By Sydney Williams
Staff Writer

Junior running back Charles West, who has played football for a total of 11 years, has a lot to look forward to in his upcoming school year. College coaches are lining up to sell their programs to West, in the hopes that he will don their school’s colors in two years. Currently West is looking at UCLA, LSU, Oregon, University of Florida, Texas Tech, TCU, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, and Arkansas. I sat down with West to know a little more about him on and off the field.

Q: Who inspired you to start playing football?

A: My cousin [Dallas Cowboys starting cornerback] Morris Claiborne. I grew up with him, and seeing him play made me want to play.

Q: When did you start playing on varsity, and how has that shaped how you play now?

A: I was officially on varsity the end of my freshmen year, but actually played my sophomore year. It’s given me the early experience, and getting used to how much faster the game is. The plays are so much different and complicated. So much practice, but it also puts me at an advantage at a young age.

Q: Who motivates you to keep going at all costs and how has that influenced your high school football career?

A: Really my family members and my mom. The thrive to keep pushing is great, and I have big dreams.

Q: What are your dreams?

A: To play in the NFL. That’s my goal.

Q: What is your dream school?

A: LSU. LSU’s been my dream school, since I can ever remember, but they have so many recruits. I want to go where Its already a definite, “you’re going to be on the field right away”. I’ll compete, I just want it to be a definite, “you’re going to play.”

Q: What colleges have you visited so far?

A: Well I couldn’t [start] college visits until Sept. 1 (official start date for recruiting process for high school juniors), but that’s passed, so not that much for now. But I went to Baylor last weekend, and talked to a lot of colleges.

Q: What are you looking for in the colleges when making your decision?

A: [I want to go to a place where] the coaches would love me for who I am, and try to put me on the field right away. I want to play as soon as possible.

Q: What are your top three?

A: UCLA, LSU, and Oregon.

Q: What is your favorite NFL team?

A: My favorite team right now is the [Philadelphia] Eagles because of Michael Vick. He’s one of the greatest to live. He overcame his adversity. It’s about overcoming your adversity.

Q: What advice has coach Joe McBride and the others coaches told you about the recruiting process?

A: “The first main rule is never sign a piece of paper from a scout.” My running back coach, coach [Shawn] Sparks, also says I need to look for getting on the field right away. That’s the main goal.

Q: How many recruitment letters have you received per day?

A: Anywhere from 15-20 a day from school and home. I get them in my mail at home, and they send the letters here [at] school.

Q: How has this motivated you even more?

A: Getting those letters, it makes me think I have a chance, and make sure that it’s definite that i achieve my goals.

Q: How have you remained humble from the success you have had?

A: Just keeping my head on straight, and keep working hard and never take the comments I’ve been having get to my head. I understand I do good things, but okay since I’ve done those things, I have to keep striving and moving ahead.

Q: What are your plans for your future?

A: I plan to go to college and major in business if football doesn’t work out, and then go to the NFL, save all my money for a good seven years like don’t spend any money. Just give me a small apartment and a nice car, and keep healthy and make more money, and by that time I’ll probably have a couple hundred million saved up. Then I’m going to invest into a casino, retire from the NFL, and buy a nice house and live life.

Q: What is something nobody knows about you?

A: I cook and eat shrimp everyday. It’s kind of ironic. I love shrimp.

Q: Why shrimp?

A: My grandma used to make it all the time and now [that] she’s not with me [anymore], when I’m eating shrimp it makes me feel like she’s there.

Q: What are you most excited about in playing Allen?

A: Well there’s a big rivalry going on because we beat them last year and they won state, and the state doesn’t believe we can beat them, and I want to prove everyone wrong. So I’m most excited about the competition level and rising above the opponent.