Cats' Levingston signs with Arkansas Tech

News-Times
News-Times

For three years, Shun Levingston did it all on the football field as an offensive player at El Dorado. He ran the ball on jet sweeps, caught the ball as a slot receiver and returned kicks, scoring touchdowns all three ways.

Arkansas Tech will look forward to channeling all that versatility into one dynamic position after Levingston signed a scholarship with the Wonder Boys on Friday.

“First, give praise and honor to God, I’m extremely excited to be able to continue to play the game I love,” Levingston said. “It’s been a long journey dealing with injuries. It’s just a blessing to be able to have this opportunity many people don’t. This has been a life-long goal since I was in the second grade playing.”

Levingston said he began taking the sport seriously in the ninth grade when he realized the talent he possessed.

As a slot receiver last season, he had 18 receptions for 356 yards and three touchdowns. He had 27 rushing attempts for 295 yards and four touchdowns and returned kicks for 390 yards, including a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown at Lake Hamilton.

Levingston’s season was cut short by a foot injury at Little Rock Hall. His loss hampered the Wildcats’ entire offense.

“It affected us a lot,” said El Dorado receivers’ coach Hal Qualls. “He commanded a lot of respect when he was on the field. They had to know where he was.”

Despite the injury, Levingston still had options when it came to college suitors.

“Other offers were from East Texas and SAU and UAM. Those were the schools that stuck by my side after my injury,” he said. “I chose Arkansas Tech because once I stepped on campus, it felt like a place I needed to be. It’s a great school and I feel that’s where I will get a better education at what I’m studying. I plan to major in electrical engineering but if I decide to change, it will be psychology.”

Qualls indicated Arkansas Tech recruited Levingston as an athlete, meaning he could be useful in different roles. He averaged 19.8 yards per reception and 10.9 yards per rushing attempt.

“I’m not a hundred percent sure what they want. My son coaches running backs up there. He’d love to have him at running back,” Qualls said. “I think they’re going to get him up there and see how it works out, where he fits. I’m pretty sure he’ll be a special team’s guy as a freshman because he can run. I’m sure they’ll have him trying to cover kicks and return kicks and doing all that stuff they do with those skill guys that are good.”

Levingston said the coaches are leaning toward putting him in the backfield.

“It’s something I’m about to have to get back into doing, which is playing running back for them instead of being a slot,” he said. “They told me they need someone who can run down field once they get the hand-off and someone who can come out of the backfield to catch the ball. He told me that he believes I’m the one that can do it so I’m just gonna need to work on getting back into that running back mode as I was before.”

An explosive athlete with a high motor, finding a position was never a problem for Levingston at El Dorado. He was just plugged into the offense at whatever spot he was needed.

“I’m excited for him,” said Qualls. “I’m so proud of him. He deserves it. He worked hard. Everybody watched him for three years. I’m really glad he’s getting an opportunity.”

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