Gaffney On the Radar

Tyler Gaffney, the 6-1, 215-pound running back from San Diego (Calif.) Central Catholic, has run for over 3,300 yards in two seasons, and has a 3.3 GPA, which has gotten him some recruiting interest and Pac-10 offers already...

San Diego (Calif.) Central Catholic running back Tyler Gaffney (6-1, 215) will be one of the top prospects in all of San Diego County next year, and the power back is starting to hear from a handful of schools.

In fact, two Pac-10 schools have offered him.

“UCLA (verbally) offered me last year, and Stanford offered me (last week),” said Gaffney. “Notre Dame has been talking to me a lot and they could offer. San Diego State is also interested in me.”

Gaffney said he’s in no rush to make his college decision, instead choosing to see what the process is like.

“I’m leaving all of my options open,” said Gaffney. “I haven’t specified what I want to do yet. I want to see what’s going on with all of the schools and see what I can achieve with offers.”

Gaffney said most of his attention is coming specifically as an athlete.

“Running back is what I played mostly, and I played linebacker my sophomore year. I’m getting recruited as either a running back or safety, so it’s more an athlete role,” said Gaffney.

The early offer from UCLA was met with excitement from Gaffney.

“It kind of got me excited,” said Gaffney. “It showed that my work was paying off and that I could keep playing football.”

Gaffney said his running style is similar to a pair of backs who ran in the 1970s and 1980s.

“I’m a cross between Walter Payton and Chuck Muncie,” said Gaffney. “I watched them a lot on some old NFL videos and just thought I ran most like them. I’m pretty fast (4.49 forty) and run with power, too.”

Gaffney said he grew up watching USC, and was a fan of fellow San Diego native Reggie Bush, but as his college options are starting to open up, he’s looking all over the country.

“I want to look at schools like Florida, LSU, UCLA, Stanford, Notre Dame, all over. I want to see all the different regions and see where I fit in the best,” said Gaffney.

Gaffney said he’s prepared for a big spring, where he knows college coaches will be out to see him.

“I’m going to Stanford’s Junior Day and to UCLA’s Junior Day and then some other camps this spring. I want to meet some of the new coaches at UCLA and talk with Coach (Jim) Harbaugh at Stanford some more,” said Gaffney.

A big junior year saw Gaffney rush for 1,550 yards and 29 touchdowns in helping lead Cathedral to the 2007 CIF-San Diego Section D-III title. He also had 20 catches for 303 yards and five touchdowns. Gaffney earned First Team All-San Diego County.v During his 2006 sophomore season, Gaffney ran for 1,544 yards and 23 touchdowns and caught 21 passes for 313 yards and five scores and was a First Team All-Eastern League pick.

Academically, Gaffney has a 3.3 GPA and will take the SAT in the spring.