Mon Dec 4, 2006
Clay weighing college choices
By Peter Jackel
In the basement of Johnny Clay's 12th Street home, directly across the street from Park High School, are three boxes of recruiting letters Clay has been receiving since his freshman year. This collection originally started growing in Clay's bedroom, but quickly outgrew those four walls and spilled into the basement.
Those letters have been sent from suitors that run the gamet from Division III schools with no chance of obtaining Clay's services to Ohio State, the No. 1-ranked team in the nation. They range from form letters from coaches merely trying to cover their bases when Clay was an up-and-coming rinning back at Park to personal letters from high-profile coaches who write Clay about how much they admire him and how well he would fit into their program.
After Clay walks home from school every afternoon, he'll typically see five or six more recruiting letters in his mailbox. He's also frquently handed letters sent to Park football coach Dennis Thompson at the school.
It used to be an an enjoyable experience for one of only two high school players in the history of Wisconsin to be named first-team Associated Press All-State three times. But just like a teenager starting to shave, it's cool at first but eventually becomes an every-morning nuisance.
"You like the attention they give you, but after awhile, they just keep coming and coming," said Clay, who was named the AP Player of the Year in Wisconsin after leading Park to the WIAA Division 1 state championship as a junior in 2005. "Sometimes, you just want a break from it all, but you can't get a break from it all because they're going to keep pursuing it until you give them an answer or until they hear what they want to hear."
From those boxes of letters Clay keeps are three finalists: Wisconsin, Ohio State and Iowa. Clay has already visited Wisconsin and was supposed to travel to Ohio State this weekend before Friday's snowstorm derailed those plans. He is in the process of rescheduling a trip to Columbus, Ohio and will complete his official visits with a trip to Iowa City, Iowa Dec. 15.
Then, after discussions with his parents, John Clay Sr. and Sara, Clay hopes to make his choice some time close to Christmas. What, exactly, is he looking for more than anything else in a college? "Just a college atmosphere and getting out on my own and becoming an adult after leaving my parents," he said. "Using what they taught me is what I want to use when I go to college."
When asked about what he found most appealing about his three finalists, Clay offered this insight: Wisconsin: "They base their offense around their running back and they get him involved in the passing game, too - not just with the running game."
Iowa: "They do a lot of one-back sets, so, basically, the back makes his own moves instead of following the lead blocker. He makes his own cuts to his own hole."
Ohio State: "Ohio State likes a power game. They run it first and then throw."
The common denominator in Clay's three finalists is that all are classic Big Ten Conference teams which accentuate power football. And that means Clay intends to remain a running back, a position in which he rushed for an unofficial Racine County record 5,016 yards and 53 touchdowns during his three varsity seasons at Park.
There has been ample speculation during Clay's time at Park that he is more suited to play linebacker in college and would ultimately be switched to defense.That was the situation with New York Giants linebacker LaVar Arrington, who was the 1996 Parade National Player of the Year as a senior running back and linebacker at North Hills High School in Pittsburgh, but has played exclusively at linebacker at Penn State and in the NFL.
But Clay insists he will be a running back in college and would not agree to a switch.
"They said the only way they would change me is if I wanted to be changed and I know I don't want to be changed," said Clay, who turns 19 Jan. 4.
Other speculation is whether the emergence of Wisconsin freshman running back P.J. Hill would be a possible factor in Clay not choosing the Badgers. Assuming Clay redshirts next season and Hill completes his eligibility at UW, there would be a two-year overlap with the two backs, which could test Clay's patience.
Clay, though, insists Hill's presence will not factor into his decision.
"I would just say that everybody needs a blow during the games," he said. "Even if it's just for one or two plays, I would step right in and do my job and make sure the offense keeps flowing as if he (Hill) was up in there."
Yes, it's been a weight for Clay. But as the recruiting process finally winds down this month, there just might be a few feelings of withdrawal for Clay along with the relief of making a decision.
"It's been fun making my own decision and judging what school I want to go to," he said.
