Interview: Skilled 2020 Arkansas RB/LB Tarrell Penn Doing It All for Hazen

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

Tarrell Penn took to the gridiron during the 2018 season with something to prove and walked off the field after a 13-1 season with a trip to the championship game holding his head high. The All-State performer for Hazen High School showed out on both sides of the ball rushing for 1,790 yards with 30 scores and put an end to 70 plays with two picks and two forced fumbles playing linebacker. The 5-10, 210-pound, talent is back at it for his senior year knocking around Arkansas competition for an estimated stat line of 600 yards rushing with six touchdowns and 29 tackles with three pick-sixes guiding his squad to a 4-1 record.

Penn is doing all that he can and more to show that he is a next level talent, but college scouts have been slow to find him in a town of about 1,400 people. In an RNG catch-up interview with one of the Natural State’s more overlooked recruits, Penn updates his senior season and recruiting process.

*Click link for Aug. 7, 2019, RNG interview with Tarrell Penn

Interview

Tarrell, I spoke with you at the start of fall camp covering all that you had worked on over the offseason. After all that hard work, where are you showing the biggest gains on the field?

“The improvements are showing in my balance, speed, and my strength. I am more physical on the field this season than a year ago.”

Which game has been your best this season and why do you consider that to be the top performance?

“Carlisle has been my best game so far this season. I had a bunch of tackles, but not a bunch of rushing yards. I stepped up for my team to help get the win (32-14).”

How are the coaches getting you the ball within the offense this season?

“They are not giving me that many touches right now. We are passing more early in the season seeing where we are at. They are conserving me for the playoffs. I have a lot of time in at receiver this season running hitches.”

Coming out of the backfield, what kind of defensive alignment are you seeing?

“They are stuffing the box when I am back there. I am seeing eight in the box. Their defenses are keying on me, they are run blitzing.”

Going to defense, what is your role this season on that side of the ball?

“I’m lining up over center behind the nose guard. I am stuffing the run, doing some blitzes, and dropping back into coverage. I hit the fullback on every play to make sure he does not have the ball.”

Are you doing anything differently on the field or during the week in your game preparation?

“Not really. I am watching more film this season seeing what they are doing, take notes, and then going over it practice so I can stop it on Friday nights.”

How is the team looking overall?

“We are looking good. We lost Friday night (Des Arc). As a team, we were not into the game. There were some family things going on that had us off, but we will bounce back. For the seniors, that was our first loss since seventh grade in conference.”

Wow. That is a long time. With four games left in the regular season, what goals are left for you to accomplish?

“I want to bring a ring back to my town. That has never been done before.”

Closing with recruiting. Which schools are showing interest?

“Boston College, TCU, OBU (Ouachita Baptist), and Arkansas State.”

Do you have any visits coming up that you may take?

“Arkansas State, OBU, and I want to go to Boston College but that is a long trip.”

Tarrell, thanks for your time today and good luck with the rest of the season.

“Thank you.”

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Photo credit: Hazen HS/Penn family; No. 22 Tarrell Penn