Running back Jason Gwaltney is one of the most accomplished athletes in New York high school history. He ran for 7,800 yds on 948 carries (8.2 ypc) and scored 135 touchdowns in his four seasons, boasting a TD county record that is nearly twice as many than the previous record holder, Amos Zereoue, a fellow Mountaineer as it turns out.
During his final game against Garden City, a 43-14 North Babylon victory, in the Class II Long Island title game, Gwaltney had an interception, a sack and a forced fumble on defense, while also finishing with 237 yards and four scores rushing and another TD reception.
Gwaltney's recruitment started off fast and finished in a nationwide scramble for his talents. He committed to West Virginia at the beginning of the season but eventually decided to back off his commitment to the Mountaineers to look at other schools, primarily USC and Ohio State. But distance, depth charts and looming investigative and legal matters contributed to his signing with West Virginia, as he had originally promised Mountaineer coach Herb Hand that he would do.
"USC was just too far from home and I wouldn't be getting any playing time next year because they're just loaded at running back position. I know the chances of me playing there as a freshman were really slim and I wanted to make an impact as a freshman," explained Gwaltney. "That's a situation that I just didn't want to deal with.
"Lendale White told me that he felt pretty bad there during his first season because he was so far from home with no playing time and so much to think about. He said he didn't start feeling good about his decision to go there until he started scoring touchdowns. He really seemed to care about me and wanted to show me the ropes around there…you know, so that I didn't end up making the same mistakes that he did.
"They have White, Reggie Bush and other great running backs who aren't even playing now like Hershel Dennis, Chauncey Washington and Desmond Reed. I wasn't really a need for SC. West Virginia recruited me because they really needed me, especially a big back.
"Honestly, I was hyped on SC when I went there for my trip (12/10)," he said. "I told the coaches I thought SC might be the place for me, but there was a little bit of doubt…and they knew it. I never actually committed or said that word to them. They knew I wasn't 100% sure because my parents didn't feel comfortable with me going that far.
"After my trip to USC, I wasn't really committed to anyone anymore. It wasn't until the weekend before Letter-of-Intent Day that I told the West Virginia coaches I was recommitted to them and going to sign with them. It was on that Saturday (12/29) when I told West Virginia coach Hand that was I was going there and then I announced it on ESPN on Tuesday. Coach Hand was excited and told me I was making the right decision and it was great to have me a part of their family.
"USC came in as my number two school and Ohio State was number three. And as far as Ohio State goes…I really don't know what's going to happen with them. The distance factor was not a problem with them at all because they're really not that far away from West Virginia. I would have had a better opportunity for playing time there also. They're different from West Virginia--not as loaded, which gives the running backs there a better chance at producing than some other programs. If they didn't have so many problems going on there with lawsuits and investigations I would have given them a better chance than I did."
There were also rumors floating round the message board-mill that Gwaltney and linebacker, Brian Cushing, would be roommates together and a package deal to boot at USC after their amicable experience together at the U.S. Army All-American game in San Antonio, Texas.
"Cushing is my boy still, there's no doubt about that. We just got caught up in the whole thing, but we both had to do what was best for us, and USC was what was best for him, but not for me. We'll do what we have to do and stay in touch. I wish he was going with me though. He's a great player, so quick. He runs a little high now but he'll learn and he has so much explosion and athletic ability. He's fast enough to play strong safety but since he's already 235, he'll probably play outside linebacker for them," said Gwaltney.
He said the other players he was most impressed with while practicing for the U.S. Army All-American game were quarterback Greg Paulus (Duke--basketball), linebackers Rico McCoy (Tennessee) and Derek Nicholson (Florida State) and wide receivers Patrick Turner (USC) and Fred Rouse (Florida State).
It's West Virginia all the way for this 5-11, 235 pounder. He is content and ready for the responsibilities he'll undertake playing football for the Mountaineers. "It wasn't the program itself with West Virginia, but the coaches and players. I feel really comfortable with the people there and the coaches, especially coach Hand. He's a real great guy. I like his attitude. He never gave up on me. He's real genuine.
"But if I were to go on a program's value alone, I'd probably have gone with USC," explained Gwaltney. "But my decision makes my family happy and in a sense it makes me happy too. They're a program that can be on the rise. I mean they were number five in the nation last year. The players there were probably the most appealing thing about the program overall. I felt comfortable with them. Plus, my brother (Scooter Berry) is going there and it's a situation where they exploit the running back talent in the offense. They definitely make sure the running back is part of the game."
Gwaltney had a good experience through all of these past ten months of his life, facing many questions he never dreamed he'd have to answer at this age. "The whole recruitment process was stressful and overwhelming at times. But I came out of it having seen parts of the country I hadn't seen before and I got to meet a lot of famous people. I experienced the first tough decision in my life that most kids don't go through. And I'll take away from it knowing that it has and will help me make even bigger decisions in the future."