Category: Rutgers recruiting

Former Rutgers recruiting target C.J. Roberts enters transfer portal

Former Rutgers recruiting target C.J. Roberts has entered the transfer portal. Here’s why Rutgers should target him again.

The NCAA basketball transfer portal continues to bustle. One of the top 35  point guards overall and top 15 in Texas from the class of 2017 is a free agent. C.J. Roberts from North Richland Hills, TX officially entered the transfer portal last week.

Roberts was a key contributor to the Aggies’ run to the WAC Tournament Championship game as a junior, averaging 6.9 points and 2.1 rebounds per game in 2020-21. Roberts scored in double figures six times for New Mexico State University.

A three-star shooting guard in the 247Sports Composite, this is the second time Roberts has entered the portal. Out of high school, he originally committed to and signed a letter of intent to play for the Missouri Tigers in November of 2016. He spent time at two different junior colleges, receiving Second-Team All-NTJCAC honors before enrolling at New Mexico State in June of 2020.

After playing in 20 games as a junior, Roberts transferred to Lamar. He never appeared in a game for the Cardinals prior to re-entering the portal.

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Roberts was rated as a four-star recruit by both ESPN and Rivals coming out of high school. As a prep, he collected three All-District awards. He averaged 22.5 points per game during his junior season and 25 points per game during his senior season.

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Head coach Steve Pikiell has gotten the best out of players during his entire tenure at Rutgers and he currently has the need to find ways to fill the scoring holes left from last season’s departing players. Add in his affinity for strong leadership, and Roberts and Rutgers could make a strong union.

Former Rutgers recruiting target Kyle Dobbins enters transfer portal

Former Rutgers football recruiting target Kyle Dobbins has officially entered the transfer portal.

One of the top 35 high school football players out of New Jersey and the No. 25 all-purpose back from the class of 2018 is now in the transfer portal. Former Temple Owl running back Kyle Dobbins officially entered the transfer portal Friday.

The Sicklerville, N.J. native is leaving Temple as a redshirt junior.

A three-star all-purpose back in the 247Sports Composite, Dobbins committed to Temple in June and signed a letter of intent in September of his senior high school season. He held offers from Northwestern, Boston College, North Carolina, and Rutgers. He also made visits to Penn State, Notre Dame, and South Carolina prior to enrolling at Temple.

Dobbins appeared in 11 career games for the Owls, rushing for 148 yards (3.8 per carry). he saw most of his action this past season.

Rutgers was active early in the portal. They do have options at running back, but with coach Greg Schiano’s recruiting background you can trust whomever he had his eye on.

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Georgia offers three-star Christopher Johnson Jr. who then de-commits from Rutgers

Rutgers football lost Christopher Johnson Jr. on Saturday as the running back de-committed from the program.

Hours after receiving an offer from Georgia, Florida athlete Christopher Johnson Jr. de-committed from Rutgers. Johnson had committed to Rutgers in March while on an unofficial visit to the Big Ten program.

He is a class of 2023 recruit out of Dillard (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) who is fast, elusive in the open field and is a solid receiving option out of the backfield. The decision to re-open his commitment certainly has something to do with his recent offer from the national champions.

Johnson tweeted about his Georgia offer on Saturday afternoon.

The 5-foot-11, 182-pound running back currently holds ‘Power Five’ offers that include Colorado, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Louisville, Pittsburgh and Syracuse in addition to Rutgers and Georgia. Rivals has Johnson listed as a three-star recruit.

Johnson’s message, posted early on Saturday evening, was simple: “I will be decommitting from the university of Rutgers, I am open to all schools now.”

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Johnson is a three-star running back who is also a standout sprinter. Recently, he posted one of his track times on Twitter where he tagged Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano as well as running backs coach Andrew Aurich and several recruiting reporters. Perhaps foreshadowing his decision to de-commit from Rutgers, he additionally tagged Georgia secondary coach Fran Brown on the tweet.

Brown, of course, left Rutgers this offseason to make a lateral move to Georgia.

 

A bit under-recruited, Johnson is an intriguing running back prospect who is likely to add other significant offers. Georgia currently does not have a running back commit in their 2023 recruiting class.

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Dillard finished last season 10-2. They lost 28-14 to Homestead in the playoffs to end their season.

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Trio from Holy Trinity attend Rutgers football spring game

Three players from Holy Trinity in Long Island give their feedback about Friday’s Rutgers football spring game.

Holy Trinity, a solid program in Long Island, had three recruits who attended the annual Rutgers football spring game on Friday night. They left impressed with the night and the overall direction of the program.

The three players from Holy Trinity traveled together to SHI Stadium for Friday night’s game:

The three Long Island standouts were among several dozen recruits from the 2023 and 2024 recruiting cycles that were checking out the rebuild of Rutgers football under head coach Greg Schiano.

Holy Trinity finished the season 10-0 with seven wins in conference play.

Check out what Bacon, Briggs and Parisi had to say about their visit to Rutgers football for the spring game. They talk about their relationships with head coach Greg Schiano, offensive line coach Augie Hoffman and assistant coach Scott Vallone.

What recruits are attending tonight’s Rutgers football spring game?

Rutgers football is hosting some top recruits for Friday’s annual spring game.

The annual spring game is definitely a big part of the evaluation of talent for Rutgers football. But it is also part of an exercise in marketing and visibility.

And without a doubt, the Scarlet Knights use the exhibition game for recruiting. It is a big opportunity to get 2023 recruits on campus and see the program’s development while also giving a taste of the gameday experience.

A busy spring that includes a number of visits from some big-time recruits in the recent weeks is capped off on Friday night with the spring game.

A number of top recruits will be on-hand on Friday night, ranging from class of 2023 standout three-star defensive lineman Isaiah Neal to several from Holy Trinity including linebacker Nick Parisi and Irvin Briggs among others.

Also scheduled is four star-offensive lineman Ben Roebuck from Ohio. There is also Jabree Coleman, a freshman running back from Philadelphia who already has 15 offers) who will be getting lots of attention on Friday night.

Check out who is scheduled to be at Rutgers football for Friday’s annual spring game.

Recent visit to Rutgers football was exciting for south Jersey standout Emmanuel Doivilus

Rutgers football hosted Vineland’s Emmanuel Doivilus this week.

Emmanuel Doivilus is coming off a recent Rutgers football visit where the south Jersey defensive lineman walked away with a strong impression of the program and a better relationship with the Scarlet Knights.

Doivilus holds an offer from William & Mary but is registering some strong “Power Five” interest including from Rutgers. The class of 2023 defensive lineman is a standout for Vineland High School (Vineland, N.J.). He reports in at 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds.

Earlier this week, he took a visit to Rutgers that he said made quite an impression.

“The visit was amazing – had a great time watching practice with a very high level of intensity all of the players being active, always moving with a high motor,” Doivilus told ‘Rutgers Wire.’

“Coaches were very welcoming, made me and my teammate feel at home. Got a great chance to see the facilities. Rutgers is just all around a beautiful place.”

Vineland is where Rutgers running back [autotag]Isaih Pacheco[/autotag] played his high school football. Pacheco is currently preparing for the upcoming NFL draft.

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Doivilus doesn’t have a Rutgers offer yet but if one were to come, it would be welcome.

“It would be a blessing and dream come true to be offered by Rutgers,” Doivilus said.

“It’s one of my highly favored schools to go to. I just feel like Rutgers is amazing in general and a great place to go to for my next four years.”

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Former Rutgers recruiting target Kaymar Mimes enters transfer portal

Former Rutgers football recruiting target Kaymar Mimes is in the transfer portal.

One of the top 25 high school football players out of New Jersey from the class of 2018 is now in the transfer portal. Former Pittsburgh Panther tight end Karmar Mimes officially entered the transfer portal last week.

The Long Branch, New Jersey native is leaving Pitt as a redshirt senior.

A three-star defensive end in the 247Sports Composite, Mimes committed to Pittsburgh in January of his senior high school season. He saw a few other  offers from teams in the northeast part of the country including Boston College, UConn, Temple, Wake Forest, and Rutgers. Mimes originally committed to Rutgers in December of 2017, but decommitted shortly after that before deciding on Pitt. Rivals.com had Mimes rated as a three-star defensive end. They rated him the No. 33 prospect in New Jersey.

 

Mimes appeared in 24 games for the Panthers, mostly on special teams, with one reception for 4 yards. He switched his main position from defensive end to tight end after arriving to Pittsburgh and did see time at both positions.

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Rutgers has been active in the transfer portal, looking for tight ends. Rutgers was among the first to offer Lafayette tight end Steven Stillianos, who ended up committing to Iowa.

Rutgers football: Rodney Lora confirms upcoming official visit

Rutgers football will host three-star defensive lineman Rodney Lora for an official visit.

Three-star defensive lineman Rodney Lora is set for an official visit to Rutgers football. Lora confirmed the news on his social media account on Tuesday night.

The news that Lora will be taking an official visit to Rutgers was broken on Tuesday night by 247Sports national recruiting analyst Brian Dohn.

Lora is a three-star defensive lineman who is ranked the No. 22 player in Virginia according to 247Sports. The class of 2023 recruit at Woodberry Forrest (Woodberry Forrest, VA) is also ranked the No. 87 defensive lineman in the nation.

He holds a number of ‘Power Five’ offers including Boston College, Duke, Michigan, Rutgers, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and West Virginia.

He posted the confirmation of the Rutgers football visit on Tuesday night following the report from 247Sports:

 

The class of 2023 is off to a solid start for Rutgers football. It features two top 10 players from New Jersey (four-star defensive linemen JaSire Peterson and three-star offensive lineman John Stone).

Within the past month, Rutgers has also added three-star Florida running back Christopher Johnson Jr. and three-star wide receiver Yazeed Haynes from Pennsylvania.

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Former Rutgers recruiting target Akok Akok enters transfer portal

Former Rutgers recruiting target and UConn Husky Akok Akok. has entered the transfer portal. Here’s why Rutgers should take another look at him

One of the top 100 recruits overall and the No. 2 recruit in Connecticut from the class of 2018 is a free agent as Akok Akok officially entered the transfer portal last week.

Standing at six-foot-ten with great mobility coming out of high school, it is no surprise that many programs were interested in Akok’s services. He saw offers from Rutgers, Louisville, Seton Hall, Syracuse, Georgetown, and Pittsburgh. UConn head coach Kevin Ollie and Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim both paid Akok a visit prior to him making his final decision.

The Putnam, CT native entered the portal one day after former UConn teammate Corey Floyd Jr. did the same.

A four-star power forward in the 247Sports Composite, Akok was a major player for the Huskies in his freshman season but has had to fight for time since after tearing his Achilles just seven games into his sophomore season.

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He committed to UConn in December of 2018. Akok averaged 5.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 2.2 blocks in what was his true freshman season prior to the injury.

 

The middle is strong for Rutgers, anchored by Cliff Omoruyi. That being said, head coach Steve Pikiell has done so much to get the best out of players and Omoruyi’s strength and transformation is in part a testament to the training staff at Rutgers.

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If Akok wants to rediscover that spark he showed as a freshman without the pressure to lead the way down low, Rutgers might be the best destination for him.

Former Rutgers recruit Corey Floyd Jr. enters transfer portal

Former Rutgers recruiting target and UConn Husky Corey Floyd Jr. has entered the transfer portal. Here’s why Rutgers should take another look at him

One of the top 25 shooting guards and top 100 recruits overall from the class of 2021 has entered the transfer portal. Former UConn Huskies guard Corey Floyd Jr. officially entered the portal last week. He is a native of Roselle, New Jersey.

A four-star combo guard in the 247Sports Composite, Floyd actually enrolled at UConn early and redshirted for the Huskies this past season. He committed to UConn in July of 2021. The freshman has four years of eligibility remaining.

Rutgers was officially the first program to extend Floyd an offer when he was still in high school. The Roselle Catholic alum received offers from some major programs including Auburn, Florida, Miami, Wake Forest, and Villanova.

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As a senior in high school, Floyd averaged 16.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists to lead Roselle to a No. 3 ranking in the N.J.com Top 20. Rutgers was originally part of his final seven schools.

Rutgers has lost some strength at the guard position and will need scoring depth with the departures of Ron Harper Jr. and Geo Baker. If head coach Steve Pikiell can bring Floyd in, Rutgers will be in a great position to build on the groundwork of success laid by Baker and Harper.

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