Quotables:
Head coach Mike Rice on finishing out the season:
"I know I don't want to finish with a losing record. I'd like to do things that haven't been done in this program."
Senior captain Jonathan Mitchell on facing Seton Hall in round one of the Big East Tournament:
"It's good because [Seton Hall] is our in-state rival ... and this is kind of the tiebreaker. It just happens to be in the first round of the Big East Tournament. It's going to come down to who wants it more. It's going to come down to who executes and who wants to advance."
Orlando defensive tackle James Hamilton on all the northeast schools that have offered him including Rutgers:
“I think I’m going to fly up there and just drive back down and stop by a whole bunch of schools on the way back to Florida.”
RU commit Marquise Wright on the buzz surrounding the class of 2011:
“There’s a lot of excitement, we all feel like we have the opportunity to play early. We have a lot of good kids to put Rutgers back on top and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Fat Cat Top 5
Top 5 highlights on the RU 2011 schedule
5. ESPN Friday night game at Louisville
4. Ten Saturday games
3. Closing out the season against rival UConn
2. Playing inside Yankee Stadium
1. Only four road games
The Numbers Game
10 combined RU offers out to prospects from Good Counsel and Don Bosco
9 combined losses for two top Big East hoops teams (Pitt and Notre Dame)
8 ranked RU wrestlers heading into the weekend’s EIWA championships
7 times this season, Rutgers has turned the ball over 9 times or less
6 points for RU reserves in Wednesday’s win over DePaul
5 days until Rutgers Pro Day
4. 42 forty time for Joe Lefeged at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine
3 games for RU men’s hoops vs. Seton Hall this year
2 more games for RU basketball at a minimum
1 win away from finishing the season at .500 for RU hoops
Bobby’s Crystal ball
Rutgers’ first commit to the class of 2012 will come from the state of New Jersey
Rutgers men’s basketball team will defeat Seton Hall in the first round of the Big East tournament
The state of Maryland will become a major recruiting ground in RU’s class of 2012
Commit watch
Willingboro High defensive end Kyle George just wrapped up his high school career on the hardwood and is now looking forward to really getting going with the new Rutgers workout.
“Everything has been long and slow,” said George. “I recently got a chance to start the workout because the basketball season is over. We didn’t end the season how we wanted, but it was a fun year.”
The very athletic George commented on how he is adjusting to the new workout.
“It’s not that difficult but there are things on there that I don’t normally do like power clean and dead lift, so its a little pressure.”
Recruiting tidbits
Brandon Snell (Miami Norland, FL)
Western Michigan joined Rutgers as the second school to offer the 5-foot-11, 170 pound wide receiver. Being as though Rutgers was Snell’s first offer, he is starting to look into the program a lot deeper.
“I’ve been trying to get to know a lot more about Rutgers and how the program works," said Snell. "I kind of know a little bit. I’ve been talking to Coach Fleck. I like him, I think he’s a good person. He’s cool and it seems like he can get the job done.”
Korren Kirven (Brookville, VA)
Rutgers sent out an offer to the stud defensive tackle this past week, bringing his total to 11. However, sources in Virginia have indicated that he is a strong Virginia Tech lean and is all but a lock to wind up in Blacksburg.
Stacey Bedell (William Floyd, NY)
The athlete’s lone D1 offer remains from Rutgers and he passed up a chance to play in this past weekend’s Badger Sport 7-on-7 to travel up to Connecticut’s Junior Day, but did not come away with an offer.
“They said they need to get me up there one time to a camp to work with me hands on,” Bedell said of UConn.
Bedlee holds RU in high esteem and pointed out what stuck out to him most about the Scarlet Knights.
“The academics, coaching staff, school discipline, facilities.”
Ryan Watson (Good Counsel, MD)
Watson is among the vast amount of Good Counsel prospects with multiple offers, which includes one from Rutgers. Watson has played multiple positions along both sides of the line for Good Counsel, but he has expressed an interest on where he wants toplay at the next level.
"I would want to be recruited most as a defensive tackle,” said Watson. “I am learning a lot more technique stuff right now.”
Watson went on to offer his thoughts on the Scarlet Knights.
"I haven’t visited recently, but I do plan on going. I think they are recruiting me to play defensive tackle. I went to the school over the summer and about two years ago for a camp. I thought it was a really good campus and a good school".
Donovan Riley (Baltimore Poly, MD)
Riley has been hitting the combine scene this off-season in an effort to increase his exposure. Riley was dominant this past season where he compiled 6 interceptions, 40 tackles and 2 sacks as a cornerback.
Rutgers and Pittsburgh have shown strong interest in Riley while Virginia Tech was the first to offer him. UVA, Boston College, Maryland, UConn, Vanderbilt, Miami and Temple have also been showing interest and Riley recently took an unofficial visit to both UVA and Rutgers.
“I’ve always liked Rutgers since I saw Ray Rice, he was amazing at Rutgers,” said Riley. “What I saw him do in college was pretty unique.”
Jordan Floyd (Loyola, MD)
Floyd has been working hard this off-season, earning top honors at wide receiver at the recent Riddell All-American Event at th University of Maryland.
"I wanted to go against the best DB and make myself better, especially the guys from DC I have never played against before,” said the 6-foot-2, 205 pound Floyd. “I’ve been playing basketball, but I’ll be playing with the Maryland 7 on 7 Elite team during the off-season.”
Maryland offered Floyd after his first game last fall where he had 8 catches for 110 yards against Dematha. With the coaching change at Maryland, he has been assured that things haven't changed. Other schools showing interest are Virginia, Boston College, UConn and Rutgers. Floyd recently attended the Rutgers Junior Day and talked about the experience.
“It was real good, I had never been up there, it was real cool; the whole campus, the facilities and the nice campus. When Coach Schiano talked about the academics, not every school has the top APR in the country.”
Devon Porchia (Gilman, MD)
The outside linebacker has offers from RU and Pitt and by his own admission it is too early in the recruiting process to name a leader.
"I don't have any favorites right now, I haven't even visited any schools yet," he said. "Rutgers right now is just another school on my list, but I am always willing to learn about a program and would be interested in learning more about Rutgers."
Jake O'Donnell (CB East, PA)
The 6-foot-6, 227-pound defensive end is looking to bulk up to 240 pounds by the time fall rolls around. He has been supplementing his three day per-week lifting program with protein shakes in order to facilitate the necessary gains. Rutgers has invited O'Donnell to attend their camp and O'Donnell said he will most likely attend.
"I don't know much about the program (Rutgers) right now, but if I hear more from them, I would be interested."
Rising juniors
Leo Krizanovic (Paramus Catholic)
The linebacker has been receiving more and more interest as of late and is venturing out to help further his cause.
“I’m going down to Maryland’s junior day this weekend,” said Krizanovic. “I’ve been getting invited to a lot of junior days now, so I’m trying to get out to as many as I can and whatever is close enough to travel to. I want to wait it out and visit schools anyway.”
Jahmahl Pardner (Aquinas Institute, NY)
A teammate of mega-recruit Jarron Jones, the 6-foot, 175 pound cornerback just pulled in his first offer from Buffalo. Other schools that have been showing an upgrade in interest are Akron, Duke, Bowling Green, Boston College, Syracuse, Connecticut, Rutgers and Temple. Pardner mentioned what he has been hearing from Rutgers.
“I call coach Fraser and I keep him posted on everything I do. They seem to have a lot of interest in me.”
This post was edited on 3/4 4:26 PM by Bobby Deren
Head coach Mike Rice on finishing out the season:
"I know I don't want to finish with a losing record. I'd like to do things that haven't been done in this program."
Senior captain Jonathan Mitchell on facing Seton Hall in round one of the Big East Tournament:
"It's good because [Seton Hall] is our in-state rival ... and this is kind of the tiebreaker. It just happens to be in the first round of the Big East Tournament. It's going to come down to who wants it more. It's going to come down to who executes and who wants to advance."
Orlando defensive tackle James Hamilton on all the northeast schools that have offered him including Rutgers:
“I think I’m going to fly up there and just drive back down and stop by a whole bunch of schools on the way back to Florida.”
RU commit Marquise Wright on the buzz surrounding the class of 2011:
“There’s a lot of excitement, we all feel like we have the opportunity to play early. We have a lot of good kids to put Rutgers back on top and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Fat Cat Top 5
Top 5 highlights on the RU 2011 schedule
5. ESPN Friday night game at Louisville
4. Ten Saturday games
3. Closing out the season against rival UConn
2. Playing inside Yankee Stadium
1. Only four road games
The Numbers Game
10 combined RU offers out to prospects from Good Counsel and Don Bosco
9 combined losses for two top Big East hoops teams (Pitt and Notre Dame)
8 ranked RU wrestlers heading into the weekend’s EIWA championships
7 times this season, Rutgers has turned the ball over 9 times or less
6 points for RU reserves in Wednesday’s win over DePaul
5 days until Rutgers Pro Day
4. 42 forty time for Joe Lefeged at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine
3 games for RU men’s hoops vs. Seton Hall this year
2 more games for RU basketball at a minimum
1 win away from finishing the season at .500 for RU hoops
Bobby’s Crystal ball
Rutgers’ first commit to the class of 2012 will come from the state of New Jersey
Rutgers men’s basketball team will defeat Seton Hall in the first round of the Big East tournament
The state of Maryland will become a major recruiting ground in RU’s class of 2012
Commit watch
Willingboro High defensive end Kyle George just wrapped up his high school career on the hardwood and is now looking forward to really getting going with the new Rutgers workout.
“Everything has been long and slow,” said George. “I recently got a chance to start the workout because the basketball season is over. We didn’t end the season how we wanted, but it was a fun year.”
The very athletic George commented on how he is adjusting to the new workout.
“It’s not that difficult but there are things on there that I don’t normally do like power clean and dead lift, so its a little pressure.”
Recruiting tidbits
Brandon Snell (Miami Norland, FL)
Western Michigan joined Rutgers as the second school to offer the 5-foot-11, 170 pound wide receiver. Being as though Rutgers was Snell’s first offer, he is starting to look into the program a lot deeper.
“I’ve been trying to get to know a lot more about Rutgers and how the program works," said Snell. "I kind of know a little bit. I’ve been talking to Coach Fleck. I like him, I think he’s a good person. He’s cool and it seems like he can get the job done.”
Korren Kirven (Brookville, VA)
Rutgers sent out an offer to the stud defensive tackle this past week, bringing his total to 11. However, sources in Virginia have indicated that he is a strong Virginia Tech lean and is all but a lock to wind up in Blacksburg.
Stacey Bedell (William Floyd, NY)
The athlete’s lone D1 offer remains from Rutgers and he passed up a chance to play in this past weekend’s Badger Sport 7-on-7 to travel up to Connecticut’s Junior Day, but did not come away with an offer.
“They said they need to get me up there one time to a camp to work with me hands on,” Bedell said of UConn.
Bedlee holds RU in high esteem and pointed out what stuck out to him most about the Scarlet Knights.
“The academics, coaching staff, school discipline, facilities.”
Ryan Watson (Good Counsel, MD)
Watson is among the vast amount of Good Counsel prospects with multiple offers, which includes one from Rutgers. Watson has played multiple positions along both sides of the line for Good Counsel, but he has expressed an interest on where he wants toplay at the next level.
"I would want to be recruited most as a defensive tackle,” said Watson. “I am learning a lot more technique stuff right now.”
Watson went on to offer his thoughts on the Scarlet Knights.
"I haven’t visited recently, but I do plan on going. I think they are recruiting me to play defensive tackle. I went to the school over the summer and about two years ago for a camp. I thought it was a really good campus and a good school".
Donovan Riley (Baltimore Poly, MD)
Riley has been hitting the combine scene this off-season in an effort to increase his exposure. Riley was dominant this past season where he compiled 6 interceptions, 40 tackles and 2 sacks as a cornerback.
Rutgers and Pittsburgh have shown strong interest in Riley while Virginia Tech was the first to offer him. UVA, Boston College, Maryland, UConn, Vanderbilt, Miami and Temple have also been showing interest and Riley recently took an unofficial visit to both UVA and Rutgers.
“I’ve always liked Rutgers since I saw Ray Rice, he was amazing at Rutgers,” said Riley. “What I saw him do in college was pretty unique.”
Jordan Floyd (Loyola, MD)
Floyd has been working hard this off-season, earning top honors at wide receiver at the recent Riddell All-American Event at th University of Maryland.
"I wanted to go against the best DB and make myself better, especially the guys from DC I have never played against before,” said the 6-foot-2, 205 pound Floyd. “I’ve been playing basketball, but I’ll be playing with the Maryland 7 on 7 Elite team during the off-season.”
Maryland offered Floyd after his first game last fall where he had 8 catches for 110 yards against Dematha. With the coaching change at Maryland, he has been assured that things haven't changed. Other schools showing interest are Virginia, Boston College, UConn and Rutgers. Floyd recently attended the Rutgers Junior Day and talked about the experience.
“It was real good, I had never been up there, it was real cool; the whole campus, the facilities and the nice campus. When Coach Schiano talked about the academics, not every school has the top APR in the country.”
Devon Porchia (Gilman, MD)
The outside linebacker has offers from RU and Pitt and by his own admission it is too early in the recruiting process to name a leader.
"I don't have any favorites right now, I haven't even visited any schools yet," he said. "Rutgers right now is just another school on my list, but I am always willing to learn about a program and would be interested in learning more about Rutgers."
Jake O'Donnell (CB East, PA)
The 6-foot-6, 227-pound defensive end is looking to bulk up to 240 pounds by the time fall rolls around. He has been supplementing his three day per-week lifting program with protein shakes in order to facilitate the necessary gains. Rutgers has invited O'Donnell to attend their camp and O'Donnell said he will most likely attend.
"I don't know much about the program (Rutgers) right now, but if I hear more from them, I would be interested."
Rising juniors
Leo Krizanovic (Paramus Catholic)
The linebacker has been receiving more and more interest as of late and is venturing out to help further his cause.
“I’m going down to Maryland’s junior day this weekend,” said Krizanovic. “I’ve been getting invited to a lot of junior days now, so I’m trying to get out to as many as I can and whatever is close enough to travel to. I want to wait it out and visit schools anyway.”
Jahmahl Pardner (Aquinas Institute, NY)
A teammate of mega-recruit Jarron Jones, the 6-foot, 175 pound cornerback just pulled in his first offer from Buffalo. Other schools that have been showing an upgrade in interest are Akron, Duke, Bowling Green, Boston College, Syracuse, Connecticut, Rutgers and Temple. Pardner mentioned what he has been hearing from Rutgers.
“I call coach Fraser and I keep him posted on everything I do. They seem to have a lot of interest in me.”
This post was edited on 3/4 4:26 PM by Bobby Deren
