WVU Commit Judah Price on Being Overlooked Nationally: ‘For Sure it Bothers Me’

Why hasn’t his dominance on the field earned Judah Price more respect? Well, that’s a question that WVSN asked the West Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year after he announced his commitment to WVU.

In 2022, his final high school season, Price (5-foot-8, 165 pounds) shattered several West Virginia state records at Independence High School. These included the most points scored in a season with 396. He scored a staggering 53 total touchdowns, with 49 of them coming on the ground. The Coal City native rushed for over 2,500 yards and even completed 39 two-point conversions.

Those are statistics commonly associated with three, four or even five star recruits. However, Price failed to earn stars of any kind from any of the major national recruiting outlets. His commitment to the Mountaineers is actually only as a preferred walk-on. So how does Price feel about having to prove himself worthy of being a Division I college player as a PWO?

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Price wasn’t shy about giving his opinion on the matter. “For sure it bothers me. I feel overlooked, but I feel confident I can play ball at this level. Gonna prove people wrong,” said Price, admitting he’s carrying a big chip on his shoulder about being ignored by major programs around the country.

Everything Happens for a Reason

Even though it’s surprising for a player to be named a Player of the Year in his state and then commit as a PWO, some point to West Virginia not being as much of a hotbed for high school football talent as other states. Others say it’s as simple as Price’s smaller size doesn’t translate to Division I football, especially as an offensive player. Price has a different opinion.

“Honestly, I’d say that people just haven’t heard about me. Another reason would be where we are located,” Price said to hint more of a West Virginia biased that worked against him.

The saying “everything happens for a reason” may apply to the Judah Price story. If he did garner the national praise like many others who dominate in high school, it’s possible he wouldn’t be staying in his home state for college. And for Price, becoming a Mountaineer is a lifelong dream come true, regardless of the path required to make it a reality.

No matter the reason (or reasons) that caused him to be overlooked, Price doesn’t plan to use it as an excuse. He does recognize he needs to build his body and work on his speed in order to get on the field and succeed at a Power Five school. With that said, Price also knows he can make it happen and believes his ability to be elusive and explosive can’t be taught.

Either way, doubters only seem to motivate Price more. And extra motivation often leads an athlete to achieving success.