Fat Cat Top Five
Top Five RU position battles of the spring
5.) Wide receiver
4.) Defensive end
3.) Strong safety
2.) Linebacker
1.) Quarterback
Bobby’s Crystal Ball
Rutgers next commit will not come until mid-January
Coaching News
There is a new name to emerge as a potential new hire for Chris Ash and that is Adam Caltury, who was brought onto the Ohio State staff as a recruiting assistant in 2014. Caltury is a former high school offensive coordinator who coached high profile recruits Robert Foster (Alabama) and Jordan Whitehead (Pitt). It is unclear as to what Caltury’s specific duties will be under Ash, although it would be expected to be in the recruiting office.
Recruiting Tidbits
ATH KJ Gray – St. Peter’s Prep
The recent Boston College decommit is open and looking around with Rutgers as one of the many schools he is interested in. Gray received a call from the new Rutgers head coach Chris Ash earlier this week and Scarlet Nation.com has learned that Gray has become a true target for the new staff after he was cooled on during the Kyle Flood regime. Gray presents versatility and it seems as though Ash and staff are circling back through some past targets who can provide inroads at some of the most talented schools in the area.
WR Kelvin Harmon – Palmyra
The former South Carolina commitment is warming up to Rutgers again under the new staff and Harmon has told ScarletNation.com that he is intrigued by the new offensive Rutgers is expected to run. Another important thing to note is that while Harmon’s good friend, Pennsylvania QB Brandon McIllwain, has decided to forgo the MLB draft and enroll early at South Carolina to play both sports. Harmon is still open in his recruitment and drifting further away from the Gamecocks.
DB KJ Sails - East Bay (Fla.)
The Florida defensive back target told ScarletNation.com that the transfer of high school teammate Marques Ford out of Rutgers will have no effect on his interest in the Scarlet Knights, who jumped back into the mix when Ash was hired. Sails is expected to release his final list later today.
LB Dymelle Parker - Camden
The South Jersey Linebacker who was an early target of the previous staff before they met their needs at the position recently parted ways with Syracuse as ScarletNation.com was told he wasn’t a fit for their new defensive scheme. Parker has an official visit scheduled to Indiana for January and he told ScarletNation.com that he is still interested in Rutgers. Right now it appears that Rutgers isn’t actively recruiting Parker, but that could change, especially after Steve Longa’s decision to enter the NFL Draft.
WR Isaiah Wright - Kingswood Oxford (Conn.)
ScarletNation.com has learned that Wright will take his official visit to Rutgers on January 29th. While there has been no word of a decommitment, Wright and his family are looking to spend time with the new coaching staff as they developed a strong bond with Ben McDaniels on the previous staff. It is a plus that Rutgers will have the last visit here to solidify the commitment. Wright has already taken an official visit to Temple.
OL Yasir Durant – Imhotep (Pa.)
After reporting last week that Rutgers hadn’t made contact with the class of 2016 Philadelphia OL target, tt appears as though the new staff is starting to reach out to Durant. Durant told ScarletNation.com that he only has an official visit to San Diego State set for January 22nd at this point
WR Taysir Mack – Grand Street Campus (NYC)
Grand Street Campus head coach Bruce Eugene told ScarletNation.com that Mack is very excited about the hiring of Houston WR coach Drew Mehringer as Rutgers’ new offensive coordinator. Eugene says that Mack is excited to play in that high-octane power spread offense which is very similar to the offensive system run at Grand Street Campus
Three names to keep an eye on
TE Mark Michaud – Avon Old Farms (Conn.)
Michaud picked up the game of football during his junior year at Paramus Catholic and ended his senior season with offers from Purdue and Buffalo, which were pulled after a knee injury Michaud suffered during a post-season car accident. Syracuse offered when he decided to do a prep season, but that offer was pulled by the new staff at the school. Rutgers was keeping a close eye on his progress at Avon as Michaud slimmed down to play wide receiver. A great athlete with ties to a major talent producing program in NJ, Michaud could be one to watch.
FS Justin Philip – Grand Street Campus (N.Y.)
Philip was on the verge of a Rutgers offer under the old staff and is a big hitter at 6-foot, 190 pounds. Grand Street head coach Bruce Eugene informed ScarletNation.com that he has had discussions with Chris Ash about Philip so this could be a name to watch over the next month.
DE Andre Mintze – Imhotep (Pa.)
A teammate of targets Yasir Durant and JohnCarlo Valentin, Mintze has a number of smaller offers and the 6-foot-3, 220 pounder had a standout performance when ScarletNation.com saw him live against QB commit Anthony Russo and Archbishop Wood last month en route to a state title. Academics aren’t an issue here as he told ScarletNation.com that Stanford is involved and Rutgers DL coach Jim Panagos just recently initiated contact with him. Mintze has visited Rutgers multiple times in the past year.
Top Five RU position battles of the spring
5.) Wide receiver
4.) Defensive end
3.) Strong safety
2.) Linebacker
1.) Quarterback
Bobby’s Crystal Ball
Rutgers next commit will not come until mid-January
Coaching News
There is a new name to emerge as a potential new hire for Chris Ash and that is Adam Caltury, who was brought onto the Ohio State staff as a recruiting assistant in 2014. Caltury is a former high school offensive coordinator who coached high profile recruits Robert Foster (Alabama) and Jordan Whitehead (Pitt). It is unclear as to what Caltury’s specific duties will be under Ash, although it would be expected to be in the recruiting office.
Recruiting Tidbits
ATH KJ Gray – St. Peter’s Prep
The recent Boston College decommit is open and looking around with Rutgers as one of the many schools he is interested in. Gray received a call from the new Rutgers head coach Chris Ash earlier this week and Scarlet Nation.com has learned that Gray has become a true target for the new staff after he was cooled on during the Kyle Flood regime. Gray presents versatility and it seems as though Ash and staff are circling back through some past targets who can provide inroads at some of the most talented schools in the area.
WR Kelvin Harmon – Palmyra
The former South Carolina commitment is warming up to Rutgers again under the new staff and Harmon has told ScarletNation.com that he is intrigued by the new offensive Rutgers is expected to run. Another important thing to note is that while Harmon’s good friend, Pennsylvania QB Brandon McIllwain, has decided to forgo the MLB draft and enroll early at South Carolina to play both sports. Harmon is still open in his recruitment and drifting further away from the Gamecocks.
DB KJ Sails - East Bay (Fla.)
The Florida defensive back target told ScarletNation.com that the transfer of high school teammate Marques Ford out of Rutgers will have no effect on his interest in the Scarlet Knights, who jumped back into the mix when Ash was hired. Sails is expected to release his final list later today.
LB Dymelle Parker - Camden
The South Jersey Linebacker who was an early target of the previous staff before they met their needs at the position recently parted ways with Syracuse as ScarletNation.com was told he wasn’t a fit for their new defensive scheme. Parker has an official visit scheduled to Indiana for January and he told ScarletNation.com that he is still interested in Rutgers. Right now it appears that Rutgers isn’t actively recruiting Parker, but that could change, especially after Steve Longa’s decision to enter the NFL Draft.
WR Isaiah Wright - Kingswood Oxford (Conn.)
ScarletNation.com has learned that Wright will take his official visit to Rutgers on January 29th. While there has been no word of a decommitment, Wright and his family are looking to spend time with the new coaching staff as they developed a strong bond with Ben McDaniels on the previous staff. It is a plus that Rutgers will have the last visit here to solidify the commitment. Wright has already taken an official visit to Temple.
OL Yasir Durant – Imhotep (Pa.)
After reporting last week that Rutgers hadn’t made contact with the class of 2016 Philadelphia OL target, tt appears as though the new staff is starting to reach out to Durant. Durant told ScarletNation.com that he only has an official visit to San Diego State set for January 22nd at this point
WR Taysir Mack – Grand Street Campus (NYC)
Grand Street Campus head coach Bruce Eugene told ScarletNation.com that Mack is very excited about the hiring of Houston WR coach Drew Mehringer as Rutgers’ new offensive coordinator. Eugene says that Mack is excited to play in that high-octane power spread offense which is very similar to the offensive system run at Grand Street Campus
Three names to keep an eye on
TE Mark Michaud – Avon Old Farms (Conn.)
Michaud picked up the game of football during his junior year at Paramus Catholic and ended his senior season with offers from Purdue and Buffalo, which were pulled after a knee injury Michaud suffered during a post-season car accident. Syracuse offered when he decided to do a prep season, but that offer was pulled by the new staff at the school. Rutgers was keeping a close eye on his progress at Avon as Michaud slimmed down to play wide receiver. A great athlete with ties to a major talent producing program in NJ, Michaud could be one to watch.
FS Justin Philip – Grand Street Campus (N.Y.)
Philip was on the verge of a Rutgers offer under the old staff and is a big hitter at 6-foot, 190 pounds. Grand Street head coach Bruce Eugene informed ScarletNation.com that he has had discussions with Chris Ash about Philip so this could be a name to watch over the next month.
DE Andre Mintze – Imhotep (Pa.)
A teammate of targets Yasir Durant and JohnCarlo Valentin, Mintze has a number of smaller offers and the 6-foot-3, 220 pounder had a standout performance when ScarletNation.com saw him live against QB commit Anthony Russo and Archbishop Wood last month en route to a state title. Academics aren’t an issue here as he told ScarletNation.com that Stanford is involved and Rutgers DL coach Jim Panagos just recently initiated contact with him. Mintze has visited Rutgers multiple times in the past year.
