Quotable
Chris Ash on the early signing period:
“What happened was this became national signing day. And there was a tremendous amount of pressure, which there always is, for coaches to go sign the best players that they can sign today. I know there's a signing period between today, Thursday and Friday. I don't think anyone was looking at it being a period. It was, this is signing day. And that's what it became. And there will still be players signed in February, but I think when you look at it, the pressure for coaches to go get the best players they can today, that happened. That was created over the course of time. That wasn't the theory behind having an early signing period. And I do think from a student-athlete standpoint there were a number of players that felt pressure to take the bird in hand and sign with somebody today or run the risk of not having a scholarship or ending up somewhere where they really don't want to be. I felt that a lot in this process, and again, I don't think that was the intention of the early signing period, but that's the reality of what happened.”
Fat Cat Top Five
Top Five Signees with best chances of playing as Freshmen
5.) Zihir Lacewell (Linebacker or Wide Receiver)
4.) Jalen Chatman (Quarterback)
3.) Avery Young (Defensive Back)
2.) Isaih Pacheco (Running Back)
1.) Adam Korsak (Punter)
Bobby’s Crystal Ball
Rutgers will sign more than 22 players in the incoming 2018 class
Recruiting Tidbits
Remaining Targets
Rutgers still has some more recruiting to do before actual signing day rolls around during the first week in February. Here is a look at some of the players who are still on the Rutgers board.
RB Dante Black (Brookwood – Ga.)
Rutgers does not seem to want to give up recruiting the state of Georgia. Last year, the staff began recruiting the area as wide receivers coach Jafar Williams recruited the state during his previous coaching stop at Purdue. Earlier this year, it resulted in two commitments from wide receiver EJ Turner and Jayden McDonald. Turner decommitted and McDonald did not sign on Wednesday.
This time around, Rutgers put Lester Erb has the point man on Black. Erb had conversations with Black leading up to signing day, claiming that if there is not another back signed after this early period, then he should expect to hear more from Rutgers. Erb also discussed the possibility for a potential official visit in January. Burke currently has FBS offers from some non-power five programs, including Army, Air Force and Central Michigan.
RB Jermar Jefferson (Narbonne, Calif.)
The running back is a teammate of RU quarterback signee Jalen Chatman and is still set to visit Rutgers in January. The biggest hurdle for Rutgers is convincing family members that the cross-country trek would be the right move for Jefferson. His other options are closer to home as he is considering San Jose State and Utah State as well.
TE Matt Alaimo (St. Joe’s Montvale- N.J.)
The Pitt decommit doesn’t have as many options as his offer list showed, although there are still available suitors out there. Rutgers is among those schools, although it will be interesting to see how the staff handles the numbers crunch. Jalen Jordan and Daevon Robinson both can play tight end or receiver and odds are that one will be assigned to each position at Rutgers. With a need for defensive linemen and another running back, it may not make as much sense to add another tight end. However, Alaimo is very talented. The new OC might have a say in how much Rutgers pursues Alaimo as it remains to be seen how tight end friendly next season’s Rutgers offense will be. Louisville may also be a later player in this one.
DE Kaymar Mimes (Long Branch – N.J.)
Mimes committed to Rutgers on Monday, but did not sign a letter of intent this week as Boston College and Pitt have jumped into the race. Even though Mimes is technically still a Rutgers commit, this one is not trending as well for Rutgers. However, things could change and that could depend on how much other programs start to pursue Mimes. Don’t expect the RU staff just to walk away on this one. A lot of time has been invested in Mimes, who remains a prime target for Rutgers.
RB Jon Hilliman (Boston College)
The former Rutgers commit will be eligible to be a grad transfer in 2018, although he still has one game left in the Pinstripe Bowl this week against Iowa. Hilliman took a backseat this year to freshman phenom AJ Dillon and is considering making a move. There is mutual interst between Hilliman and Rutgers as the move would be a nice fit for both parties. However, Hilliman cannot speak with the coaches until after the season, but don’t be surprised if those conversations pick up the pace in a hurry.
DE Ricky Williams Jr. (Blake – Fla.)
The Tampa product is scheduled to come up for a January official visit and one of the biggest factors in his recruitment is the impending arrival of his SAT scores. Should he make the grade, Rutgers may really turn things up.
LB Jayden McDonald (North Gwinnett – Ga.)
The Georgia linebacker did not sign, but keep in mind his season just finished up last week and he has not even taken an official visit to Rutgers. However, a strong senior season has caused other schools to take notice as Ole Miss and Kansas State just offered. McDonald is still committed to Rutgers, but the possibility of playing closer to home is something that could hurt Rutgers chances. But expect the RU coaching staff to stay on him.
DE Casey Rogers (Avon Old Farms - Conn.)
On the strength of a big senior season, Rogers is drawing interest from some major programs and officially visited Ohio State and Alabama. However, he does not have an offer from either of those schools. Should that stay true to form, Rutgers could sneak in and earn an official visit in January. Alabama is looking at him as a tight end. and Rutgers has talked about both defensive end and tight end. Rogers holds a Rutgers offer, in addition to others from Cal, Temple and Vanderbilt. However, he has the chance to see more offers come after the early signing period as coaches have a better idea of how many spots they have left.
DE David Nwaogwugwu (DWC Clinton – N.Y.)
The Rutgers staff is high on Nwaogwugwu, although he is not a top-tier target. UConn is also showing interest and should some things change, Nwaogwugwu could emerge as a late target. He is someone to keep an eye on through the month of January.
WR Malik Knowles (Lake Ridge, Tex.)
There is a chance that the staff miss out on a few targets and that could put a prospect like Knowles into play. He does not have a ton going on recruiting-wise, but the staff dipped into the Lone Star state before to pull a late under-the-radar commit in Dacoven Bailey. Some dominoes may have to fall before Knowles becomes a take, but it would not be completely out of the question.
Chris Ash on the early signing period:
“What happened was this became national signing day. And there was a tremendous amount of pressure, which there always is, for coaches to go sign the best players that they can sign today. I know there's a signing period between today, Thursday and Friday. I don't think anyone was looking at it being a period. It was, this is signing day. And that's what it became. And there will still be players signed in February, but I think when you look at it, the pressure for coaches to go get the best players they can today, that happened. That was created over the course of time. That wasn't the theory behind having an early signing period. And I do think from a student-athlete standpoint there were a number of players that felt pressure to take the bird in hand and sign with somebody today or run the risk of not having a scholarship or ending up somewhere where they really don't want to be. I felt that a lot in this process, and again, I don't think that was the intention of the early signing period, but that's the reality of what happened.”
Fat Cat Top Five
Top Five Signees with best chances of playing as Freshmen
5.) Zihir Lacewell (Linebacker or Wide Receiver)
4.) Jalen Chatman (Quarterback)
3.) Avery Young (Defensive Back)
2.) Isaih Pacheco (Running Back)
1.) Adam Korsak (Punter)
Bobby’s Crystal Ball
Rutgers will sign more than 22 players in the incoming 2018 class
Recruiting Tidbits
Remaining Targets
Rutgers still has some more recruiting to do before actual signing day rolls around during the first week in February. Here is a look at some of the players who are still on the Rutgers board.
RB Dante Black (Brookwood – Ga.)
Rutgers does not seem to want to give up recruiting the state of Georgia. Last year, the staff began recruiting the area as wide receivers coach Jafar Williams recruited the state during his previous coaching stop at Purdue. Earlier this year, it resulted in two commitments from wide receiver EJ Turner and Jayden McDonald. Turner decommitted and McDonald did not sign on Wednesday.
This time around, Rutgers put Lester Erb has the point man on Black. Erb had conversations with Black leading up to signing day, claiming that if there is not another back signed after this early period, then he should expect to hear more from Rutgers. Erb also discussed the possibility for a potential official visit in January. Burke currently has FBS offers from some non-power five programs, including Army, Air Force and Central Michigan.
RB Jermar Jefferson (Narbonne, Calif.)
The running back is a teammate of RU quarterback signee Jalen Chatman and is still set to visit Rutgers in January. The biggest hurdle for Rutgers is convincing family members that the cross-country trek would be the right move for Jefferson. His other options are closer to home as he is considering San Jose State and Utah State as well.
TE Matt Alaimo (St. Joe’s Montvale- N.J.)
The Pitt decommit doesn’t have as many options as his offer list showed, although there are still available suitors out there. Rutgers is among those schools, although it will be interesting to see how the staff handles the numbers crunch. Jalen Jordan and Daevon Robinson both can play tight end or receiver and odds are that one will be assigned to each position at Rutgers. With a need for defensive linemen and another running back, it may not make as much sense to add another tight end. However, Alaimo is very talented. The new OC might have a say in how much Rutgers pursues Alaimo as it remains to be seen how tight end friendly next season’s Rutgers offense will be. Louisville may also be a later player in this one.
DE Kaymar Mimes (Long Branch – N.J.)
Mimes committed to Rutgers on Monday, but did not sign a letter of intent this week as Boston College and Pitt have jumped into the race. Even though Mimes is technically still a Rutgers commit, this one is not trending as well for Rutgers. However, things could change and that could depend on how much other programs start to pursue Mimes. Don’t expect the RU staff just to walk away on this one. A lot of time has been invested in Mimes, who remains a prime target for Rutgers.
RB Jon Hilliman (Boston College)
The former Rutgers commit will be eligible to be a grad transfer in 2018, although he still has one game left in the Pinstripe Bowl this week against Iowa. Hilliman took a backseat this year to freshman phenom AJ Dillon and is considering making a move. There is mutual interst between Hilliman and Rutgers as the move would be a nice fit for both parties. However, Hilliman cannot speak with the coaches until after the season, but don’t be surprised if those conversations pick up the pace in a hurry.
DE Ricky Williams Jr. (Blake – Fla.)
The Tampa product is scheduled to come up for a January official visit and one of the biggest factors in his recruitment is the impending arrival of his SAT scores. Should he make the grade, Rutgers may really turn things up.
LB Jayden McDonald (North Gwinnett – Ga.)
The Georgia linebacker did not sign, but keep in mind his season just finished up last week and he has not even taken an official visit to Rutgers. However, a strong senior season has caused other schools to take notice as Ole Miss and Kansas State just offered. McDonald is still committed to Rutgers, but the possibility of playing closer to home is something that could hurt Rutgers chances. But expect the RU coaching staff to stay on him.
DE Casey Rogers (Avon Old Farms - Conn.)
On the strength of a big senior season, Rogers is drawing interest from some major programs and officially visited Ohio State and Alabama. However, he does not have an offer from either of those schools. Should that stay true to form, Rutgers could sneak in and earn an official visit in January. Alabama is looking at him as a tight end. and Rutgers has talked about both defensive end and tight end. Rogers holds a Rutgers offer, in addition to others from Cal, Temple and Vanderbilt. However, he has the chance to see more offers come after the early signing period as coaches have a better idea of how many spots they have left.
DE David Nwaogwugwu (DWC Clinton – N.Y.)
The Rutgers staff is high on Nwaogwugwu, although he is not a top-tier target. UConn is also showing interest and should some things change, Nwaogwugwu could emerge as a late target. He is someone to keep an eye on through the month of January.
WR Malik Knowles (Lake Ridge, Tex.)
There is a chance that the staff miss out on a few targets and that could put a prospect like Knowles into play. He does not have a ton going on recruiting-wise, but the staff dipped into the Lone Star state before to pull a late under-the-radar commit in Dacoven Bailey. Some dominoes may have to fall before Knowles becomes a take, but it would not be completely out of the question.
