Quotables
Eric LeGrand on the word 'Believe':
"It all started when I was in high school. There was a 'Believe' sign on the wall, and every day I walked past it before every practice and every game. I always hit the 'EL' in that sign - every day. With all the support out there, it's just become a mindset."
on talking to doctors:
"My mom handles the doctors. I never spoke to a doctor. They told her I'd never get off a ventilator, but after five weeks, I didn't need it. So I don't really talk to the doctors. They don't really bother me."
on what Schiano told him on the field after the tackle:
"He said, 'You have to pray to God, you have to be positive, and you have to chop through this moment.' He had a serious look on his face, like he was concerned. I thought it was a stinger, and then after that, I thought I got the wind knocked out of me. That's what it felt like - like I was grasping for air."
David Rowe on studying safeties:
"I've watched Rutgers safeties from the past and we've been watching Steelers film."
on the RU secondary:
"We're playing really well I think right now. With this new unit, a lot of eyes are on the secondary. We have to make up a lot of ground, but I think we're playing really well this spring. We just need to continue it into the season."
Brandon Coleman on the difference between spring ball and summer camp:
“Training camp is just football, there’s nothing else to do. In spring camp, you’re balancing school and spending a lot of time in the classroom, film room and weight room. Other than that, it’s not much different.”
on his basketball skills:
“Early on in my sophomore year, basketball was an option, but then I started getting recruited more for football. I started telling people to stop recruiting me for basketball, but I kept playing. I kind of miss it now.”
Khaseem Greene on transitioning from prep school to college:
“It was second nature. I went to prep school so I had the opportunity to do all that; wake up go to class, rush to practice and go back to class. It was not really that big of a deal for me, it’s just something that was natural to me.”
Fat Cat Top 5
Top 5 players who will have big games on Saturday
5. Logan Ryan
4. J.T. Tartacoff
3. Khaseem Greene
2. Brandon Coleman
1. David Rowe
The Numbers Game
10 RU offers out to junior defensive ends
9 wins for RU women’s lacrosse team
8 point spread for Scarlet as favorites over White on Saturday
7 fifth-year seniors will be playing in RU’s spring game
6 will be worn by Corey Barnes in the Believe Bowl
5K walk to benefit Eric LeGrand on June 4th at Rutgers Stadium
4th round likely landing spot for Joe Lefeged in the 2011 NFL Draft
3 more Archbishop Wood juniors hold RU offers (Thompson, Taylor, Arcidiacono)
2 schools made a late run at Desmon Peoples on Wednesday (Ga Tech, UCLA)
1 new commit for both RU hoops and football in the last week (Peoples, Carter)
Bobby’s Crystal Ball
Team Teel will win the Believe Bowl
Jawan Jamison will gain the most rushing yards on Saturday
Recruiting tidbits
D’Vario Montgomery (Winter Park, FL)
While Rutgers continues to make headway in the northeast, it is still doing well in Florida. Wide receiver D’Vario Mongtomery has upwards of 30 offers and is currently very high on Rutgers as the staff continues to recruit him.
“Rutgers has a really good shot,” said Montgomery. “I like Rutgers a lot.”
Montgomery confirmed that he will be camping at Rutgers in June.
Yuri Wright (Don Bosco)
NJVarsity.com’s No. 3 ranked player in the state is still up in the air about whether or not he will attend Rutgers’ spring game. As of last night, his response was “I don’t know yet.’ Wright also previously listed RU in his top three, but with so many offers coming in he does not yet want to name any leaders.
“I’m not putting anyone at the top for now, I’m waiting until I visit some schools,” said Wright.
Sam Lebbie (DeMatha, MD)
Earlier in the week, Lebbie was slated to attend the RU spring game, but things have changed as he will not be making the trip up to Piscataway. RU's place atop his list may also not be so secure.
“Others have crept up on them,” said Lebbie, who previously declared RU his leader. “UNC is making a strong case.”
While Lebbie continues to receive attention, some schools have eased up on his recruitment.
Dan Mastromatteo (Holy Spirit)
The linebacker visited Rutgers on Tuesday and while he enjoyed his visit, he isn’t ready to make a decision just yet.
“Rutgers is still my number one, but I have a feeling a lot of new schools are going to offer in May,” he said.
Nonetheless, Mastromatteo is still looking to make an early decision.
“I hope its all over by the end of May, beginning of June,” he said. “It’s getting stressful, I'm just trying to have fun with it, but it’s hard.”
Spring game additions
Punter Blake Feagles (Ridgewood) was invited and will attend the spring game. He is also being recruited by Boston College, Duke, Penn State and Villanova. Feagles is the son of NFL punter Jeff Feagles.
Archbishop Wood offensive lineman Frank Taylor will be up at Rutgers’ spring game along with new RU commit Desmon Peoples.
“I’m definitely working on Frank, he’s coming up to the spring game with me this weekend,” said Peoples. “It’s going to be exciting.”
Josh Goldsboro (Schalick)
The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Goldsboro is still looking for his first offer, but is not lacking interest from high-level schools.
"I've been visiting different schools each week; I've checked out Duke, Iowa, UConn, BC and Purdue," Goldsboro said. "They are all really nice schools. I'm just keeping an open mind and waiting for an offer to come."
Goldsboro is using this weekend to make another visit, his shortest trip of the off-season.
"I'm going to Rutgers this week for the spring game," he said. "RU has crazy fans, it's going to be a really good time."
Michael Makor (West Catholic, PA)
The Philadelphia offensive guard is steadily getting more attention and will make a return visit to Rutgers this Saturday.
“I was there the weekend of the badger sports elite lineman challenge,” said the 6-foot-3, 310 pound Makor. “I’m hoping to hear more from them, it’s a great program.”
The Super 7
There will be a National Badger Sports 7-on-7 event on July 4th weekend in Dallas and there will be a NJ team going down there called “NJ Speed.” The tentative roster looks like this:
Yuri Wright (Don Bosco)
Devin Fuller (Old Tappan)
Davon Jacobs (DePaul)
Elijah Shumate (Don Bosco)
Brandon Napoleon (St. Peter's)
Eli Huges (Elizabeth)
Carlton Agudosi (Franklin)
Ruhann Peele (Linden)
Leonte Carroo (Don Bosco)
Mike Giacone (St. Peter's)
Steve Longa (Saddle Brook)
Nadir Barnwell (Piscataway) - 2013
Kyle LaPorte (Piscataway) - 2013
New offers
Rutgers sent out an offer this week to sophomore defensive end Tashawn Bower of Immaculata High School who checks in at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds.
Lancaster Catholic offensive tackle Adam DePietro, who visited Rutgers on Monday, pulled in his ninth offer yesterday from NC State.
No show
Ryan Morris (Barnegat)
The big tight end said that he would have liked to make it up to the RU spring game, although had to take a pass because it coincided with his junior prom.
This post was edited on 4/29 2:16 AM by Bobby Deren
Eric LeGrand on the word 'Believe':
"It all started when I was in high school. There was a 'Believe' sign on the wall, and every day I walked past it before every practice and every game. I always hit the 'EL' in that sign - every day. With all the support out there, it's just become a mindset."
on talking to doctors:
"My mom handles the doctors. I never spoke to a doctor. They told her I'd never get off a ventilator, but after five weeks, I didn't need it. So I don't really talk to the doctors. They don't really bother me."
on what Schiano told him on the field after the tackle:
"He said, 'You have to pray to God, you have to be positive, and you have to chop through this moment.' He had a serious look on his face, like he was concerned. I thought it was a stinger, and then after that, I thought I got the wind knocked out of me. That's what it felt like - like I was grasping for air."
David Rowe on studying safeties:
"I've watched Rutgers safeties from the past and we've been watching Steelers film."
on the RU secondary:
"We're playing really well I think right now. With this new unit, a lot of eyes are on the secondary. We have to make up a lot of ground, but I think we're playing really well this spring. We just need to continue it into the season."
Brandon Coleman on the difference between spring ball and summer camp:
“Training camp is just football, there’s nothing else to do. In spring camp, you’re balancing school and spending a lot of time in the classroom, film room and weight room. Other than that, it’s not much different.”
on his basketball skills:
“Early on in my sophomore year, basketball was an option, but then I started getting recruited more for football. I started telling people to stop recruiting me for basketball, but I kept playing. I kind of miss it now.”
Khaseem Greene on transitioning from prep school to college:
“It was second nature. I went to prep school so I had the opportunity to do all that; wake up go to class, rush to practice and go back to class. It was not really that big of a deal for me, it’s just something that was natural to me.”
Fat Cat Top 5
Top 5 players who will have big games on Saturday
5. Logan Ryan
4. J.T. Tartacoff
3. Khaseem Greene
2. Brandon Coleman
1. David Rowe
The Numbers Game
10 RU offers out to junior defensive ends
9 wins for RU women’s lacrosse team
8 point spread for Scarlet as favorites over White on Saturday
7 fifth-year seniors will be playing in RU’s spring game
6 will be worn by Corey Barnes in the Believe Bowl
5K walk to benefit Eric LeGrand on June 4th at Rutgers Stadium
4th round likely landing spot for Joe Lefeged in the 2011 NFL Draft
3 more Archbishop Wood juniors hold RU offers (Thompson, Taylor, Arcidiacono)
2 schools made a late run at Desmon Peoples on Wednesday (Ga Tech, UCLA)
1 new commit for both RU hoops and football in the last week (Peoples, Carter)
Bobby’s Crystal Ball
Team Teel will win the Believe Bowl
Jawan Jamison will gain the most rushing yards on Saturday
Recruiting tidbits
D’Vario Montgomery (Winter Park, FL)
While Rutgers continues to make headway in the northeast, it is still doing well in Florida. Wide receiver D’Vario Mongtomery has upwards of 30 offers and is currently very high on Rutgers as the staff continues to recruit him.
“Rutgers has a really good shot,” said Montgomery. “I like Rutgers a lot.”
Montgomery confirmed that he will be camping at Rutgers in June.
Yuri Wright (Don Bosco)
NJVarsity.com’s No. 3 ranked player in the state is still up in the air about whether or not he will attend Rutgers’ spring game. As of last night, his response was “I don’t know yet.’ Wright also previously listed RU in his top three, but with so many offers coming in he does not yet want to name any leaders.
“I’m not putting anyone at the top for now, I’m waiting until I visit some schools,” said Wright.
Sam Lebbie (DeMatha, MD)
Earlier in the week, Lebbie was slated to attend the RU spring game, but things have changed as he will not be making the trip up to Piscataway. RU's place atop his list may also not be so secure.
“Others have crept up on them,” said Lebbie, who previously declared RU his leader. “UNC is making a strong case.”
While Lebbie continues to receive attention, some schools have eased up on his recruitment.
Dan Mastromatteo (Holy Spirit)
The linebacker visited Rutgers on Tuesday and while he enjoyed his visit, he isn’t ready to make a decision just yet.
“Rutgers is still my number one, but I have a feeling a lot of new schools are going to offer in May,” he said.
Nonetheless, Mastromatteo is still looking to make an early decision.
“I hope its all over by the end of May, beginning of June,” he said. “It’s getting stressful, I'm just trying to have fun with it, but it’s hard.”
Spring game additions
Punter Blake Feagles (Ridgewood) was invited and will attend the spring game. He is also being recruited by Boston College, Duke, Penn State and Villanova. Feagles is the son of NFL punter Jeff Feagles.
Archbishop Wood offensive lineman Frank Taylor will be up at Rutgers’ spring game along with new RU commit Desmon Peoples.
“I’m definitely working on Frank, he’s coming up to the spring game with me this weekend,” said Peoples. “It’s going to be exciting.”
Josh Goldsboro (Schalick)
The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Goldsboro is still looking for his first offer, but is not lacking interest from high-level schools.
"I've been visiting different schools each week; I've checked out Duke, Iowa, UConn, BC and Purdue," Goldsboro said. "They are all really nice schools. I'm just keeping an open mind and waiting for an offer to come."
Goldsboro is using this weekend to make another visit, his shortest trip of the off-season.
"I'm going to Rutgers this week for the spring game," he said. "RU has crazy fans, it's going to be a really good time."
Michael Makor (West Catholic, PA)
The Philadelphia offensive guard is steadily getting more attention and will make a return visit to Rutgers this Saturday.
“I was there the weekend of the badger sports elite lineman challenge,” said the 6-foot-3, 310 pound Makor. “I’m hoping to hear more from them, it’s a great program.”
The Super 7
There will be a National Badger Sports 7-on-7 event on July 4th weekend in Dallas and there will be a NJ team going down there called “NJ Speed.” The tentative roster looks like this:
Yuri Wright (Don Bosco)
Devin Fuller (Old Tappan)
Davon Jacobs (DePaul)
Elijah Shumate (Don Bosco)
Brandon Napoleon (St. Peter's)
Eli Huges (Elizabeth)
Carlton Agudosi (Franklin)
Ruhann Peele (Linden)
Leonte Carroo (Don Bosco)
Mike Giacone (St. Peter's)
Steve Longa (Saddle Brook)
Nadir Barnwell (Piscataway) - 2013
Kyle LaPorte (Piscataway) - 2013
New offers
Rutgers sent out an offer this week to sophomore defensive end Tashawn Bower of Immaculata High School who checks in at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds.
Lancaster Catholic offensive tackle Adam DePietro, who visited Rutgers on Monday, pulled in his ninth offer yesterday from NC State.
No show
Ryan Morris (Barnegat)
The big tight end said that he would have liked to make it up to the RU spring game, although had to take a pass because it coincided with his junior prom.
This post was edited on 4/29 2:16 AM by Bobby Deren
