Brumfield baffled by lack of football offers

Ryan Brumfield tried to ignore the stinging sweat that dripped into his eyes. He just put his head down and kept slogging forward through the humid evening air, tethered by a rope around his waist connected to a 250-pound tractor tire. Pennsylvania's top returning rusher didn't pay too much attention to the occasional odd looks he would get from passersby either, as his powerful legs kept churning, determined to show his large attached appendage who was the boss.

Ryan Brumfield.

Photo courtesy of Tom Barr

What fueled him, what kept his focus, was a number of desires. The 5-10, granite-thick 190-pound Owen J. Roberts tailback enters his senior season ignited by the fact that in some people's eyes, he hasn't done enough. Not for them he hasn't. He's spurred on to reaching something a rare feat few have attained in the football-rich state of Pennsylvania, and for that matter, throughout the country: Eclipse the 8,000-yard career rushing plateau.

Steelton-Highspire running back Jeremiah Young (now at Bucknell) currently holds the all-time mark for Pennsylvania career rushing yards with 9,027 and is ninth all-time nationally. Former Indianapolis Colt and Syracuse Orangeman James Mungro also rates high on that list, with 8,432 career yards rushing when he was at East Stroudsburg South.

Brumfield is aiming to join that exclusive club this season, entering this season with 5,751 career rushing yards, including 69 rushing touchdowns. He has a career average of 6.7 yards per carry, and with teams designed solely to stop him his junior year, Brumfield still led Pennsylvania in rushing with 2,717 yards, scoring 49 TDs (43 rushing).

He'll need 3,276 yards to catch Young, which would mean averaging 273 yards rushing over the Wildcats' 12-game regular-season schedule, discounting playoffs. That seems remote at best. But Brumfield does have a shot at reaching Mungro, needing 2,682 to pass him. That's about 224 yards a game, which is slightly higher than the 209.2 yards average per game last season.

Led by Brumfield, the Wildcats went on to have a record-breaking season, going 11-2 overall, a new OJR mark for victories in a season. The Wildcats also return most of their offensive line — possibly meaning more room to run for Brumfield.

There is something other than victories and numbers pushing Brumfield hard. The fact that he hasn't received an offer from a Division-I school is biting. Sure, a number of quality schools have shown interest, like Penn State, Boston College, Rutgers, Pittsburgh, Vanderbilt, Iowa, Buffalo and Navy. Of that group, BC, Rutgers, Pitt, Vanderbilt and Navy have extended visits.

But nothing substantial has arrived. Nothing concrete that Brumfield can wrap his arms around and feel secure that he has a definite destination after high school.

It baffles him.

Especially when you figure that in 13 games as a junior, Brumfield rushed for 200 yards or more nine times, highlighted by a 293-yard game, and a 283-yard game where he rushed for six touchdowns. Package that with the threat he could score from anywhere (12 TDs of 70 yards or more), and he's downright scary each time he touches the ball. He's explosive, shifty, much more powerful than he was as a junior (able to bench 225 pounds for 8 reps, up from 2-3 reps last fall), and frustrated.

"It is frustrating," admitted Brumfield, who carries a 3.0 GPA. "I'm waiting it out, and my brothers tell me they knew Division I guys who weren't really recruited seriously until September. But I have to admit, I wonder what more I have to do to get college coaches to pay more attention to me. I'm confident I can play at the Division-I level.

"I was hoping to have this done and just focus on my senior year. It's something I'd definitely like to take care of before the season is over. It's just good to know you have a school you're going to. I can't wait for this season to begin. This only adds to it. I guess I have to keep on proving myself."

Brumfield certainly doesn't have to convince any opposing coach who has tried to stop him the last three years, and he certainly doesn't have to sell himself to Wildcats coach Tom Barr, who is just as frustrated over Brumfield's college status as his star player is.

"I try not to let it show, but from a coaching point, it does bother me," Barr said. "First off, throw out the football. Ryan is just a great kid, and I know this is coming from a bias, but I think Ryan is the best running back in Pennsylvania. I have no problem saying that.

"Look at his numbers over the last three years. They're better than any other tailback in the state. You can't say we play in a bad league (the PAC-10, featuring Pottsgrove, which has three major Division-I caliber players). He's had great games against great teams. Ryan's shown he can play at any level. He's going to prove a lot of people wrong this year. It's great for our team. The college situation is only going to fuel Ryan. It's like he has to prove himself even more."

It poses a nightmare for anyone facing the Wildcats. After all, someone will have to pay for the diligence of hauling a 250-pound tractor tire around the whole summer.

Joseph Santoliquito covers high schools for the Philadelphia Daily News and is a contributor to MaxPreps.com. He can be contacted at JSantoliquito@yahoo.com .

Brumfield baffled by lack of football offers

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