Fat Cat Top Five
Top Five Most Improved RU positions in ‘17
5.) Defensive End
4.) Quarterback
3.) Punter
2.) Tight End
1.) Wide Receiver
Bobby’s Crystal Ball
All four of this year's RU grad transfers will be starters this season
Recruiting Tidbits
’18 OL Larry Mounds (Capital Prep - CT)
Mounds plays for a school that is already home to two FBs prospects, both of whom are committed to UConn. Mounds fared well on the camp circuit over the past month and has the Rutgers coaches keeping a close eye on him. If the staff strikes out elsewhere, Mounds could be a name to watch on the O-line, especially at his size of 6-foot-4, 280-pounds.
’18 OL Connor Scaglione (Demarest - NJ)
Scaglione is another guy to keep an eye on for Rutgers. He has Rutgers pretty high up in his recruitment, although he plans on taking a couple visits before making any sort of decisions. It’s possible if he doesn’t commit soon, his offer may no longer be valid at Rutgers. The staff offered him based on the strength of a recent camp performance, although having already landed two commitments, the staff can now afford to be a little more selective.
’18 DE Damir Faison (Vance - NC)
Recently, Faison looked good and was considered one of the top defensive ends at a recent RU camp. He likes Rutgers a lot and lists the Scarlet Knights as his No.1 school. However, it does not appear as though the RU staff is ready to accept his commitment at this point. But in the near future, Faison could emerge as a more realistic target should the staff strike out with some other D-Ends who are currently higher on its board.
’18 OL Matt Rosso (Pennsbury – PA)
The recent Rutgers commit is enjoying some down time after what was a busy two-month camping period in which he was just shy of snaring double-digit offers. The plan for him at Rutgers is to develop into a left tackle, although that will not get started earlier than usual. Rosso told Scarlet Nation he will not be enrolling early. This season will only be his second on the O-line and a solid campaign is likely to send some other schools to try and poach him late in the fall. However, Rosso said he is not interested in entertaining any other offers.
’18 OL Liam Broggy (Long Island Lutheran – NY)
Broggy is an all-state wrestler in New York and all-metro rugby player as well. His athleticism translates very well on the field and he fared well at a recent RU camp. He actually fared so well that RU offensive line coach AJ Blazek took him on a visit in which he toured the facilities. If Rutgers were to offer and push for a commitment, it is likely that Broggy would pull the trigger and commit.
’18 OL Rasheed Walker (North Point – MD)
Rutgers remains in the running for the Rivals100 offensive tackle and he plans on keeping his recruitment open for quite a while. Walker is planning to take all of his official visits. As of now, Rutgers is in line for one of those visits as Walker has built a very strong bond with offensive line coach AJ Blazek. However, Ohio State, Penn State and Maryland are also staying on Walker and he is holding those programs in high regard as well.
Kicking recruiting
It looks like Rutgers is going to move out of the state for its kicking and punting recruiting in the class of 2018. The landscape as far as FBS talent in the kicking and punting department is rather thin on a local level, so expect the staff to really broaden its reach when recruiting specialists in the class of 2018.
Ace Recruiter
Rutgers secondary coach Bill Busch appears to be turning into the top recruiter on Chris Ash’s staff. Scarlet Nation checked in with an insider that knew Busch very well during his time in the Midwest. When this insider was told Busch was doing very well at Rutgers, here is what he had to say:
“Doesn’t surprise me. He was pretty much Nebraska’s ace recruiter when he was there. Very few work as hard at recruiting as he does and he is, without a doubt, the best I have ever seen at helping to make sure borderline academic kids qualify. He can look at a transcript and figure out a plan for a kid like very few assistants can.”
Eye on Rutgers
The next stop on the Rutgers tour will be Big Ten Media Day in Chicago at the end of July. Every year, there are a few players selected to represent the school during the annual event along with the head coach. This year, Rutgers will be represented by senior defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph, senior offensive lineman Dorian Miller and junior cornerback Blessuan Austin. In the past, it has been mostly seniors representing RU at these events, although there is a very good chance that Austin enters the 2018 NFL Draft after this season.
July should also be a slow month in terms of recruiting as the coaches will start taking their respective vacations. The upcoming dead period begins on July 1st and last through July 9th. That is followed by a quiet period that will last for the remainder of the month. July has traditionally been a slow month for commitments as Rutgers only signed two July commitments over the last four years. Here is a look back at the July commitments who signed their NLI to Rutgers in the last ten years:
Mike Tverdov (Class of 2017)
Jarius Adams (2015)
Kemoko Turay (2013)
Nick Internicola (2013)
Brandon Arcidiacono (2012)
Kyle Federico (2012)
Delon Stephenson (2012)
Derrick Nelson (2012)
Chas Dodd (2010)
Jordan Thomas (2010)
Abdul Smith (2009)
Art Forst (2008)
Marvin Booker (2008)
Desmond Stapleton (2007)
Top Five Most Improved RU positions in ‘17
5.) Defensive End
4.) Quarterback
3.) Punter
2.) Tight End
1.) Wide Receiver
Bobby’s Crystal Ball
All four of this year's RU grad transfers will be starters this season
Recruiting Tidbits
’18 OL Larry Mounds (Capital Prep - CT)
Mounds plays for a school that is already home to two FBs prospects, both of whom are committed to UConn. Mounds fared well on the camp circuit over the past month and has the Rutgers coaches keeping a close eye on him. If the staff strikes out elsewhere, Mounds could be a name to watch on the O-line, especially at his size of 6-foot-4, 280-pounds.
’18 OL Connor Scaglione (Demarest - NJ)
Scaglione is another guy to keep an eye on for Rutgers. He has Rutgers pretty high up in his recruitment, although he plans on taking a couple visits before making any sort of decisions. It’s possible if he doesn’t commit soon, his offer may no longer be valid at Rutgers. The staff offered him based on the strength of a recent camp performance, although having already landed two commitments, the staff can now afford to be a little more selective.
’18 DE Damir Faison (Vance - NC)
Recently, Faison looked good and was considered one of the top defensive ends at a recent RU camp. He likes Rutgers a lot and lists the Scarlet Knights as his No.1 school. However, it does not appear as though the RU staff is ready to accept his commitment at this point. But in the near future, Faison could emerge as a more realistic target should the staff strike out with some other D-Ends who are currently higher on its board.
’18 OL Matt Rosso (Pennsbury – PA)
The recent Rutgers commit is enjoying some down time after what was a busy two-month camping period in which he was just shy of snaring double-digit offers. The plan for him at Rutgers is to develop into a left tackle, although that will not get started earlier than usual. Rosso told Scarlet Nation he will not be enrolling early. This season will only be his second on the O-line and a solid campaign is likely to send some other schools to try and poach him late in the fall. However, Rosso said he is not interested in entertaining any other offers.
’18 OL Liam Broggy (Long Island Lutheran – NY)
Broggy is an all-state wrestler in New York and all-metro rugby player as well. His athleticism translates very well on the field and he fared well at a recent RU camp. He actually fared so well that RU offensive line coach AJ Blazek took him on a visit in which he toured the facilities. If Rutgers were to offer and push for a commitment, it is likely that Broggy would pull the trigger and commit.
’18 OL Rasheed Walker (North Point – MD)
Rutgers remains in the running for the Rivals100 offensive tackle and he plans on keeping his recruitment open for quite a while. Walker is planning to take all of his official visits. As of now, Rutgers is in line for one of those visits as Walker has built a very strong bond with offensive line coach AJ Blazek. However, Ohio State, Penn State and Maryland are also staying on Walker and he is holding those programs in high regard as well.
Kicking recruiting
It looks like Rutgers is going to move out of the state for its kicking and punting recruiting in the class of 2018. The landscape as far as FBS talent in the kicking and punting department is rather thin on a local level, so expect the staff to really broaden its reach when recruiting specialists in the class of 2018.
Ace Recruiter
Rutgers secondary coach Bill Busch appears to be turning into the top recruiter on Chris Ash’s staff. Scarlet Nation checked in with an insider that knew Busch very well during his time in the Midwest. When this insider was told Busch was doing very well at Rutgers, here is what he had to say:
“Doesn’t surprise me. He was pretty much Nebraska’s ace recruiter when he was there. Very few work as hard at recruiting as he does and he is, without a doubt, the best I have ever seen at helping to make sure borderline academic kids qualify. He can look at a transcript and figure out a plan for a kid like very few assistants can.”
Eye on Rutgers
The next stop on the Rutgers tour will be Big Ten Media Day in Chicago at the end of July. Every year, there are a few players selected to represent the school during the annual event along with the head coach. This year, Rutgers will be represented by senior defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph, senior offensive lineman Dorian Miller and junior cornerback Blessuan Austin. In the past, it has been mostly seniors representing RU at these events, although there is a very good chance that Austin enters the 2018 NFL Draft after this season.
July should also be a slow month in terms of recruiting as the coaches will start taking their respective vacations. The upcoming dead period begins on July 1st and last through July 9th. That is followed by a quiet period that will last for the remainder of the month. July has traditionally been a slow month for commitments as Rutgers only signed two July commitments over the last four years. Here is a look back at the July commitments who signed their NLI to Rutgers in the last ten years:
Mike Tverdov (Class of 2017)
Jarius Adams (2015)
Kemoko Turay (2013)
Nick Internicola (2013)
Brandon Arcidiacono (2012)
Kyle Federico (2012)
Delon Stephenson (2012)
Derrick Nelson (2012)
Chas Dodd (2010)
Jordan Thomas (2010)
Abdul Smith (2009)
Art Forst (2008)
Marvin Booker (2008)
Desmond Stapleton (2007)
