Jersey junior juggles favorites

He may just be a junior, but Lawrenceville (N.J.) Notre Dame wide receiver Rich Gunnell is already beginning to attract attention from some of the big hitters in college football. At 6-foot-0 and 180 pounds, he runs a 4.5 forty yard dash and has started since his freshman season.

As a junior Gunnell has had only 28 catches, but converted nine of those into touchdowns. As a sophomore he was named first team all-conference, all-area, and all-state. An excellent overall athlete, he excels on the basketball court, and is also a speedster on the track, with a 10.8-second 100 meter dash and a 22.5-second 200 meter dash, and a 19-foot-10 long jump.

“I am looking for a good education,” Gunnell lists as sole criterion in a college. “I want to see the percent they graduate, and the degrees and classes they offer.”

Early in the process, he lists BC, Rutgers, Penn State, NC State, Michigan State, West Virginia, and Wisconsin as the schools he is considering. All have been showing interest in him. He attended the Rutgers-BC game to check out two of his top schools, and he also camped at BC this summer.

“I am versatile,” Rich commented on his biggest assets on the field. “I mean I can do more than receive. I also play safety and do a lot of things. I returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and a punt for a touchdown. I do whatever the team needs me to do to win.”

He has a former player that provides the inspiration for his play, but one that most have never heard of.

“I really look up to my dad,” he explained. “He never got the chance to go to college, but he was a great DB in his time.”

Gunnel maintains an 82 GPA, but has yet to take the SAT.