By: Rixon Lane

Former Newberry head coach Zak Willis has just finished his first season as a recruiting coordinator and special teams coach with the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks. Coach Willis joined SportsTalk this evening to discuss recruiting, his new gig with the Redhawks, and his time in the Palmetto State.

AUDIO: Zak Willis

AUDIO: Dave Davis

Ron Parker

Former Newberry College defensive back Ron Parker has already had a whirlwind ride in his first season in the NFL, finding himself back in Seattle for this Sunday’s Seahawks game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Parker had been on the active roster with the Oakland Raiders for three games, but was placed on waivers by the black and silver on Saturday, prior to Oakland’s shutout loss to Kansas City. The St. Helena Island native didn’t sit on the waiver wire long, as he was picked up by his original team on Monday morning.

Parker will wear the number 36 jersey and is listed as a cornerback for Sunday’s game against the Bengals. The game will not be televised in markets in the Southeast unless you have DirecTV’s NFL Sunday Ticket.

Parker was signed as an undrafted free agent for training camp by the Seahawks, and was signed to the practice squad, before being removed from that list on Sept. 22. He was added to the Raiders’ practice squad on Sept. 26 and activated to the active roster on Oct. 1.

AUDIO: Todd Knight

AUDIO: Todd Knight

First up to step to the microphone, was Senior Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Intercollegiate Athletics, and former USC great, Brad Edwards.

AUDIO: Brad Edwards

Next up to visit with Korn and discuss what he expects from his squad in 2011 was the leader of the pack, Head Football Coach, Todd Knight.

AUDIO: Todd Knight

Finally we got to hear from some players.  For your listening pleasure we got a hold of Senior Center, Chase Gamble, and (drumroll please…..) the recipient of the official SportsTalk award for “best named” player in all the land: Senior LB, Apollo Stretch.

 AUDIO: Chase Gamble and Apollo Stetch

Daniel Stanley

Former Newberry College golfer Daniel Stanley had the lead after three rounds at the S.C. Golf Association’s 80th Amateur Championship, but had to settle for a second place finish. The Inman native told the Beaufort Gazette it would be his final tournament before turning professional.

A PING Division II All-American in his senior season, Stanley fought through a tough front nine, and a double bogey on hole number nine made it a 41 on the way out, but an eagle on number 11 started the bounce back.

“You can’t dwell on it,” Stanley told the Gazette. “You just do what you can and see if it’s enough. Unfortunately, I was one short. I’m playing well, even though I didn’t win. Second place is good. These are good players.”

Stanley’s second place finish is the highest recorded by a Newberry player at the prestigious S.C. Amateur. Click here to view the entire leaderboard.

Stanley, who also competed in the USGA Amateur Public Links Championship this summer, is a two-time All-American, as he was a second team All-American in 2011 and third team All-American in 2010.

Stanley earned all-Southeast Region honors from the GCAA in June, marking his third all-region honor. He was the South Atlantic Conference champion in 2010 and 2011 and earned all-SAC honors in all four seasons.

Stanley was Newberry College’s first-ever golf All-American with his third team honor in 2010, and now becomes the Wolves’ first two-time All-American. Stanley finished his senior season with 25 rounds, a 72.4 stroke average and 15 rounds at or below par. He ranks second in Newberry history with 100 career rounds and a school-record 72.8 career stroke average.

During Stanley’s 100 career rounds, he played in the 2008 and 2011 NCAA Division II National Tournaments, with the Wolves earning a program- and conference-best quarterfinal finish in 2011. The Wolves qualified for the NCAA Division II Super Regional Tournament in all four seasons and earned three SAC Tournament championships. Newberry won 10 tournament titles during Stanley’s time in the scarlet and gray.

**FROM NEWBERRY SID**

Mark Barnes

Former USC safety and receiver Mark Barnes has enrolled at Newberry College and will report for practice August 9th.  Newberry coach Todd Knight confirmed Saturday night that Barnes had completed all the necessary steps to get into school and join his program.  Barnes, who has been out of school for two years, will be eligible immediately and will have at least two seasons to play for the Red Wolves.  Knight said he will start Barnes out at safety.

Barnes was one of the country’s top rated prospects in 2006.   He announced his commitment to USC following the Shrine Bowl in December of that year.  His freshman season at USC was disrupted by a shoulder injury that required surgery.  He did appear in three game as a receiver and caught three passes, one for a touchdown. 

Barnes transferred to Florida A&M before the 2008 but did not stick with that program.  He returned to Columbia where he was been working the past two years.