Publication: San Antonio Express – News
Date: January 23, 1991
Page: 7C
Marshall’s Villarreal to play football at SWT Staff Special Marshall running back V.J. Villarreal, who rushed for 3,330 yards in three varsity seasons, has given an oral commitment to sign a football scholarship with Southwest Texas State.
Villarreal, 5-foot-9, 195 pounds, made his decision after visiting the SWT campus in San Marcos over the weekend.
“I like the offense they run and they have a good business program,” Villarreal said Tuesday. “I’m going into business and they have one of the best business departments in the state. “They spent $1 million on their library. I was impressed with the academics and the football.”
The SWT visit was the first of the recruiting campaign for Villarreal, who also is being recruited by Texas Tech, Kansas State and Northwestern. “I don’t think I’m going to take any more visits,” Villarreal said. “I’m pretty comfortable with my decision.” National signing day for NCAA schools is Feb. 6.
V.J. Villarreal said he grew up dreaming of playing at the University of Texas, but wasn’t recruited by the Longhorns.
“I’ve always been a Longhorn, but I am very satisfied with SWT,” he said. “I wanted to play Division I football, but maybe that’s not for me.” SWT competes at the Division I-AA level in football and is a member of the Southland Conference. The Bobcats finished 6-5 last year, their first under head coach Dennis Franchione.
Villarreal rushed for 1,437 yards and nine touchdowns last season, when Marshall lost to Judson 49-30 in the state quarterfinals and finished 10-4. The game determined the Greater San Antonio championship. The season was the most successful in school history for the Rams, who featured a run-oriented offense fueled by Villarreal, fullback Nick Monreal and tailback Anthony Holmes.
“Southwest Texas runs kind of what we used in high school, so it won’t be that much of a transition for me,” Villarreal said. Villarreal, who has 4.5 speed in the 40, is expected to play fullback.
Villarreal, one of the top sprinters in the area during track season, was a first-team running back on the Express-News’ Greater San Antonio team.
Asked what he will remember about his schoolboy career, Villarreal said, “Playing on the best Marshall team in the history of the school, and playing in the city championship game. I’ll never forget that.”
