Looking to Run

"I really liked what West Virginia did last year," wide receiver Shawney Kersey said. "I love the spread they run and how good the offense is. I loved watching the Oklahoma game and West Virginia just blew them away. Oklahoma used to be one of my favorite teams and they just got beat up by West Virginia." The Mountaineers lead slightly over Rutgers, Michigan State, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Shawney Kersey, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound three-star wide receiver from Woodbury Junior-Senior High School in Woodbury, N.J., says he already has offers from Michigan State, West Virginia, Rutgers, Cincinnati, Virginia, East Carolina, Iowa and a few others, for a total of 10.

Kersey, Scout.com's No. 49 wide receiver, says he remains "very open," but now admits that West Virginia is his top choice. The Mountaineers lead slightly over Rutgers, Michigan State, Virginia and Wisconsin. All of his favorites have offered, except the Badgers.

"I really liked what West Virginia did last year," he said. "I love the spread they run and how good the offense is. I loved watching the Oklahoma game and West Virginia just blew them away.

"Oklahoma used to be one of my favorite teams and they just got beat up by West Virginia," Kersey said.

The first school to offer Kersey was in-state favorite, Rutgers. "It's only one and half hours away," he said. "I'll probably stay close, but it doesn't have to be that close. I don't mind getting on a plane for a couple hours if I have to."

Besides the distance, the main thing that Kersey likes about the Scarlet Knights is the man in charge - Coach Greg Schiano. "I like coach Schiano," he said. "He seems like a smart guy and someone who really knows what he's talking about. Plus, he takes care of his players and everyone that goes there leaves a better athlete.

"Rutgers also has a great weight room and really nice facilities," Kersey said. "They have a lot of top of the line equipment."

The Scarlet Knights are the only program that Kersey has already visited, but he plans on going on several unofficial visits during the summer. "My coach doesn't think I should go to any camps, so I'll just take a few visits instead."

Besides Rutgers and West Virginia, Kersey admits he doesn't know much about the other schools recruiting him. "I've talked to a few coaches at Virginia, but I haven't gotten to know them yet.

"Michigan State seems to have a good school and good crowds at every game," Kersey said. "I haven't been there, but I like the stuff they've been sending me about the program and the stuff I've seen online. It seems like a nice place."

Kersey says he doesn't think he'll be making a decision anytime soon. "I'll probably decide in the fall," he said. "Sometime in September.

"I want to make sure I'm around great people and in a place where I can have fun away from football too."

The only school on Kersey's list that hasn't offered him is Wisconsin. "I actually like cooler weather, so I think I'd like it there," he said. "We have a guy from my school (senior fullback Chris Pressley) that goes there and he likes it. He says the people there are great and that they have great fan support."

Although Kersey isn't sure about where he'll be going to college, he's certain he wants to run track as well as play football wherever he goes. "I'm going to do both," Kersey said. "I like running track. The 100 and 200 are my events. I just love to run."

He says he has a personal best 100m time of 10.49 and 21.7 for the 200.

Kersey finished his junior season (8-3) with 35 catches for 534 yards and four touchdowns. He also had three touchdowns on kick returns and three on punt returns.

He benches 275-pounds, squats 405 and has a 35-inch vertical jump.

"I'm fast and elusive," Kersey said. "I'm explosive and have a lot of power too. I’m a playmaker, but I want to improve my footwork and make better cuts.

"I'm also working on my timing and my hands when catching the ball."

Kersey reports a 2.8 core GPA and is taking the ACT for the first time in September.