'09 VA RB David Wilson (Virginia Tech Verbal)

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'09 VA RB David Wilson



Running back
Danville (VA) George Washington

Ht: 5-foot-11
Wt: 190 lbs
Bench max: 300 pounds
Squat max: 525 pounds
Forty: 4.39 secs
Class: 2009 (High School)

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4/15

Visited Clemson and GT over the weekend. Holds offers from them, as well as Michigan, Maryland, UVA, WVU, and UNC.

[HotMic]

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4/16

From the Michigan site. Wilson's coach calls him a combo of power, speed, and elusiveness. He says distance won't be a factor, and that David is wide open.

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4/17

From the VT site...has offers from Michigan, Auburn, West Virginia, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Georgia Tech and Clemson. Talks about his indoor track and what he will be looking for in a college.

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GW's Wilson a lock for Tech? Not at this point - Roanoke.com

On Friday morning, North Carolina State became the 10th Division I-A football program to make a scholarship offer to George Washington High School running back David Wilson.

George Washington coach Dan Newell already has a candidate for No. 11.

“The first 10 were official [offers],” Newell said. “I have a pretty good feeling Alabama will be next.”

The first 10 schools to offer Wilson – Newell can remember them by going north to south – were Michigan, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, N.C. State, Georgia Tech, Clemson and Auburn.

“I got a message to call Florida today,” Newell said. “I know Tennessee is in the mix. Ohio State’s coming Wednesday. Florida State’s in the mix. It’s going to get bigger before it gets smaller.”

Newell’s going to have to cut it off at some point.

“I think his parents are going to make that decision for me,” he said.

Wilson got an offer for which he and his coach had been waiting when Virginia Tech came forward April 18.

“We knew Tech’s situation with [reduced] scholarships and they had told us, ‘It’s going to take a while before we sift this out,’ “ Newell said. “The timing of the offer was not unexpected. Did we take it as a slight? Absolutely not.”

Wilson, a 5-foot-11, 195-pounder, rushed for 1,556 yards as a junior and scored 20 touchdowns, two coming on kickoff returns, the first with Tech offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring in attendance for the Eagles’ opener against William Fleming.

Newell’s relationship with Stinespring goes back to the time when Newell was the coach at Lake Taylor in Norfolk and had defensive back Ronyell Whitaker, who signed with the Hokies and had a – how do we describe it, favorable ? – career at Tech.

Most recently, George Washington has sent Kenny Lewis Jr., Cam Martin and Orion Martin to Tech, but when asked if Tech is the team to beat for Wilson, Newell says, “I’m not going to say that?”

But, what if a sportswriter were to say Tech is the favorite for Wilson.

“He never has mentioned any one front-runner,” Newell said.

But, Newell can understand why Tech may be viewed that way.

“I think there are two reasons for that,” Newell said. “One is my connection to kids who have gone there in the past, but that’s not a real good indicator because, essentially, Ronyell Whitaker was going to go where Mike Vick went, and they were good friends and ended up rooming together up there.

“Then, Cam Martin and Orion Martin, their uncle, Bobby, played for coach [Frank] Beamer up there at Virginia Tech. They made that decision on their own. And, of course, Kenny Lewis’ father is a legacy up there.

“I didn’t really have to do anything to get those kids to go to Virginia Tech. That’s where they wanted to go from the get-go. I do know that one of the factors that is going to play into [Wilson’s] decision is his track career. He wants to continue to at least do the triple jump.”

Newell said that Maryland was the first school to offer Wilson a football scholarship. That was in December; then, along came Virginia in January.

“He took opportunities then, when his track schedule was a little lighter, to take junior-day visits with his parents,” Newell said. “He was very excited about the whole prospect and it was new to him.

“That makes a difference in these kids’ mentalities, [as to] who’s the first one in the door. Let’s face it, when you’re a recruit like him, this kind of stuff’s going to get old pretty soon. The little connections you make early on stick with you a little longer.”

Stinespring is recruiting Wilson for Tech and Wayne Lineburg is recruiting him for UVa, Newell said, which lends credence to the rumors that Radford native Lineburg will have an expanded role in southwest Virginia.

“I’ve known both of those guys for years and have great relationships with them,” Newell said. “If [the Cavaliers] have a chance, I feel that that’s their best chance of making a connection. I feel good about the way he represents UVa and his relationship with kids in this part of the country.”

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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.

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6/4

Picked up offers from South Carolina, BC, and Penn State.

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Tech football gets commitment from David Wilson - News - inRich.com

Virginia Tech has received its eighth and biggest football commitment for the Class of 2009: multi-purpose player David Wilson, who has picked the Hokies over Auburn, Clemson and Michigan, among several others.