Pitt commit Malik Newton's coach calls him 'unique kind of kid'

Hank Sawyer has seen dozens of running backs come through his program while winning three state championships in 22 years as coach at Lake Taylor (Va.) High School.

With all that experience, you would think he understands what makes Pitt commit Malik Newton such a successful high school player.

“I don’t know if he runs by guys because he’s fast and accelerates,” Sawyer said, “or because he’s a big, tough kid, a lot of kids don’t want to tackle him. I don’t know.

“I’m just glad I’m not the one who has to tackle him.”

Newton, who rushed for 2,026 yards last season as a junior on Lake Taylor’s 4A state championship team, verbally pledged to attend Pitt next year. His presence has helped coach Pat Narduzzi’s 2021 class jump to 23rd in the nation (fourth in the ACC), according to Rivals.com.

But Sawyer said Newton’s commitment to Pitt hasn’t stopped all the calls to his phone from other college coaches.

“Some of them have stopped,” he said. “Some of them have an attitude, a little mad, because they didn’t see it was coming.”

Sawyer said Newton’s recruitment has been difficult because of his personality.

“A very unique kind of kid,” the coach said. “When you meet him, you just want to be around him all the time.

“Once a head coach of a college meets the kid and talks to him a little bit, that’s a lot of pressure on an assistant coach because that head coach wants a kid like that in his program.”

Newton has 18 offers, according to Rivals, with 14 from Power 5 schools. Pitt is one of seven ACC schools to offer Newton a scholarship, including five-time defending ACC champion Clemson, Virginia and Virginia Tech.

Sawyer said Clemson wanted Newton (5-foot-11, 215 pounds) to play linebacker.

And why not? He intercepted eight passes last season.

“He played linebacker here to help our program because that was an area we were hurting in,” Sawyer said. “His football IQ is off the charts.”

Newton would be a running back in most programs.

“He’s been here with me for three seasons, and every game, the kid amazes me,” Sawyer said. “How well he can catch the football, how well he can make people miss. He can take off and stop and change directions.”

Plus, Sawyer uses him as a slot receiver, kickoff returner and long snapper.

“He never comes off the field,” he said.

Newton is also an accomplished power hitter and center fielder on the Lake Taylor baseball team. Sawyer said Newton is playing for an AAU team that tours Florida and Georgia.

“He was a baseball kid when he first came to high school,” he said. “I’m pretty sure he’ll play baseball at Pitt. Baseball is his love, man.”

Pitt has received commitments from four players from Virginia schools, thanks in large part to wide receivers coach Chris Beatty, a former championship coach in the state. Joining Newton are running back Rodney Hammond, wide receiver Myles Alston and linebacker Trevion Stevenson.

“So far, with the commitments Pitt has landed, if they can hold onto those commitments, man, that’s a lot of really great talent,” he said. “It will be start reminding you of the Tony Dorsett days.”