McKeown one to watch

• Comments (1)
• Share +
• -+ Font Size

• By Richard Davenport
• 12:00AM on November 20th, 2009

Add tight end/ defensive end Matt McKeown to the list of 2011 prospects to keep an eye next fall.

McKeown, 6-3, 225, 4.7 of Drew Central is receiving interest from Arkansas, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Stanford, Missouri State and Duke. He had 25 receptions for 390 yards and 2 touchdowns as a sophomore and for the Class 3A Pirates.

Coach James Bell believes McKeown has the frame to bulk up and athletic ability to play at the next level.

“Matt’s been a two-year starter,” Bell said. “He has good quickness, still developing strength wise. He’s still growing and probably going to weigh more and be projected out to be 240 to 250. Speed wise for his position, defensive end, tight end is very good. His height for the position is very good. He catches the ball well at tight end.”

McKeown, who has a 4.0 grade point average,  was invited to take an unofficial visit to Ole Miss on Nov.7 for the Northern Arizona game.

“I was impressed by their facilities,” said McKeown, who reports 265-pound bench press and 480-pound squat. “The locker room, weight room, the indoor practice facility. The coaches were real nice and they treated me real good.”

McKeown, who earned All Conference honors last year in basketball, is planning to participate in the FCA and National underclassman combines in the spring along with an Arkansas football camp during the summer. He recorded 13 receptions for 125 yards and 4 touchdowns in a more run oriented offense this season while having 33.5 tackles, 7 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 3 recovered fumbles on defense.

Bell sees the tight end position fitting McKeown’s talents. .

“I’ve seen him every day and I think Matt is going to make somebody a very good college football player, Bell said. “He has all of the tools. He will be a player for somebody at the collegiate level.”