The state of North Carolina doesn’t look to be particularly deep in defensive
ends for the class of 2008 but one player East Carolina is keeping a watchful
eye on is DE Josh Newkirk from Wallace-Rose Hill High School in
Teachey, NC.
After a super showing at the Shrine Bowl combine held recently at Greene
Central High School, Newkirk may very well see his stock rise even further over
the coming months. The rising senior was a standout in individual workouts and
received praise from Shrine Bowl head coach Sam Story for his workout. He then
followed that up with an amazing 36 reps of 185 pounds on the bench press.
Newkirk also logged a 26.8-inch vertical jump and 5.06-second 40-yard dash. The
talented defensive end measured in at 6-2, 215 pounds.
As a junior, Newkirk notched 100 tackles and 15 sacks en route to
all-conference honors. That has helped him earn early interest from East
Carolina, Tennessee, Illinois, UNC, Wake Forest, Penn State and Wake Forest.
So far, UNC and East Carolina are showing Newkirk the most interest and he
talked about the four schools he’s got at the top of his wish-list.
"I like Tennessee," he said. "I just got some mail from them and I wouldn’t
mind going there. I also wouldn’t mind going out west somewhere like Illinois.
In-state, I like UNC. I’m from Chapel Hill originally. I moved to Wallace-Rose
Hill with my mom and dad and I just like that area. I’m also looking at East
Carolina. My brother and sister go to school there now. I go down there a lot,
and I enjoy it."
Newkirk said he is undecided on his camp plans for the summer.