http://wvgazette.com/section/Sports/2005010653
WVU’s plum recruit visits
USC,
OSU also among tailback’s suitors
By Dave Hickman
Staff writer
MORGANTOWN — The potential crown jewel of West Virginia’s 2005 recruiting class arrived in Morgantown Thursday afternoon for his official visit.
But don’t expect Jason Gwaltney to commit to the Mountaineers or anyone else right away.
“February 2nd,’’ Gwaltney said, referring to the first day of the NCAA’s signing period. “I’m going to do it live on ESPN.’’
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That’s how good Gwaltney is.
A 6-foot-2, 230-pound tailback from Long Island’s North Babylon High School, Gwaltney has already made his other four NCAA-permitted official visits. He went to Southern Cal, Ohio State, Michigan State and Central Florida.
Central Florida?
“Yeah,’’ Gwaltney said Friday at the Pittsburgh airport while waiting for a flight to Morgantown. “It’s hot there.’’
Gwaltney, who is ranked as the nation’s 29th best player and fifth best running back by rivals.com, actually committed to West Virginia last summer before reconsidering this fall. So, too, did his teammate and cousin, Scooter Berry.
“I just wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing,’’ Gwaltney said.
Now he is being flooded with recruiting contacts from some of the best programs in the country. Southern Cal coach Pete Carroll called Gwaltney at 1 a.m. Wednesday, within an hour of the Trojans’ win over Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. For much of Tuesday afternoon, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel was in Gwaltney’s home.
Gwaltney rushed for 2,880 yards and 45 touchdowns in 11 games this season for North Babylon. In 39 career games over four years, Gwaltney rushed for 7,800 yards and 135 touchdowns.
West Virginia has 19 other commitments for the recruiting class.