(Photo by Peter Casolino)
Ansonia High running back Arkeel Newsome committed to UConn.

Ansonia High's dynamic tailback Arkeel Newsome committed to UConn

The 5-foot-8, 180-pound Newsome ran 227 times for 2,245 yards and 38 touchdowns as a junior and also had three touchdown receptions for the Class S champions.

Newsome had five 200-yard rushing games during the 2012 season including a pair in the state playoffs.

As a sophomore Newsome ran for 3,763 yards and 58 touchdowns in 14 games including scoring runs of 87, 95 and 98 yards. He ran for more than 300 yards in seven games including a 401-yard effort against Derby. He enters his senior season already owning the state record with 118 career touchdowns and has a chance to break former Ansonia High star Alex Thomas' Connecticut state record for career rushing yards and rushing TDs.

"They (UConn) have always been my No. 1 choice,” Newsome said. “I was basically just testing the waters with recruiting. It feels great. I don’t have to worry about the recruiting process anymore.”

Here's a video I put together on him during his six-touchdown game against Berlin in the 2011 state playoffs.

I spoke to Newsome before the start of his junior season and shortly after he was in attendance at UConn's 2012 season opener against UMass.

"It was a great experience and they won," Newsome said. "It was kind of weird because both of the schools gave me offers and I went to the game and UConn won.

"It was really exciting, they have an amazing crowd and I was happy to be a part it."

He is the fourth known commitment for the Class of 2014 and second from Connecticut joining St. Paul quarterback Logan Marchi.

Judging by the tweets I have seen, Ansonia coach Tom Brockett spent the better part of the late afternoon reaching out to the reporters who cover his team to let them know about Newsome's commitment. It's a class move by Brockett (and a rather rare one as well) as he not only takes care of his player but shows a level of respect to those who cover his team.