GHS lineman commits to Arkansas

<p>With Gainesville High School teammates Kendall Kelly (South Florida) and Otis Brown (Ball State) having already announced their Division-I college football plans, Kevin Lowery decided to join them.</p><p>The 6-foot-3, 285-pound defensive tackle, verbally committed to the University of Arkansas Wednesday morning. Lowery said he received a phone call from Razorbacks coach Bobby Petrino at 8 a.m., at which time he made his pledge.</p><p>“I saw them boys claiming their schools,” Lowery said. “I had the scholarship offer in my hand and I thought about it and I had to make that step. I’m real excited to be a Razorback.” </p><p>In addition to the scholarship offer from Arkansas, Lowery has received interest from Auburn, Ball State, Louisville, Middle Tennessee and Miami. He said he decided on Monday night that he was going to commit to Arkansas after discussing it with his mother and Gainesville coach Ryan Smith but did not officially do so until Wednesday morning.</p><p>“It made me feel a lot better after I made the decision. I feel like a lot of pressure was off,” said Lowery, who plans on majoring in sports management. “Arkansas is a good program and they are in the SEC.”</p><p>Lowery currently has 35 total tackles, including 10 tackles for loss and five quarterback sacks for the 2-3 Hurricanes this season.</p><p>“He is super athletic, he is super powerful and he is quick off the ball,” Smith said. “He is a high-motor kid and he is going to do really well.”</p><p>Although Arkansas has him penciled in to play on the defensive line, Lowery said he would play on the offensive line if needed. Lowery also plans on visiting Fayetteville later this season or sometime after the season.</p><p>But Petrino apparently likes what he has seen from Lowery, having attended one of GHS’ spring practices. The former Atlanta Falcons coach also attended the Hurricanes game against Tallahassee Godby and spoke to Lowery briefly at halftime.</p><p>Although Lowery's verbal commitment is not binding, he expects to be suiting up for the Hogs in the future.</p><p>“I am fully committed to Arkansas 100 percent,” said Lowery, whose future Razorbacks team plays Florida in The Swamp next October. “This makes me feel that I am going to do something with my life instead of hanging around Gainesville.</p><p>“It feel great, all I have to say is pig sooie.”</p>