ADVERTISEMENT

***Junior Day Reactions***

S.Brown

Hall of Famer
Jun 29, 2001
22,398
20,338
113
The Hun School DT Fred Hansard
"The coaching staff was what really stood out to me they are really on to something. Talked to my position Coach (Burnham) and Coach Ash a lot. They made it extremely clear that they wanted me, and I would be a huge addition to the program."


St.John Vianney OL Micah Clark
"It was great I loved the new atmosphere it has now and how the coaches are for their players and trying to get the best out of them. I love the new coaching staff."

Don Bosco OL Liam Fornadel
"It was good to meet the coaches and understand what their philosophy is moving forward. I think the changes that they are making is going to benefit the student athletes. Can't wait to see the changes to the Hale Center. I had a great one on one conversation with Coach Blazek, really got to understand him and what he is looking for from his OLinemen."

St Peter’s Prep QB Johnathan Lewis

“The changes Coach Ash has made, he changed the life of a Rutgers athlete from nutrition to student life. I don’t remember Coach Flood doing anything exciting and all day Coach Ash has done exciting things. Speaking with (Mehringer) was fun, he’s a young and relateable guy. I’m definitely interested, the new staff is a lot more interesting and the new offense fits what we run at SPP.”


Union DE Mike Tverdov
"They really impressed me way more than I thought they would have. From when I got there to hearing the coaches speak, I got such a different vibe from them, especially from Coach Ash. He is a really disciplined guy who really seems to care about his players, not just on the field but off the field and how he wants them to become men and take care of themselves."

Metuchen TE Devin Miller
"They are trying to completely change the culture. Coach Ash said whatever you had in your mind about Rutgers before, just wipe it clean because they are changing everything."

Passaic Tech OL Carter Warren
"I had a great day! Very impressed with Coach Ash's presentation. What really stood out was Coach Ash talking about putting together a program for life after college!. And my time with Coach Blazek was amazing!."

Burlington Twp WR Everett Wormley
"A lot of stuff stood out. I'm convinced they are going to turn Rutgers into a powerhouse. Coach Parker's presentation had me ready to get in the weight room ASAP lol . & Coach Ash's last presentation about what Jersey would look like if we kept our top guys home stood out."

Wormley on spending time with His area recruiter and position coach Jafar Williams:

" He had me come up an hour early to spend some 1v1 time with me & my family & we talked afterward as well. It was great . Talked some football , school , personal life & what he has done in the past . He even ate lunch with my family."

Cedar Creek ATH and Rutgers legacy Bo Melton
"Rutgers was great, love Coach Ash honestly shows me how I can be an impact in NJ and as well as (teammate) Owen Bowels and other NJ players. They like me as an all around athlete."

Timber Creek DB and Rutgers commit Naijee Jones:
"I got to tell other players why I committed there. I got their numbers and stuff, just trying to do my part of the job. Coach Ash has a plan and he is dedicated with that plan. You can definitely feel the vibe as soon as you get into the building."

Cedar Creek OL/DL Owen Bowels
"Had a great time today overall though. I must say the quality and energy of the coaching staff really stuck out above all. Also the 24/7 food available was something I liked and thought it was a great concept. They like me at both OL and DT. I really don't have a preference both positional coaches liked me."

Salem RB Jon Taylor
"
The junior day was great , Coach Ash is making a change , and the great part about it is that it's happening fast. One instant change I saw was the standards that Coach Ash has set in place . They are posted in almost every room . They are clear cut and if the player can't maintain those standards then Rutgers might not be a fit for them .Coach Kuhr was charged up. He was so full of energy, I could tell he coaches with a passion. Coach Ash really talked about how guys from Jersey are going these other programs because they are considered championship programs , but if all us Jersey guys stayed home nothing but ourselves would stop Rutgers from being a championship program



Montclair OL Owen Drexel
"I had a great time looking at the facilities and meeting the coaching staff. Coach Ash is a great guy and doing great things for the program, I plan on getting back over there very soon."

Cherry Hill West CB Harrison Hand
"It was great. The coaches showed a lot of love. I could not walk through there without someone talking to me. They are really trying to make a difference and change things there."

Mater Dei WR Eddie Lewis
"The visit today was great I learned a lot of thing about what the new coaching staff is trying to do there. I really liked my visit a lot. The thing that stood out to me the most was the way talked about how they wanted to improve on certain things such as being able to help their players with life after football and things like that. And yes I did get that offer."

Elizabeth ATH Jahmin Muse
" It was unbelievable! Coach Ash has a lot planned. Just hearing his ideas and different ways to get us to become the best players in the nation.I spoke to Coach Ash , I spoke to Coach Burnham, and a few others . But they watched my film and I saw I played all over , an of right now safety it will be (position) but I can always go back on the other side of the ball . For example today I had to choose what position meeting I wanted to go to and I went with the safeties."

Cheshire Academy ATH CJ Holmes

“Coach Ash’s enthusiasm and just his desire to bring the program to a premier level ASAP stand out. I was intrigued. They like me at RB and as a Slot”

Depaul 2018 QB Shelton Applewhite

“The day was great , I feel as though Coach Ash is taking his knowledge from being a national champion and bringing it to NJ and using it on this program and making it a great program.

(Mehringer) was great our relationship is building up I see he's a really great coach on the field and an excellent friend off the field.”

Paramus Catholic QB Allan Walters (2018)
"It went good. I love what the new staff is doing, really changing it up. I really like the approach."

Cedar Grove WR Evidence Njoku
"I would say the new energy and vibe the coaches showed [stood out the most]. It's like they are all hungry for the same goal and that is to be successful."

Penns Grove LB Javar Garrett
"All the reconstruction they're doing there physically with the building and mentally with the players .. Just a championship mindset because a lot of the coaches came from championship teams"

Eastridge NY WR CJ Turner
"It was great. I would have to say the way the coaches care about their players so much and want them to succeed after football. The football part is great in what there changing and I would love to be at a growing program like that but the structure and the family feeling of the program is welcoming."

Hackensack DL Nadir Pineda
"Coach Ash's Passion (stood out) And You Can Definitely Tell There Is A Huge Difference In The Way Thing are Ran Around here. Also They Have A Whole New Meal Plan That They Have Here"

Hackensack DL/OL Eli Fields
"It was great i see a change in the system and I know there will be a lot more 2017 recruits.
They wanna recruit me for OL but Coach Busch is very interested and he told me to expect an offer very soon. He said because of my size there not looking for a 6"6 DT that runs a 5.2 but him and coach Burnham told me he wanna see at camp

Middletown South RB/LB James McCarthy
"It was great! Love coach Ash's new attitude about the program and how he wants to recruit high character players. How they want to put Jersey football back on the map stood out to me the most."

Don Bosco DE Ahmad Swafford
"It was good, it reminds me a lot of Bosco. The coaches spoke a lot about academics which is always key & they will not only prepare you for football but also prepare you for life after you graduate. It's so many good things I can mention."

Passaic Tech S Jermaine Wilder
"New coaches staff and there plan on making Rutgers a top notch program. What also stood out to me was the importance of there players to have a high paying job after college is done , if the NFL is out of reach ."

Bridgewater Raritan OL Zach Miseo
"Visit went great I really enjoyed it. You could sense the positive change in the program trying to bring there football program to the next level. While focusing on keeping their recruits in state."

St.Joseph Montvale WR Jordan Scott
"I loved everything about it but there wasn't really a key message. It was everything you'd want in a college. He preached on academics, football, and keeping NJ talent in NJ. It's a place every player in NJ should want to go to honestly."

Camden Catholic RB Nazir Streeter
"It was great I love it.. The family atmosphere and what they are going to do with the program is great. We watched a little bit of the practice. That they do in winter, that was interesting. It was just a little competition with tug-a-war , team building drills simple things like that. I spent time with both (Kuhr and Williams). They are really good guys, I feel like we connected. Coach Williams is my aunt's friend's brother, so that was cool. Coach Kuhr was a cool guy and I feel if I go there I could really click with him.

Mater Dei LB Marvin Pierre
" The visit was great man, l really enjoyed it. The food was amazing though, the coaching staff is well experienced and good. They like me as a LB."

Ocean QB Kenny Pickett

“It went great I got a chance to hear Coach Ash's plans for the program and where he sees it going in the future. Spent a lot of time with Coach Mehringer with my family which was great. Saw the new training table and nutrition plan for the team. Also heard the new strength and conditioning coach Kenny Parker and what his experience. I'm very excited for the future at Rutgers.

It was really good my mom and dad got to know him they really like him. Talked about how similar the offense I ran in the international bowl was very similar to his and I think I really fit the offense. We talked about recruiting during lunch today with my parents and I sent him a message tonight asking where I stand with Rutgers so hopefully I found out soon. My goal is to commit in June or July so I can help build a class and I'm interested in enrolling early. “


Cheshire Academy QB CJ Lewis

“It went great. I love the way the coaches are pushing the program. Coach Mehringer wants me to call him on Monday and Coach Ash wants me to visit ASAP and talk about the offense with the staff.”



Liberty (PA) WR Darien Street

“The visit went well, nothing stood out though because there was just a lot of kids... I would say Coach Ash sh is probably going to turn the program around in a positive way.”


West Orange LB C.J. Onyechi

“It was great. I could really see myself going there! The whole school is incredible and it was a great experience ... Hopefully after they see me at their camp they will be able to see me in action and start talking about scholarships if I'm lucky .”


Camden C Kurtis Huff

“It was GREAT....They have a lot to offer the coaching staff is great Coach Blazek, Coach Ash are great people. Coach Ash preached to us your attitude and effort determines if you’re going to raise the National Title in the end. Coach Blazek preaches that he wants his OL to be hungry and ambitious to win every battle. He wants a dawg somebody who will preserver through the fatigue and injuries. I believe RU could be the right place for me. Staying home and putting on for NJ was always a dream of mine”



St.John Vianney OL Jammal Beaty“It went well I liked it and what stood out was the new things they have to offer and the passion to want to recruit Jersey kids. I loved him great person and great coach enjoyed him a lot.”

Don Bosco 2018 DB Kevin Brennan

“It was a really great time. Definitely exceeded my expectations and I got a great gage of the new Rutgers program. It changed my view on the program in such a positive way and I'll definitely be back for more visits and camp.”


Don Bosco QB Tommy Devito

“I was really impressed with Rutgers! Coach Ash is clearly in charge and I love what he is going to do with Rutgers! They haven't offered me but if they did, I do not have a reason why I would not go there.”


St Joseph Prep OL Carter Lynch

“It was awesome I had a great time the coaches were great and I enjoyed talking to them.

They were great I was very impressed with everything they had to say. There were a lot of offensive linemen there today so we didn't get to talk too in depth, but we talked about my next visit in the upcoming weeks.”


Middletown North QB Donald Glenn

"Amazing!! Loved the new coaching staff, had a lot of great things to say. Definitely going to get down there a lot this spring. Yes I talked to him. I'm going up a lot more in the spring because it was packed today so it was hard to get some 1 on 1 time. But he's a great coach and I liked what I heard"
 
Last edited:
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Go Big.
Get Premium.

Join Rivals to access this premium section.

  • Say your piece in exclusive fan communities.
  • Unlock Premium news from the largest network of experts.
  • Dominate with stats, athlete data, Rivals250 rankings, and more.
Log in or subscribe today Go Back