Kevin Jones and Carnell "Cadillac" Williams deserved this.

After months of enduring endless phone calls, boxes of letters, meetings with coaches and time after time having to answer the same question -- "Well, have you decided yet?" -- it was their chance to shine.

The Life of a Recruit

In a typical season, they can expect thousands of pieces of mail, hundreds of media guides, countless phone calls and enough advice to make an 18-year-old's head spin. Being a top high school player ensures the nation's best recruiters will be in touch. ESPN.com takes you inside the recruiting process with a look at what happens on a recruiting visit as well as what it takes to be a great recruiter. Also, ESPN.com recruiting analyst Tom Lemming breaks down the best recruiters in the country and lists the head coaches who are the best at closing the deal.

So who could blame Jones, the nation's top running back from Cardinal O'Hara (Pa.) High School, and Williams, the fourth-ranked running back in the country from Etowah (Ala.) High School, for enjoying their moment.

The press conferences, where Jones and Williams announced their verbal commitments to colleges, were media events right out of Vince McMahon's playbook -- complete with everything from hype to nicknames to TV cameras to foreign objects.

But while the press conferences were flashy, the decision process was hard work. It's one of the toughest decisions anyone can make and these two were doing it under a microscope. Everyone from visiting coaches to friends and neighbors to reporters to other recruits were watching and waiting for the decision.

And while the decisions aren't final until national signing day on February 7, Williams and Jones didn't just draw a name out of a hat. This was a long, carefully thought out process for the two prep All-American running backs. Ironically, when one strips away everything (the graduation rates, the different sales pitches, the pressures from locals to say home), Jones and Williams arrived at their decision for the same exact reason: They both picked the school that they believe will do the best job of preparing them for the NFL.

Philadelphia freedom
At his January 25th news conference at Cardinal O'Hara High School in suburban Philadelphia, Jones, the most highly recruited running back in the nation, entered the room with a black Reebok gym bag. Once he sat down at the podium with his mom, dad and two grandfathers, Jones started the show, saying: "I've been going back and forth between Penn State and Virginia Tech, my two schools."

He then sighed deeply, for effect, of course -- which drew a reassuring pat on the back from his father Tom. "It's been so much pressure, but right now my decision is. . ."

Jones then reached into his black bag and tossed a Penn State jersey on to the table in front of him and said: "Not Penn State."

	Kevin Jones disappointed the home state fans by choosing Virginia Tech over Penn State.

The reaction from the stunned pro-Penn State crowd ranged from "ooooo" to "ah, maaaann" as Jones told the assembled students, media and faculty that his choice was Virginia Tech, as he peeled off his blue sweater to reveal a Michael Vick No.7 Tech jersey -- a jersey that Hokies coach Frank Beamer said that the prize running back can wear, if he wants.

"I had to do what was best for me," Jones said. "They (Penn State coaches) were kind of disappointed. They were mad at me. They wanted me to go to Penn State."

Why Virginia Tech? Jones said the Hokies have been in the picture since the very beginning. He enjoyed his official visit in December when he hung out with Hokies quarterback Michael Vick, who recently declared his eligibility for the NFL draft. Jones said the Hokies coaches have promised him that he can wear No. 7, the number worn by Vick, next season. He is not sure if he will wear it yet.

After saying that he just "felt most at home" in Blacksburg and with the Tech players, Jones and his father Tom, the strength coach at Cardinal O'Hara High, said that the runner openly dreams of a professional career and wondered if the grueling Big Ten schedule might prevent that.

"I know that a lot of the running backs at Penn State went to the NFL," Jones said, "but they didn't really do too much because of the wear and tear of playing in the Big Ten and going against Michigan and Ohio State every week. There are games like that (in the Big East), but there aren't wars like that every week."

Tom Jones reiterated that theme, talking about how recent Big Ten runners such as Ron Dayne and Curtis Enis or even workhorse backs from other major conferences like Arizona Cardinals rookie Thomas Jones (University of Virginia) had taken a beating in college and haven't been as good in the NFL as runners who shared the load in college like Indianapolis Colts star Edgerrin James did at Miami (Fla.).

At best, the 6-1, 208-pound Jones, who has been compared to a young Herschel Walker or Bo Jackson because of his blend of size and speed (4.23 in the 40), will play second fiddle to Tech's touchdown-maker Lee Suggs (1,280 yards, NCAA-best 30 rushing TDs last season) next fall. But that's OK, according to Tom Jones.

"Lee Suggs is a great, great running back, but so is my son," said Tom Jones. "They'll push each other to be even better players. And with Frank Beamer splitting up the carries, their careers will be extended. Coach Beamer has done that in the past and it's worked. Ken Oxendine is now in the NFL and so is (1999 Tech star) Shyrone Stith, who split time with Suggs two years ago. Lee Suggs will play in the league too and will be a fresher back after having split the carries with Andre Kendrick this past year and with my son in future years."

The younger Jones also spent of a large chunck of his press conference saying that he preferred the Hokies' weight-training and speed-training programs because they are similar to the ones he uses.

"Our stuff works," said Tom Jones, who is the strength coach at O'Hara and works out with his son. "Virginia Tech does it. Penn State does not. That's an issue."

Tom Jones said the Hokies use a speed-training program year-round while Penn State uses it in the offseason. Jones, who uses a speed-training regimen made popular by 1968 Olympic sprinter Tommie Smith, wants to maintain his 4.23-second, 40-yard dash speed in college even after putting on weight, so that he can run track too. Jones, who runs 100 meters in 10.2 seconds, preferred the Hokies' track program over that of Penn State too.

Virginia Tech had other selling points, according to Jones. The Hokies finished 11-1 last season and were ranked No. 6 in the final Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN polls, while Penn State was 5-7 last year and has a 74-year-old coach in Paterno, who may or may not be in State College by the time Jones' career is over. Beamer, meanwhile, turned down Alabama this offseason and is unlikely to leave his alma mater.

But how quickly Jones, who rushed for 5,730 and 84 TDs at O'Hara, plays could depend on how he scores on the SAT. He said he is committed to achieving the NCAA-required 900 score and took extra SAT courses last summer and again this winter. He has scored 820 and took the test again last Saturday. He said his classroom grades should be no problem.

Staying home
While Jones went with the end-around approach, "The Cadillac" was more direct. This past Monday, he strode into a musty Etowah High School gymnasium and pulled back a slick, black coat, revealing a blue-and-white No. 24 Auburn jersey. His decision to commit to the in-state team (the opposite of what Jones did) drove the estimated crowd of 1,000 strong into a tizzy.

	Carnell "Cadillac" Williams said he will play for Auburn next season.

Planting a white Auburn cap on his head, Williams, perhaps the state of Alabama's best 2001 recruit, morphed into a giddy cheerleader, throwing miniature Auburn Tiger footballs to the gathered crowd like a over-pepped halftime attraction.

While Jones' decision was unaffected by Vick's decision to go pro early, Williams' college decision was the direct result of an Auburn player's early entry decision. Before SEC rushing champion Rudi Johnson declared early for the NFL draft, Williams admitted, Auburn wasn't even on his radar screen.

"They were recruiting me, but I showed no interest," Williams said. "They had Rudi. I just felt like fine, it's Tennessee, Alabama, those will be my two schools."

Williams verbally committed to Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer after an official visit, and Auburn's chances got even slimmer. Until Rudi left.

"I called Coach (Tuberville) when I got home from Tennessee," Williams said. "I told him I'm not taking any visits. But I welcomed him into my home, and gave him a chance at my heart."

Then, during a two-hour visit in Williams' living room, Tuberville did a masterful spin job, turning the Cadillac completely around with the help of six other AU coaches. By the end of the night, Williams agreed to take a campus visit, and the chain of events that led to Monday's announcement was set in motion.

"He made some key points, about early playing time, what they're looking for, what they need," Williams said. "I want to go in and play, so that's a great opportunity for me."

Williams had an enjoyable visit to the Plains, which included seeing a "past, present and future" highlight film with his clips spliced with those of Bo Jackson, Stephen Davis and Rudi Johnson. He also said Auburn super-imposed his body onto a picture of a player holding the Heisman Trophy.

Williams said that Tennessee's pursuit of numerous blue-chip backs like Jabari Davis of Stone Mountain, Ga., and DeArrius Howard of West Memphis, Ark., was enough to scare him away.

And despite a weekend visit and a lifelong affection, Alabama ran a distant third because of questions over NCAA violations.

"I want to do what's best for me," Williams said. "(Auburn's) what's best for me. I can get immediate playing time at Auburn. In a way, signing three, four backs (hurt UT). Not that I'm afraid of competition. But I didn't want to put myself in a position that I have to compete year in, year out."

Williams said his father, Aaron Turner, played a major role in keeping things sane while Williams decided.

"Pressure was getting to me, so I had to sit down and think things over," Williams said. "I told him I was getting too many phone calls, I told him, 'Handle it. Let me lay there at night and think about things.'"

Williams' commitment solidifies an Auburn class that might be a top-10 finisher in the recruiting wars before all is said and done next week. In 2000, Williams rushed for 1,738 yards and 20 touchdowns, following up a junior campaign where he rushed for 2,627 yards and 35 touchdowns. It is also a major victory for Tuberville in the annual battle with Alabama to sign the most blue-chip prospects.

Until that paper is signed, though...
But all is not said and done yet.

Near the end of Monday's long session with reporters, one mentioned to Williams that Miami coach Butch Davis was leaving to coach the NFL's Cleveland Browns (which he did), and that Tuberville was allegedly the leading candidate to replace Davis (which Tuberville strongly refuted).

And the Cadillac shifted into neutral.

"That's a big concern," he said. "I wanted to go to a place where a coach is going to be stable. If that's going on ... I don't know."

Meanwhile, back at O'Hara, Jones' high school coach George Stratts knows that it ain't over til it's over in the Jones' sweepstakes. At least, not until signing day.

"The recruiters are not going to give up, even though these kids hold a press conference," said Stratts. "That's how these guys are. Until something is signed, they still think they have a shot. Guys that were eliminated a while ago still call."

Jones, of course, had an answer to that problem.

"I won't answer the phone for a while, that's all," said Jones.

Bill Doherty covers the Big East for ESPN.com.