Terrell Chestnut has had a tumultuous January, to say the least. The standout Pottsgrove senior quarterback/defensive back saw two coaches get ousted at Pittsburgh, where the 5-foot-10 Chestnut, considered one of the best all-around players in Pennsylvania, originally committed.
Then he had to begin the recruiting process once again. Not to mention undergoing surgery on Jan. 11 to repair a completely torn labrum in his left shoulder. Yes, it's been a hectic made less hectic by reconsidering his college choice and selecting West Virginia as his new school.
Chestnut made the choice last week, and will make it official when he signs his National Letter of Intent on National Signing Day this Wednesday, Feb., 2 during a press conference at Pottsgrove High School.
Chestnut, one of Tom Lemming's Top 25 cornerbacks, chose West Virginia over Villanova, Miami and Boston College.
"I had visited West Virginia before and that was my second choice behind Pitt; I know the school, and I know the coaching staff and it's a school I feel real comfortable with," said Chestnut, who's projected to play free safety at West Virginia. "Villanova was my second choice, and I still think Villanova is going to the Big East for football. But after the situation with Pitt, I had to work fast.
"I had a general idea of what I was going to do after I de-committed from Pitt. But you do worry about schools running out of scholarships and I was back out there again. I had to act fast, and I didn't want to go through all of the things I went through before, like missing a lot of class. I know I'm going to a good school and still going to get a good eduction and play some good football."
The inclement weather forced Chestnut to keep his visits to a minimum. He had already visited West Virginia and took an official visit to Villanova. He's hoping to play in the Big 33 game in June, and felt the surgery had to be done so he has enough time to rehab for the traditional all-star game.
He played his whole senior year with the torn labrum and played with a brace on his left shoulder his entire senior season.
"I played in pain; I didn't want to leave high school with any regrets and I'd bury my shoulder in ice after each game," Chestnut said. "Every week, my shoulder felt better and better. I had the surgery to get the problem corrected and I wanted to get it done now and be ready to play my freshman year. West Virginia fits me well."
RYAN BRUMFIELD COMMITS TO EASTERN MICHIGAN
Ryan Brumfield wondered what more he had to do. The 5-10, 180-pound Owen J. Roberts tailback posted some incredible numbers, finishing an amazing career as southeast Pennsylvania's all-time leading rusher, totaling 8,595 yards rushing in four years and finished as Pennsylvania's second all-time leading rusher.
Yet no major schools showed him much attention. It was baffling, frustrating, but Brumfield, who has exceptional speed (he runs a 4.4-second 40-yard dash) and athleticism (a three-time state medalist in the high jump with a 6-10 jump last year), committed over the weekend to Mid-Atlantic Conference Eastern Michigan.
Brumfield chose to be an Eagle over New Hampshire, Villanova, Buffalo and Massachusetts.
"I feel a lot better; there is a lot of stress out of the way and that's definitely a good thing," Brumfield said. "I just went to Eastern Michigan with my mother and father and they fell in love with it, and I fell in love with the school. They're going to give me a shot, which what a lot of coaches weren't going to give me. It was frustrating. I thought a lot of colleges saw my size and dropped me from the recruiting board. Maybe my size had something to do with it. I don't know. It was frustrating.
"But Eastern Michigan is going to let me play as a true freshman, which is a good thing. I was definitely thinking about Villanova, and they told me they were thinking about someone else, and if that kid fell through, they were going to give me an offer. That didn't sit well with me."
Brumfield will make it official on Wednesday when he signs on National Letter of Intent Day at Owen J. Roberts.
"I feel happy, but I'm definitely going to college with a chip on my shoulder," Brumfield said. "Eastern Michigan is going to get my best and [Eastern Michigan] coach [Ron] English stuck by me and showed me a loyalty and a belief in me that the other coaches didn't. Coach English showed me that from the beginning."
Brumfield, who plans on majoring in sports management and said he will be permitted to compete for the Eastern Michigan track team, will be joining a program that went 2-10 overall and 2-6 in the Mid-American Conference.
"I want to be part of what's being built here at Eastern Michigan," Brumfield said. "They said that I'm their guy, that I'll definitely get playing time and get a chance to start. That's all I wanted. I'm playing for a Division I football program."
Joseph Santoliquito can be contacted at JSantoliquito@yahoo.com.
