The Recruiting Guy

Defensive end's mix of brains, brawn catches eye

Defensive end Levi Onwuzurike.
Defensive end Levi Onwuzurike.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Highly recruited defensive end Levi Onwuzurike of Allen, Texas, and several other Texas recruits are expected to attend Arkansas' game against Texas A&M on Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Arkansas is allowed to host prospects on unofficial visits for the game because the Razorbacks are the designated home team this season.

"I'm pretty sure I'm going to their game this weekend," Onwuzurike said.

Onwuzurike, 6-3, 250 pounds, 4.8 seconds in the 40-yard dash, has approximately 27 scholarship offers from schools that include Arkansas, Washington, Georgia, Arizona State, Michigan, Miami, Stanford and Oklahoma State. He plans to take official visits to Georgia, Washington and Michigan.

Onwuzurike said he talks with Arkansas running backs coach Jemal Singleton, who is hoping to get one of Onwuzurike's other two official visits.

"They want me down there to see how it is and see how live it is," Onwuzurike said. "He's basically saying you won't know what it's like until you get down there."

Allen Coach Tom Westerberg said college coaches are drawn by Onwuzurike's ability and a frame that could add more weight. Onwuzurike is also an excellent student with a 3.7 grade-point average.

"Grades are very, very important to him," Westerberg said. "I'm sure that will go into the thought process when picking a college. When you have the brains and the athletic ability, that's a scary mix."

Onwuzurike said he is at least looking at taking an unofficial visit to Fayetteville.

"They're still in there, but it will probably be later in the season," Onwuzurike said. "I'm working on my officials right now."

National recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network rates Onwuzurike as a four-star prospect. Onwuzurike was selected by teammates as one of four team captains for the defending state Class 6A Division I champion Eagles.

"A leader is just somebody that goes out and practices and balls every day," Onwuzurike said. "It's not a boss. It's not somebody who will tell other people what to do and not do. If I'm working hard and I want somebody else to, I have to set the tone first. I have to be an example."

NEXT IN LINE

Arkansas offensive line coach Sam Pittman has signed several highly recruited offensive linemen since coming to Fayetteville.

Kellen Diesch of Trophy Club (Texas) Bryron Nelson could be the next.

Diesch, 6-7, 275, 4.87, has more than 30 scholarship offers but is orally committed to the Hogs. He chose the Razorbacks over schools that included Texas, Texas A&M, Alabama, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee and Baylor.

Pittman is the main reason for his pledge.

"I think Coach Pittman will develop me as a tackle better than any other school," Diesch said.

He and his parents plan to attend Arkansas' game against Texas A&M on Saturday, and he hasn't been deterred by Arkansas' 1-2 start.

"It is what it is," Diesch said. "I know within a few years we'll be going for a national championship and competing in the SEC West."

Diesch's optimism is based off of his recruiting class, which includes highly recruited Hope defensive end McTelvin Agim and the addition of former Southern California quarterback Ricky Town.

"That's just big time," he said of landing Agim. "The USC quarterback that came in, just everything is going in the right direction."

This season is Diesch's first to play on the offensive line after playing defensive end and seeing a limited role at tight end last year.

"I think for the most part it's coming along, really good run blocking-wise, being more physical," Diesch said. "I'm loving tackle."

Byron Nelson Coach Brian Polk said there is a lot to like about Diesch, who is rated a four-star prospect by national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network.

"He's 6-foot-7 and he's put together really well," Polk said. "He's not fat. He's a strong kid. He's flexible. He can get his butt to the floor on the cleans and the squats. Of course, he used to play defensive end and tight end so he moves well and he's got great feet.

"He's what everybody is looking for at the Division I big-time level because of his athleticism out there."

E-mail Richard Davenport at

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Sports on 09/25/2015

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