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Piscataway's Davis, others high on Rutgers
By JOHN HALEY
Gannett New Jersey
A year ago, when Anthony Davis rattled off his list of possible college choices, the Piscataway High School senior casually mentioned Rutgers out of courtesy to coach Greg Schiano and his staff, who are frequent visitors to the Chiefs' sideline.
Nowadays, it's a lot more than casual. In fact, the state university has a legitimate shot at landing the 6-foot-6, 340-pounder, who is listed on more than one national Web site as the No. 1 offensive lineman in the country.
On Wednesday, when asked to list his top five choices in order, he said: "Ohio State, Rutgers, USC, Georgia and Miami."
"A year ago, Rutgers was not in my top 5," he added. "But now you can mention them in the same sentence as all the others, so it makes you think. When I was first offered by Rutgers at a young age, I was excited. But once I realized there were other schools out there interested, too, I became even more excited. But as I get close to making a choice, Rutgers is in the same boat as all the others right now."
Davis has set up visits for this month and next to Ohio State and USC. He will make his announcement Jan. 6 live on CBS during the U.S. Army All-Star Bowl Game.
The recent success of the Rutgers program -- a bowl game last year, an 8-0 mark this year -- has changed the mind set of potential recruits. Rutgers no longer is a school to mention just to be polite.
"No doubt," said Piscataway head coach Dan Higgins, who has two starting linebackers playing for Rutgers in Devraun Thompson and Brandon Renkart.
"There's a big change. They are getting all this exposure on TV, and they're taking advantage of that exposure," Higgins added.
For years, the knock on Rutgers had been its inability to keep New Jersey kids at home. Currently, seven of the 13 players who have accepted scholarships from Rutgers are from Jersey. There should be more to follow.
"If I had to make a decision today, Rutgers would be my No. 1 choice," said standout Somerville running back Mason Robinson, who also has been offered scholarships from Michigan State, Boston College, Vanderbilt, Iowa, Minnesota, Virginia and Colorado. "Coach Schiano and his staff tell you the truth. And everything he said is starting to fall into place. I just want to make sure, so I'll sit down with my family to decide."
"When I watched them against UConn the other night, I was watching the defense fly to the ball and I was wishing I was out there," said Evan Rodriguez of North Bergen, a 6-3, 200-pounder who is being recruited as a free safety. "Rutgers offered me last year, and I'm definitely more serious about them now because they're doing so well and going to bowl games. Right now, West Virginia, Rutgers and Pitt are my top three choices."
With 25 scholarships to give out per class, the Knights have 12 remaining. In years past, the final few spots would go to second-tier guys. Now, all the spots could be filled with elite players because of the enormous success.
"Typically at this point, Rutgers would have six or seven commitments," said Don Forbes of www.stateofrutgers.com, which is part of the Scout Network. "And right now, they don't have interest from just the best kids in the state, but from around the country. Antwain Easterling (running back) of Miami Northwestern and John Elliott (OT) of Fresh Meadows, N.Y., are two of the most highly touted players in the country and they have Rutgers listed among their top three.
"The success Rutgers is having now is a direct correlation to their recruiting success."
Aside from the 13 commitments, Rutgers also is keeping an eye on the future.
Locally, linebacker Eric LeGrand of Colonia, defensive back Brandon Smith of New Brunswick and wide receiver DeJuan Miller of Metuchen have been offered scholarships as juniors. Coaches from Rutgers also are expected to be in attendance tonight in Carteret to check out junior wide receiver Brian Williams.
"I've been offered from Rutgers, but I was invited to Virginia and Maryland already, and coaches from Michigan and Miami have made arrangements to visit me here," LeGrand said. "I won't make my choice for a while, but Rutgers is moving up higher and higher on my list. I was at the UConn game, and I was imagining myself on that field, playing in front of my family and friends in a sold out stadium."
Piscataway's Higgins has two players at Rutgers. But he also has Malcolm Jenkins starting at cornerback for No. 1 Ohio State.
"I'm so proud watching Malcolm holding down the corner at Ohio State," Higgins said. "But I'll tell you, when they show the graphic on the screen of Devraun and Brandon, I get chills. New Jersey football has always been outstanding. To see the players from New Jersey take a program like Rutgers to a national level is just exposing New Jersey football for what it is."
Added J.P. Stevens coach Frank Zarro, who has two players on the Rutgers roster in Jeremy Zuttah and Anthony Miller, "Every place you look, there's a story about Rutgers. Everyone wants to play for a winner. Everyone wants to play for a program which goes to a bowl game every year. I think the success they're having is going to keep kids home to play in their own back yard."
Piscataway's Davis, others high on Rutgers
By JOHN HALEY
Gannett New Jersey
A year ago, when Anthony Davis rattled off his list of possible college choices, the Piscataway High School senior casually mentioned Rutgers out of courtesy to coach Greg Schiano and his staff, who are frequent visitors to the Chiefs' sideline.
Nowadays, it's a lot more than casual. In fact, the state university has a legitimate shot at landing the 6-foot-6, 340-pounder, who is listed on more than one national Web site as the No. 1 offensive lineman in the country.
On Wednesday, when asked to list his top five choices in order, he said: "Ohio State, Rutgers, USC, Georgia and Miami."
"A year ago, Rutgers was not in my top 5," he added. "But now you can mention them in the same sentence as all the others, so it makes you think. When I was first offered by Rutgers at a young age, I was excited. But once I realized there were other schools out there interested, too, I became even more excited. But as I get close to making a choice, Rutgers is in the same boat as all the others right now."
Davis has set up visits for this month and next to Ohio State and USC. He will make his announcement Jan. 6 live on CBS during the U.S. Army All-Star Bowl Game.
The recent success of the Rutgers program -- a bowl game last year, an 8-0 mark this year -- has changed the mind set of potential recruits. Rutgers no longer is a school to mention just to be polite.
"No doubt," said Piscataway head coach Dan Higgins, who has two starting linebackers playing for Rutgers in Devraun Thompson and Brandon Renkart.
"There's a big change. They are getting all this exposure on TV, and they're taking advantage of that exposure," Higgins added.
For years, the knock on Rutgers had been its inability to keep New Jersey kids at home. Currently, seven of the 13 players who have accepted scholarships from Rutgers are from Jersey. There should be more to follow.
"If I had to make a decision today, Rutgers would be my No. 1 choice," said standout Somerville running back Mason Robinson, who also has been offered scholarships from Michigan State, Boston College, Vanderbilt, Iowa, Minnesota, Virginia and Colorado. "Coach Schiano and his staff tell you the truth. And everything he said is starting to fall into place. I just want to make sure, so I'll sit down with my family to decide."
"When I watched them against UConn the other night, I was watching the defense fly to the ball and I was wishing I was out there," said Evan Rodriguez of North Bergen, a 6-3, 200-pounder who is being recruited as a free safety. "Rutgers offered me last year, and I'm definitely more serious about them now because they're doing so well and going to bowl games. Right now, West Virginia, Rutgers and Pitt are my top three choices."
With 25 scholarships to give out per class, the Knights have 12 remaining. In years past, the final few spots would go to second-tier guys. Now, all the spots could be filled with elite players because of the enormous success.
"Typically at this point, Rutgers would have six or seven commitments," said Don Forbes of www.stateofrutgers.com, which is part of the Scout Network. "And right now, they don't have interest from just the best kids in the state, but from around the country. Antwain Easterling (running back) of Miami Northwestern and John Elliott (OT) of Fresh Meadows, N.Y., are two of the most highly touted players in the country and they have Rutgers listed among their top three.
"The success Rutgers is having now is a direct correlation to their recruiting success."
Aside from the 13 commitments, Rutgers also is keeping an eye on the future.
Locally, linebacker Eric LeGrand of Colonia, defensive back Brandon Smith of New Brunswick and wide receiver DeJuan Miller of Metuchen have been offered scholarships as juniors. Coaches from Rutgers also are expected to be in attendance tonight in Carteret to check out junior wide receiver Brian Williams.
"I've been offered from Rutgers, but I was invited to Virginia and Maryland already, and coaches from Michigan and Miami have made arrangements to visit me here," LeGrand said. "I won't make my choice for a while, but Rutgers is moving up higher and higher on my list. I was at the UConn game, and I was imagining myself on that field, playing in front of my family and friends in a sold out stadium."
Piscataway's Higgins has two players at Rutgers. But he also has Malcolm Jenkins starting at cornerback for No. 1 Ohio State.
"I'm so proud watching Malcolm holding down the corner at Ohio State," Higgins said. "But I'll tell you, when they show the graphic on the screen of Devraun and Brandon, I get chills. New Jersey football has always been outstanding. To see the players from New Jersey take a program like Rutgers to a national level is just exposing New Jersey football for what it is."
Added J.P. Stevens coach Frank Zarro, who has two players on the Rutgers roster in Jeremy Zuttah and Anthony Miller, "Every place you look, there's a story about Rutgers. Everyone wants to play for a winner. Everyone wants to play for a program which goes to a bowl game every year. I think the success they're having is going to keep kids home to play in their own back yard."
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OregonBuckeye
Semper Fi Buckeyes
osugrad21;651184; said:
Was that just a typo or is it really being shown on CBS instead of NBC?
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Alex Boone fan
#1 Alex Boone Fan
Maybe they should bring him in for a real taste of Ohio State for the Ohio State vs MichiScum game. Rutgers cannot compete at that level
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rolemodel247
Senior
so this is looking more and more like osu v rutgers? wouldn't certain factors indicate that rutgers should be VERY positive right now?
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tlinc
All-American
I would agree that this looks like it is coming down to Rutgers-OSU, which means I will be an interested observer in the offseason rumor mill as Schiano would have to be considered a favorite for the Miami job if it was to come open. I just hope that Schiano makes his intentions known before signing day.
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BGriffBuckeye
Haaaang on Sloopy, Sloopy Hang on!! O.. H.. I.. O.
Yes, Rutgers is pretty good now, but can you really expect them to do this over a long period of time?
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Alex Boone fan
#1 Alex Boone Fan
Why is everyone ruling out Florida? He said it was Ohio, Rutgers and Florida. He pretty much ruled out USC and Miami for what that's worth. Boys, we are still in the ballgame with 2 other schools and I don't trust either one of them.
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crazybuckfan40
Head Coach
I think with the fact that he has claimed us as the team out in front. Then the fact that he has a old high school teammate here, the fact that we are the number one team in the country, and the fact that Rutgers is still Rutgers is the reason why many feel confident in landing him.
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Rutgers is not just Rutgers.... Schiano oozes with class and football smarts...
but OSU is tOSU... and Jim Tressel is... well JIM TRESSEL...
Davis can't lose in this one... He wins either way...
It's a two-horse race...
He will wear SCARLET next year...
but most Jerseyites I talk to think he also will wear GRAY
BTW... this is not a big man... this is a HUGE man... HUGE... like almost Ted Washington huge...
pretty sure he was a test tube baby made at the Caterpillar earthmover plant
but OSU is tOSU... and Jim Tressel is... well JIM TRESSEL...
Davis can't lose in this one... He wins either way...
It's a two-horse race...
He will wear SCARLET next year...
but most Jerseyites I talk to think he also will wear GRAY
BTW... this is not a big man... this is a HUGE man... HUGE... like almost Ted Washington huge...
pretty sure he was a test tube baby made at the Caterpillar earthmover plant
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crazybuckfan40
Head Coach
NJ-Buckeye;654618; said:
I have no problem with their coach or program. I am just saying that Rutgers is a team that commmonly finishes their seasons on the bottom of the Big Least. They maybe on the up and up, but if you tell someone they have a chance to play at Rutgers or tOSU, 95% or more tell you that is a no brainer.
The thing with Davis is that it is in his backyard. If tOSU or Florida was located there we would already know where he is going.
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westbuck04
Wildcard, b*tches
Watch out for Miami if Schiano is offered and accepts the job...the Canes were his favorite before they fell apart this year.
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