Fat Cat Top Five
Top Five RU Running backs since ‘08
5.) Joe Martinek
4.) Josh Hicks
3.) Robert Martin
2.) Paul James
1.) Jawan Jamison
Bobby’s Crystal Ball
Rutgers will take two running backs in its 2018 class
Recruiting Tidbits
’18 Sean Chambers (Kerman - CA)
Chambers is currently in the midst of a multi-day visit to Rutgers and Scarlet Nation has learned that he is enjoying his trip to New Jersey. There is a good chance he might commit before the weekend is out. Scarlet Nation was also informed that some California prospects are trying to plan a trip together to head east and check out Rutgers.
If Rutgers were to get a commitment from Chambers, it would mark the first time it pulled in two scholarship quarterbacks since the class of 2012 when both Mike Bimonte and Gary Nova joined the class. However, their commitments were five months apart. Prior to that, the 2008 class feature two quarterbacks in D.C. Jefferson and Steve Shimko, whose commitments were four months apart. Coincidentally, Wayne Warren was also listed as a quarterback recruit in that class but was recruited to play defensive back at Rutgers. If Chambers were to commit, he would join quarterback Jalen Chatman as two if three commits in the class. Furthermore, their QB commitments would only be separated by a month’s time, something very new to Rutgers.
’18 RB Stevie Scott (Syracuse - NY)
As stated in our Wednesday Scarlet Nation article, article originally wanted to decide this weekend but that was before talking with his parents and coaches. Right now, he is very high on Rutgers board for running backs and there is a good chance that Rutgers will try to push for a commitment this weekend when he visits. Rutgers is the No.1 school right now for Scott.
’18 WR Paul Woods (Canisus - NY)
Woods is getting ready to camp at Rutgers this weekend and currently thinks very highly of Rutgers. He plans on deciding on July 11th (his mom’s birthday). If all goes well on the trip this Sunday, expect Rutgers to be in the driver’s seat in this one.
Barringer prospects
Rutgers continues to recruit class of 2019 standout Zamar Wise, although there are some other Barringer High (Newark, N.J.) prospects to keep an eye on this coming fall.
“Another guy on my roster is Zamar’s little, big brother Corey Walker,” said Barrington head coach Ron London. “He’s going to be our starting middle linebacker and tight end this upcoming season. I told the staff they need to make a move on him now. He’s going to be a freshman next year and he’s already 6-foot-2, 230-pounds. We also have a defensive back named Tyree Bruce who is a 6-foot-2 that’s about to have a breakthrough season. We moved him up from linebacker last season.”
’18 WR Jalin Cooper (Medina, N.Y.)
The New York prospect continues to be high on Rutgers and he’s also been a frequent visitor to campus. He is expected to return to Sunday’s camp and the more the staff gets him on campus, the better the chances are of locking up a commitment.
’18 DT Tim Kater (Steelton, PA)
Another Sunday camper to keep an eye on, Kater committed to Army in April. Defensive tackle is a position of need in RU’s 2018 class and the 6-foot-3, 270-pounder is one to watch out for this weekend. A solid showing could land him a Rutgers offer. Also, keep in mind that defensive tackle Jaohne Duggan went into last June’s camp at Rutgers as an unknown and quickly earned an offer which turned into a commit. Kater is a little more known, but don’t expect the staff to waste any time if the coaches like what they see out of Kater.
’18 LB Jamar Darboe (Christchurch, VA)
The Virginia linebacker had a busy day on the Rutgers campus this week and the staff gave him a lot of attention while he was there. He spent about 40 minutes talking with defensive coordinator Jay Niemann and about an hour with head coach Chris Ash before he left. He was told that he is a priority recruit, but did not receive an offer.
“They said an offer is definitely in the picture for the future,” Darboe said. “I was surprised they didn’t offer. They said it was a priority for me to come up.”
Darboe said the staff did not need to see him at camp, but he may come back for one of the few remaining ones at Rutgers anyway. Darboe currently holds a host of offers, including ones from Maryland, Temple and ECU.
’19 Patrick Garwo (Conqwell-Egan, PA)
The Philly area product is expected to be on campus this weekend at Rutgers and already holds a Wisconsin and Virginia offer. If he makes the trip, there is a good chance he leaves with an offer.
’18 RB Antwon Keys (Imhotep Charter - PA)
The Philly product was on the Rutgers campus and took a tour of the facilities. While he is not too high up on the RU board at running back right now, he still came away with a favorable impression.
“If Rutgers was to offer me I would love it,” Keys said. “Visiting this campus was a great experience I’d love to come back. Red is also my favorite color. When I tried on that jersey the other day with the No.25 on it and put on that white helmet I was in love”"
Eye on Rutgers
With the talk of two potential quarterback commits in the 2018 class, it may be a better play for Rutgers, primarily because ithas not had the best of luck with transfer quarterbacks. Louisville transfer Kyle Bolin could wind up changing that this season, but here is a look at the recent RU quarterback transfers.
Zach Allen (2016) – This was a roll of the dice from the outset because Allen had not played much quarterback at the college level while at TCU. He came in last season and saw the most action against Michigan in a 78-0 loss in which he pretty much ran for his life all game long. Allen completed one of 12 passes last year for -1 yards in two game appearances.
Hayden Rettig (2014) – The LSU transfer did not get much of a chance in 2015 after starting the first game and throwing for 110 yards and one touchdown on 9-for-11 passing in the first half against Norfolk State. Rettig then went to the bench in the third quarter and played the part of a backup for the remainder of the season. He did not see the field at all in 2016 and now he is down at Tennessee Tech for his final season.
Philip Nelson (2014) – Nelson’s career never got going at Rutgers after transferring in from Minnesota in early 2014. He was set to sit out a year, but was arrested for his part in a fight back in Minnesota and was quickly dismissed from Rutgers. He bounced back and went on to start last season at ECU and threw for 2,621 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Dom Natale (2007) – A Michigan State transfer, Natale played backup to Mike Teel and saw very limited playing time in ’08 when Teel was struggling. He would then start the season opener against Cincinnati when he threw three first-half interceptions. That is all it would take to lose his starting job to Tom Savage. However, Natale started and won a game later that year when Savage was out for a week with a concussion. It was not pretty though as Natale went 4-of-12 for 43 yards during a rainy game at Maryland.
Top Five RU Running backs since ‘08
5.) Joe Martinek
4.) Josh Hicks
3.) Robert Martin
2.) Paul James
1.) Jawan Jamison
Bobby’s Crystal Ball
Rutgers will take two running backs in its 2018 class
Recruiting Tidbits
’18 Sean Chambers (Kerman - CA)
Chambers is currently in the midst of a multi-day visit to Rutgers and Scarlet Nation has learned that he is enjoying his trip to New Jersey. There is a good chance he might commit before the weekend is out. Scarlet Nation was also informed that some California prospects are trying to plan a trip together to head east and check out Rutgers.
If Rutgers were to get a commitment from Chambers, it would mark the first time it pulled in two scholarship quarterbacks since the class of 2012 when both Mike Bimonte and Gary Nova joined the class. However, their commitments were five months apart. Prior to that, the 2008 class feature two quarterbacks in D.C. Jefferson and Steve Shimko, whose commitments were four months apart. Coincidentally, Wayne Warren was also listed as a quarterback recruit in that class but was recruited to play defensive back at Rutgers. If Chambers were to commit, he would join quarterback Jalen Chatman as two if three commits in the class. Furthermore, their QB commitments would only be separated by a month’s time, something very new to Rutgers.
’18 RB Stevie Scott (Syracuse - NY)
As stated in our Wednesday Scarlet Nation article, article originally wanted to decide this weekend but that was before talking with his parents and coaches. Right now, he is very high on Rutgers board for running backs and there is a good chance that Rutgers will try to push for a commitment this weekend when he visits. Rutgers is the No.1 school right now for Scott.
’18 WR Paul Woods (Canisus - NY)
Woods is getting ready to camp at Rutgers this weekend and currently thinks very highly of Rutgers. He plans on deciding on July 11th (his mom’s birthday). If all goes well on the trip this Sunday, expect Rutgers to be in the driver’s seat in this one.
Barringer prospects
Rutgers continues to recruit class of 2019 standout Zamar Wise, although there are some other Barringer High (Newark, N.J.) prospects to keep an eye on this coming fall.
“Another guy on my roster is Zamar’s little, big brother Corey Walker,” said Barrington head coach Ron London. “He’s going to be our starting middle linebacker and tight end this upcoming season. I told the staff they need to make a move on him now. He’s going to be a freshman next year and he’s already 6-foot-2, 230-pounds. We also have a defensive back named Tyree Bruce who is a 6-foot-2 that’s about to have a breakthrough season. We moved him up from linebacker last season.”
’18 WR Jalin Cooper (Medina, N.Y.)
The New York prospect continues to be high on Rutgers and he’s also been a frequent visitor to campus. He is expected to return to Sunday’s camp and the more the staff gets him on campus, the better the chances are of locking up a commitment.
’18 DT Tim Kater (Steelton, PA)
Another Sunday camper to keep an eye on, Kater committed to Army in April. Defensive tackle is a position of need in RU’s 2018 class and the 6-foot-3, 270-pounder is one to watch out for this weekend. A solid showing could land him a Rutgers offer. Also, keep in mind that defensive tackle Jaohne Duggan went into last June’s camp at Rutgers as an unknown and quickly earned an offer which turned into a commit. Kater is a little more known, but don’t expect the staff to waste any time if the coaches like what they see out of Kater.
’18 LB Jamar Darboe (Christchurch, VA)
The Virginia linebacker had a busy day on the Rutgers campus this week and the staff gave him a lot of attention while he was there. He spent about 40 minutes talking with defensive coordinator Jay Niemann and about an hour with head coach Chris Ash before he left. He was told that he is a priority recruit, but did not receive an offer.
“They said an offer is definitely in the picture for the future,” Darboe said. “I was surprised they didn’t offer. They said it was a priority for me to come up.”
Darboe said the staff did not need to see him at camp, but he may come back for one of the few remaining ones at Rutgers anyway. Darboe currently holds a host of offers, including ones from Maryland, Temple and ECU.
’19 Patrick Garwo (Conqwell-Egan, PA)
The Philly area product is expected to be on campus this weekend at Rutgers and already holds a Wisconsin and Virginia offer. If he makes the trip, there is a good chance he leaves with an offer.
’18 RB Antwon Keys (Imhotep Charter - PA)
The Philly product was on the Rutgers campus and took a tour of the facilities. While he is not too high up on the RU board at running back right now, he still came away with a favorable impression.
“If Rutgers was to offer me I would love it,” Keys said. “Visiting this campus was a great experience I’d love to come back. Red is also my favorite color. When I tried on that jersey the other day with the No.25 on it and put on that white helmet I was in love”"
Eye on Rutgers
With the talk of two potential quarterback commits in the 2018 class, it may be a better play for Rutgers, primarily because ithas not had the best of luck with transfer quarterbacks. Louisville transfer Kyle Bolin could wind up changing that this season, but here is a look at the recent RU quarterback transfers.
Zach Allen (2016) – This was a roll of the dice from the outset because Allen had not played much quarterback at the college level while at TCU. He came in last season and saw the most action against Michigan in a 78-0 loss in which he pretty much ran for his life all game long. Allen completed one of 12 passes last year for -1 yards in two game appearances.
Hayden Rettig (2014) – The LSU transfer did not get much of a chance in 2015 after starting the first game and throwing for 110 yards and one touchdown on 9-for-11 passing in the first half against Norfolk State. Rettig then went to the bench in the third quarter and played the part of a backup for the remainder of the season. He did not see the field at all in 2016 and now he is down at Tennessee Tech for his final season.
Philip Nelson (2014) – Nelson’s career never got going at Rutgers after transferring in from Minnesota in early 2014. He was set to sit out a year, but was arrested for his part in a fight back in Minnesota and was quickly dismissed from Rutgers. He bounced back and went on to start last season at ECU and threw for 2,621 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Dom Natale (2007) – A Michigan State transfer, Natale played backup to Mike Teel and saw very limited playing time in ’08 when Teel was struggling. He would then start the season opener against Cincinnati when he threw three first-half interceptions. That is all it would take to lose his starting job to Tom Savage. However, Natale started and won a game later that year when Savage was out for a week with a concussion. It was not pretty though as Natale went 4-of-12 for 43 yards during a rainy game at Maryland.
