Interview: Class of 2017 Arkansas RB Myles Fells Readies to make 2016 Season a Breakout Year

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

The feeling is already in the air. The band is playing, the fans are cheering, and No. 11 is set ready to take a handoff to the house. Still some six-seven months away from the start of the 2016 high school season and the excitement is building for a breakout season for the all-purpose back.

Anywhere on the field for Robinson High School’s Myles Fells is a scoring opportunity with the ball in his hands and from pretty much any skill position alignment be it set off to the side from the quarterback in the shotgun, lined up as a Wildcat quarterback, or in the slot showing soft hands, concentration, and great ball skills with the pigskin in the air.

The Senators will spread you out on offense and then give the ball to their playmakers allowing one-cut moves at the line and then they are gone. About the only thing that limited Fells during his junior season was Arkansas Razorbacks Class of 2016 signee T.J. Hammonds. Hammonds and Fells were two peas in a dynamic pod displaying great athleticism and explosive playmaking abilities. Hammonds rushed for 1,375 yards off 103 carries with 22 touchdowns on the ground adding 23 receptions for 661 yards with six more scores during his senior year. Fells had 42 carries for 610 yards scoring the ball 10 times on the ground and added another nine receptions for 143 yards with two more scores.

For the offense that Robinson High School head coach Todd Eskola deploys, he could not have asked for two better all-purpose backs to line up in his backfield. Fells, listed at 5’10”, 185 pounds, is fast, real fast, but also plays bigger than his current size. Like the successful backs before him that have picked up big yards after first contact, an arm tackle or handful of jersey will only temporarily slow him down not bring him to the turf. Underneath all of the gear, Fells is stacked reporting a bench press max of 315 pounds and a squat max at 385.

Fells brings more than just his 2015 offensive stat line to the table, he also brings a championship winning pedigree having won a state title with Pulaski Academy, another Little Rock program, in 2014. As a sophomore, Fells led the Bruins with 807 rushing yards off 94 carries with 11 scores. He showed his all-purpose nature even then pulling in 15 passes for 152 yards with three additional touchdowns. The stat line, as great as it was, was still shy of what he could have done missing a couple of games due to a knee injury.

Adding a little bit more to the Fells folklore, in 2015 he had 56 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, five sacks, one interception, and one fumble recovery. Perhaps even more impressive than all the measurables and stats, he’s carrying a 3.8 GPA and has already posted a qualifying score on his ACT with a 22.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Fells to go over his junior season, his offseason workout goals, and received a recruiting news update.

Interview

Myles, you transferred to Robinson from PA over the summer before the 2015 season. Looking back on your sophomore year, were you pleased with how you played?

“Yeah. I had a really good sophomore year. I led a state championship team in rushing. Very pleased.”

Last season the Senators went 9-3. How did the season overall go for you and the team?

“It went okay. We ended up going to second round of the playoffs. That was a milestone we were glad to surpass but we had bigger expectations than that and we will again in 2016.”

How is the team looking for 2016 with the talent you expect to return?

“We look very good. We have a lot of talented guys coming back like offensive lineman Sanderson Hines, defensive end David Porter, Kolian Jackson coming in (Parkview). We have younger guys that will get the job done.”

How was your progression on the field from your sophomore to your junior year?

“After my knee injury, I only missed two games, I became more aggressive with my blocking and my running. I also became a student of the game. I have spent a lot of time reading defenses trying to learn more about the game. I’ve also worked on having more fun with the game.”

How are your offseason workouts going so far?

“Right now I have a really busy schedule. I’ve talked to my D-I friends that go to Arkansas and Auburn to get a better idea of what I need to do to prepare myself. I wake up early every day, I get up at 5:30 to go workout. Sometimes the guys on the team workout with me. We workout at 7:00, go to school, and then we lift at 3:00 and after that I have soccer practice.”

What position do you play in soccer?

“Starting left wing.”

Are you a big soccer fan?

“It’s a hobby. I don’t know a bunch of soccer people or professional players. I don’t follow it internationally. I played when I was little, I like soccer more as a hobby.”

It will help keep you in shape.

“Yes it does.”

What are your offseason workout goals?

“I’d love to run a low 4.4. I’m always striving to get better. You can never be too fast.”

Which schools are showing interest in you right now?

“Arkansas, Kansas, Auburn, Arkansas State, Arkansas Tech, TCU, Henderson (State), Yale, Oklahoma State – I can’t remember all of them. Navy, UCLA, and Arizona also.”

Do you have any offers right now?

“No sir. Not yet.”

Did you go on any unofficial visits last year?

“Yes sir, I went to Arkansas twice, Kentucky, and to Henderson (State) twice.”

How did the Arkansas visit go for you?

“It went great. It is always great when you go to Arkansas. The environment, the people, the players, and the coaches, it’s a great environment up there.”

How about your visit to Kentucky? How did that go?

“I liked Kentucky a lot too. My dad (Kenny Fells) lives there. Kentucky is doing a lot of renovations to their facilities. The staff seems really nice. I think the Wildcats program is on the come-up.”

Do you have any plans to visit schools during the spring or summer?

“I have none planned right now. I’m sure the coaches will have me go to a few schools coming up.”

Have you started planning your camp schedule yet?

“I think I’m going to Arkansas, the Nike SPARQ combine, and with everything else I’m not sure. I’m looking to see which camps will be most beneficial for me. I’m trying to figure all of that out.”

When you’ve talked to the different college coaches, what are they telling you they like about your game?

“Arkansas likes the type of runner that I am but they have not said anything too specific. I know they were focused on the 2016 class.”

For those readers that may not have seen you play or seen your highlight film, is there a college or NFL player out there that you share a similar style of play?

“I don’t think so. There is only one Myles Fells. There are people that I look up to out there and backs with a similar style but none just like me. The unique things that I bring to the table is my physical abilities, my leadership, and all of my intangibles. I don’t think you will find it anywhere else.”

Now that National Signing Day 2016 has come and gone and your class is up next trying to decide which school and/or program is the best fit for you, what are some of the things that will help influence your college choice?

“First thing is academics. My parents and I set up a career aptitude test for me to take. I like engineering and physical therapy, those two majors are at the top of my list now. Football will end one day, I’ll need something to do once the game is over. If the school has my major, that will be No. 1. I like a home environment with the program. I will take a few trips to see what feels like home to me. I also want something that will be convenient for my family. I don’t want it to be too strenuous for them traveling to games so they can see me play as often as they can. I’m taking all of that into account with my decision.”

What is your favorite part of playing football?

“Everything. I love the way the game goes, being with my teammates, the comradery, and the aggression of the game. I’ve loved football since I was 2-3 years old. My dad played in the NFL so being around him and the game has been influential.”

Which NFL team did your dad play for out of college?

“He played at Henderson state and was drafted by the Washington Redskins (11th round) in 1986.”

That was a big year for the Redskins if I remember correctly.

“Yes, that was the year they went to the Super Bowl. He did not get to play though he had an injury. He was a running back for the Redskins but he also went to Robinson in high school. He played running back, quarterback, safety, and wide receiver. He went to Henderson as a quarterback and they moved him to running back during his sophomore year. He was drafted as a running back out of Henderson.”

That’s pretty amazing. What a great role model to have within your family. Myles, thanks for your time today and good luck with the upcoming camp circuit.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: wholehogsports.com; No. 42 Myles Fells finds a hole running for Pulaski Academy (2014).

Photo credit: Fells family; Myles looks to the sidelines with Robinson (2015).