Arkeel Newsome looks up field after catching a screen pass on September 27, 2014 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, CT. Newsome would take it 74 yards for a touchdown.

If you live in Connecticut, you know the name Arkeel Newsome and what he did in his high school career at Ansonia High School. If you don’t, I’ll acquaint you with the numbers.

The Parade All-American, the first ever to play for the UConn Huskies football team, finished with 10,685 yards rushing and 187 total touchdowns (172 rushing).

As a true freshman, he’s figured into Bob Diaco’s offense at running back and on special teams as the primary kick returner. You can see the talent he has as he’s been one or two blocks from breaking open a big kickoff return as well a run or two this season.

In the loss to Temple on Saturday afternoon, UConn Country finally got to see the abilities and speed of Newsome as he took a screen pass from Chandler Whitmer and took it 74 yards to house for his first collegiate touchdown.

The way I see it, that’s the first of many for Newsome over the next 3 1/2 years at UConn.

Watch below as Diaco and Whitmer talk about Newsome:

photo credit: ian bethune – sox & dawgs