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Leaps & Bounds: GW’s Wilson focusing on track as football scholarship offers pile up | GoDanRiver

The left side of the dry erase board is covered with names of 23 major Division I schools — all neatly written with a black marker.

Consider it a who’s who in college football. The board is the easiest way for George Washington football coach Dan Newell to keep track of the interest in star running back David Wilson.

Of the 23 schools listed, 14 have the word “offered” scribbled beside them. Wilson, a junior, has scholarships on the table from eight Atlantic Coast Conference schools, three Southeastern Conference teams, two Big Ten programs and one Big East university. The others, including Southern Cal, Ohio State and Florida, have also showed interest.

With so many college football scholarships offered, Wilson will soon have to narrow his list.

“That’s a conversation that comes up at the dinner table a lot,” Wilson said. “They ask me what do I think and I tell them it’s confusing because you hear the same thing. All the schools sound like great places to be. I know wherever I’ll end up, I’ll like it because I won’t know anything other than that.”

Newell feels his star running back has plenty of options — ones that include both football and track.

“He’s in a unique position in this recruiting process because now he’s a bluechip kid on the football field, which means he is carrying some clout in that regard,” Newell said. “He has the opportunity to wait and find out some things. He has the opportunity to not make demands, but make choices between some excellent football programs and use track as a way to do that.”

Wilson began running track as a way to stay in shape for football. Now it’s become a part of him. And he wants to compete in both at the college level. That choice might also help Wilson narrow his list of schools.

“I’ve made it pretty clear to all the people I’ve talked to on David’s behalf that it’s going to be a major factor in his decision,” Newell said. “If you do not have a strong track program or you don’t have a strong interest in him being a part of that, you’re not going to make the kind of impression on a kid who has got those opportunities to want to come to your school for football only.”

A number of pro football players have track backgrounds, including former GW standout Herman Moore, who was an all-pro wide receiver for the Detroit Lions. Moore still holds the Northwest Region track meet record in the high jump.

Wilson would certainly like to add his name to the list. It’s been his dream.

“As a little kid, I told my mom that I wanted to have a name that nobody will ever forget,” said Wilson, who is already one of the top high school triple jumpers in the nation. “I want to be a hero. I guess I’m trying to fit those shoes.”

Newell expects that Wilson might not narrow his list of schools until late June because of the upcoming state and national track meets scheduled.

“There’s a lot more investigation on his end to have to look at,” Newell said. “There are probably some front-runners in his mind, but I purposely told him not to get involved in that with the media or with me. I don’t want to know yet. … It’s not time for that right now.”

Wilson didn’t specifically name any schools that are on his list, but there are certain qualities — such as education programs — he is looking for in a university.

“I also look at the history of the program,” said Wilson, who racked up 1,557 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns on 139 carries last season, in addition to catching five passes for 86 yards and a score. “I want to go to a school that has stable coaches.”

Staying close to home isn’t necessarily a preference either.

“A lot of people think location plays a role in my choice-making, but it doesn’t play a role,” Wilson said.