Mountain Island Charter School wide receiver Eric Gallman announced Monday he will play Division I college football at Cornell University. Here are some fast facts on the Raptors wide receiver and the Cornell football program.
Eric Gallman II
Career stats: 122 receptions, 2,090 yards, 13 touchdowns. Gallman played his first two years at SouthLake Christian School, where he was a factor at wide receiver right away and helped his team to a state championship in 2014. Since arriving at Mountain Island Charter, he’s continued to play at a high level as a big-play threat on the outside.
Intended major: Business
List: Besides Cornell, Gallman was considering a list of schools which included Davidson College, Akron University, Harvard University, Princeton University and other Ivy League schools.
Gallman on how much of his decision was related to academics: “Football played definitely a big role in it and so did academics as well. An Ivy League education is second to none. Once you go there, you’re pretty much straight for life and it allows you to just meet new people, interact with people and set yourself up in a way that’s different from everyone else. So it’s a great combination with academics and a great relationship with the football coaching staff, a great opportunity there, it was hard to turn down.”
Gallman on his visit to Ithaca: “It’s one of the most beautiful places to be. There’s mountains, lakes, the sights are just amazing. I went up there, kind of just fell in love, saw the coaching staff, they sold me on what their program is about, showed me their offense and how I could be used in it. I had a great relationship with the coaching staff and had a good time.”
Notes: Gallman’s father, also named Eric Gallman, walked onto the Penn State football team in the 1990s. The elder Gallman was awarded a partial scholarship from the engineering school to attend Penn State and was put on full scholarship by coach Joe Paterno as a fifth-year senior in 1995. He received his only carry — for a gain of two yards — as a fifth-year senior in a blowout win over Temple on Sept. 16, 1995.
Cornell Football
League: Ivy
Coach: David Archer, 3rd season. When the Big Red hired Archer before the 2013 season, he was the youngest coach in college football at age 29. Archer is a 2005 Cornell grad who played offensive line for the Big Red from 2001 to 2004.
2015 record: 1-9 (1-6 Ivy League). The Cornell football program has fallen on tough times over the last few seasons. Their last winning season was 2005, when they went 6-4 and 4-3 in Ivy League play. Gallman said he’s encouraged by the new facilities, the enthusiasm of the coaching staff, and the program-wide commitment to “changing the culture” in Ithaca.