Sharlandiin Strange cut down his recruitment this week, naming a top five that includes Rutgers football.
From Cheltenham High School (Cheltenham, Pennsylvania), Strange has grown into one of the top recruits in the nation. In the ESPN 300, he is No. 263 and a four-star recruit.
Strange included Rutgers in a top five that also has Penn State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and USC.
Rutgers seems to be making a strong impression on Strange with his decision date fast approaching.
“Rutgers has been showing tons of love, maybe the most love out of all the schools recruiting,” Strange told Rutgers Wire on Friday night.
“The whole coaching staff shows me love, emails, everything. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
This past season, Strange had 28 total tackles, seven sacks and 10 tackles for a loss. At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, he has a good frame but adds some nice speed and burst off the edge.
Stange’s cutdown to five programs comes with him expecting to commit soon. He said a decision is expected to be coming on January 27.
“For my top five, I picked who I picked because those are the schools that are most genuine with me, showing love,” Strange said.
“Always texting, reaching out to me on the phone. The reason why I dropped right now, the top five now – life is moving fast. Everything is moving fast. I’m already locked in for the next level.”
As for his priorities, Strange said that communication with the coaching staff needs to be open, honest and upfront.
“The most important thing for me is genuine love. I don’t want anyone to be fake with me because I wouldn’t be fake,” Strange said.
“I want people to be real with me, honest with me. Tell it like it is.”