Shunned by Irish, Forsett finds better fit at Cal
By GERRY FRALEY / The Dallas Morning News
BERKELEY, Calif. – There is an ugly side to college football's recruiting process. Promises are broken. Not promises for free cars or doctored grades. The promises adults make to teenagers. Justin Forsett, of Arlington Grace Prep, has been there. That he is the ninth-ranked rusher in Division I-A for 18th-ranked Cal says as much about his perseverance as his ability. "I believe that everything happens for a reason," Forsett recently said. "One door closed, but another door opened. I'm blessed that I got this opportunity." Forsett took the long way to find the open door. As signing day 2004 approached, Forsett expected to go to Notre Dame. The Irish staff had assured Forsett there was a spot for a small but gifted running back. Shortly before signing day, the sweet talk from Notre Dame stopped. Then-coach Tyrone Willingham received commitments from two other running backs higher on the Irish list: Darius Walker of Lawrenceville, Ga., and Justin Hoskins of Grand Rapids, Mich. There was no scholarship for Forsett. He had been an insurance policy. Thanks, but no thanks was the explanation. It happens to high school players every year. That does not lessen the sting. Forsett lost in the game of musical chairs. Other schools had signed players, leaving him stranded. It stayed that way through the spring and into the summer. "It was depressing, not knowing if I was going to get a chance," Forsett said. He got it because of Grace Prep coach Mike Barber.
An NFL tight end for 10 seasons, Barber tirelessly called on his many contacts. That included former NFL running back Chuck Muncie, who had kept his connection to Cal. Muncie gave the Cal coaching staff a video of Forsett. The staff was stunned. How could a kid this good be unsigned? "I thought, 'There has to be something wrong here,'" Cal coach Jeff Tedford said. "There just had to be something we were missing." Tedford ordered running backs coach Ron Gould to "find out what this kid is all about." The report: Justin Forsett is a great kid who was caught in a bad situation that was not his doing. Cal brought in Forsett and his family for a rare June visit. He quickly won over the staff and received a scholarship less than two months before practice opened. Had Cal not offered a scholarship, Forsett probably was headed to Division I-AA South Carolina State. "He's really a diamond in the rough, a kid who slipped through the cracks," Tedford said. "We're very fortunate that he's here. He's an unbelievably great person." As a freshman, Forsett received little playing time as a backup to NFL-bound tailback J.J. Arrington. Forsett, however, has risen in his second season. He has 738 yards on only 85 carries and ranks ninth nationally with a per-game average of 123 yards. Notre Dame's Walker is 17th with 105.6 yards per game, while Hoskins is buried on the Irish depth chart. With four runs of at least 35 yards, Forsett has averaged 8.68 yards per carry. Among the national top 50 in rushing, only two backs have a higher per-carry average: Texas' Jamaal Charles at 8.8 and Arkansas State's Antonio Warren at 8.73. Forsett has a dazzling running style that features his speed and extraordinary balance. Forsett is only 5-8 and 180 pounds. He makes his yards by spinning and darting without losing stride. "We're not surprised by what he's done," Cal offensive tackle Sean O'Callaghan said. "We see him do it all the time in practice." As with the rest of Forsett's story, there is an unusual aspect to his performance: He is not the starter. Cal lists Marshawn Lynch as the starter. Lynch is the prototypical running back: three inches taller and 35 pounds heavier than Forsett. Lynch has missed three starts this season: two because of an injury and one because of a violation of team rules. Despite Forsett's production, Tedford does not plan on changing the arrangement. That is fine with Forsett, who has developed a good relationship with Lynch. And Forsett appreciates Tedford's honesty. In Cal's second game, Forsett ran into the coach who misled him. Willingham now coaches Washington. Forsett had 11 carries for 77 yards in the win over the Huskies but insisted he was not carrying out a vendetta. "I don't hold grudges," Forsett said. "But I'd be lying if I said what happened doesn't drive me. People said I can't play at this level because of my size or whatever. I want to prove them wrong." That's a promise.
JUSTIN FORSETT
Age: Turns 20 on Friday
Hometown: Arlington
High school career: Ran for 4,915 yards and 63 touchdowns in two seasons at Arlington Grace Prep. ... Had 2,560 yards and 38 touchdowns in senior season as Grace won its second consecutive 4A TAPPS state championship. ... Named first-team all-state.
College career: Has had three 100-yard games in sophomore season with Cal. That includes 235 yards on 31 carries in win over New Mexico State. ... Continued a streak during which Cal has had at least one 100-yard rusher in 18 consecutive games.
Personal: Parents Rodney and Albertina. ... Working toward a degree in sports marketing.
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