West Virginia RB Jason Gwaltney (official thread)

[LordJeffBuck]

He says that the offense is not set-up to let him show off his true talent, which is running north and south.

Neither is USC's.....

[ysubuck]

For as much concern as he is showing for the offense, if he ends up at USC he is going to be a lot more pissed.

They absolutely don't feature the back. I haven't studied their numbers, but wasn't one of the knocks on Bush that he just doesn't get enough touches? This is your Heisman finalist and he's not getting the ball enough.

Couple that with the fact that Jason is banking on Lendale White AND Reggie Bush going pro after next season. I'm not so sure that I would buy that. Suppose White tweaks his ankle again next season and his stock drops. I'm sure he'd be back and then Jason's sitting for another season.

Besides, Jason just doesn't seem to be the back for a USC. Maybe it's me, but if you want to carry the ball 25 times a game and run between the tackles, USC just doesn't seem to me to be the place.

[Buckin' A]

Man, I would really like to have Gwaltney. However, he seems very "Me" oriented instead of what is best for the team. Trying to translate where he is going, through what he says, is like trying to piss in a cup during a tsunami!

[wstripes]

I don't want to turn this into a USC thread....but Bush split carries with White....We rushed the ball plenty....White had over 1,000 yards and Bush had around 800

[wadc45]

wstripes -

how do you see things playing out...provided everyone stays healthy? Bush leaves after next year and White stays to show what he can do without splitting carries? Or does LenDale still get his 1,000 yards and he goes early as well. I know it's early, but how do you see things playing out? I would think that the USC staff has surmised at least one of these scenarios to Gwaltney at some point during the recruitment if he has been committed for a while now.

[OilerBuck]

Originally Posted by wstripes

I don't want to turn this into a USC thread....but Bush split carries with White....We rushed the ball plenty....White had over 1,000 yards and Bush had around 800

I think that is a key for USC with Gwaltney. Chances are, he will never be the go-to guy for USC with all the RB talent they seem to haul in. But White or Bush will probably leave after next year and that gives Jason some of the load at RB.

The beautiful thing about what Pete and Norm do, is that they get everyone on the field involved. They are also great at using their best players as decoys to keep the defense honest and get other guys the ball. The MOST impressive thing is that they help make players stars the second they step off the bench (Palmer/Leinart, Fargas/White, Williams,Colbert/Smith, Jarrett).

Not to put on a USC love fest, but when Petey tells you he will get you involved by your sophomore year...he has the track record to prove it. The whole Thunder/Lightning (Gwaltney/Wells) thing sounds great in theory but we haven't proven the ability to get yards for one back, let alone two. Not to mention we have Pittman and Haw in the fold and are going hard after Chris Wells for next year.

If I had to break down each schools chances for Jason, it would go...

USC - 85%
WV - 10%
OSU - 5%

[EPBucks]

In Jason Video update on Bucknuts he says the team that runs the shot gun offense is WV. He also says in the interview that it doesn't matter who he verbally commits to. If he has a gut feeling on signing day he will sign with somebody else.

[BuckeyeNation27]

Originally Posted by EPBucks

In Jason Video update on Bucknuts he says the team that runs the shot gun offense is WV. He also says in the interview that it doesn't matter who he verbally commits to. If he has a gut feeling on signing day he will sign with somebody else.

you cant help but love this kid. he's got a couple thousand people following his every move....disecting what color his armbands are and what that means.....and he doenst care.

[jwinslow]

I would think it would be quite easy to remember who has put a black mark on tOSU's reputation forever thanks to his me first attitude. There's a difference between being a little bit selfish and a lot selfish tho.

[wstripes]

Wadc45-I think both Bush and White will leave after next year...unless one of them gets injured...

[3yardsandacloud]

http://www.collegesports.com/sports/...011205aaa.html


Moss' posterior, Gwaltney's choice and more
By Chuck Mcgill Oregon Daily Emerald

... And finally, as an avid fan of college football recruiting, I feel it is time to give my prediction on the final destination of Jason Gwaltney. For those out of the loop, Gwaltney is a 5-foot-11, 235-lb. running back from Long Island. Most recruiting services have Gwaltney rated among the top tailbacks in the country.

As a senior, he piled up 2,377 yards and 37 touchdowns. As a junior, he rushed for 2,601 yards and 45 touchdowns.

Despite the lure of top programs, Gwaltney committed to West Virginia University in February, along with his half-brother Scooter Berry.

Throughout the year, however, Gwaltney began to waver on his commitment before finally reneging on his verbal in December. After official visits to WVU, USC, Ohio State, Michigan State and UCF, Gwaltney narrowed his top three schools to the Trojans, Buckeyes and Mountaineers.

Last weekend, Gwaltney wrapped up his official visits by taking a final trip to Morgantown on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. He's in San Antonio this week preparing for the U.S. Army All-American game. My prediction is Gwaltney will end up at USC.

With the off-the-field troubles at Ohio State, and Gwaltney's desire to play at the highest level (eliminating WVU), he will commit to the Trojans either this weekend or on Signing Day on Feb. 2.

USC has received no other commitments from running backs in this year's class, and the top-rated back, Jonathan Stewart, crossed the national champs off his list this week. Stewart is probably aware that Gwaltney is the guy Pete Carroll covets.

Furthermore, after Gwaltney's visit this weekend, WVU received a pair of commitments from potential running backs Steve Slaton and Jatavious Best. With Pennsylvania running back Ed Collington already in the fold, and Gwaltney's desire to be the only back in his team's class, I think the writing's on the wall.

(C) 2004 Oregon Daily Emerald via U-WIRE

[MililaniBuckeye]

Hey Jason, right-click-and-save and then watch this clip if you want to see a great team to play for...

[MegaWoody]

I love optimists. I am not one, but I love 'em just the same.

TOSU is the only school west of the Hudson River that this kid hasn't committed to, yet we've got folks here who think he'll do a double-Jarrett, with a reverse-Fred-Davis-twist (Degree of Difficulty 3.5), and matriculate in Columbus.

He's expressed to the media every conceivable reason he can think of NOT to go to tOSU -- including his most recent critique of 'running from the shotgun' (otherwise known in central-Ohio as the shot-Ginn), yet still, a hardy Band of my Buckeye Brothers are analyzing the colors of Jason's wrist bands looking for signs of love from the Great Gwaltney.

I love you guys. I really do.

[osugrad21]

Originally Posted by MegaWoody

TOSU is the only school west of the Hudson River that this kid hasn't committed to

Wrong according to Wstripes...he committed on each of his visits.

Very impulsive young man which may play into a coup for us...doubtful, but possible.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

He also says in the interview that it doesn't matter who he verbally commits to.

if he doesnt care, why is he so hung up on the shotgun formation???