Category: Rutgers recruiting

Rutgers basketball latest to offer Florida four-star forward

Sam Walters, a four-star from Florida, got an offer from Rutgers basketball this week.

Sam Walters pulled in an offer from Rutgers basketball this week, putting the Scarlet Knights fresh in the mix for one of the top big men in the nation.

The 6-foot-9 forward plays his high school ball at The Villages Charter (The Villages, FL). Last season, he averaged 24.9 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. He also averaged 1.9 blocks per game.

Walters is a four-star recruit according to Rivals and ranked the No. 28 player in the nation.

The Rutgers offer is the second in less than a week for Walters. Last Saturday, Walters pulled in an offer from Alabama.

He currently holds offers from Florida, Georgetown, LSU, Ole Miss, South Florida, Stetson, Tennessee, and Virginia Tech in addition to his recent offers from Alabama and Rutgers.

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As with most players recruited by Steve Pikiell, Walters has good shooting range and is strong defensively.

Walters tweeted about the offer on April 26:

 

Rutgers has also been heavily involved with Gus Yalden, a four-star power forward from North Carolina who has been on-campus multiple times.

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The Rutgers 2022 recruiting class was a solid one, featuring two commits.

New Jersey three-star guard Derek Simpson was the first member of the 2022 recruiting class to commit to Rutgers when he gave his verbal last August. Antwone Woolfolk, a three-star power forward from Ohio, committed to Rutgers last fall.

Ja’elyne Matthews talks his new offers from Ohio State, Penn State and Georgia

Ja’elyne Matthews breaks down his recent offers from Ohio State, Penn State and Georgia as well as where Rutgers football stands in his recruitment.

Ja’elyne Matthews has seven offers from Power Five programs since Monday. It is a remarkable run of offers for Matthews, who is becoming one of the hottest recruits in New Jersey.

Oh, and Matthews is still a freshman in high school.

The offers keep rolling in for Matthews, a standout offensive lineman at Toms River North (Toms River, N.J.). The offers show no signs of slowing down.

On Thursday morning, the 6-foot-6, 300-pound offensive tackle got offers from Cincinnati and Louisville before 10 AM.

It all started this past fall when Matthews hauled in an offer from Rutgers football in late October, his first offer coming from the Big Ten program. He came into April with offers from the Scarlet Knights, Boston College and UConn.

Then, things started to heat up.

This week, he got an offer from Georgia, the reigning national champions (the offer from Georgia came from Fran Brown, a former Rutgers football assistant). Shortly after that, some other big-time offers came in including Ohio State, Texas A&M, Penn State, Syracuse and others.

Penn State made Matthews their first offensive tackle for a class of 2025 recruit.

On Friday night, Matthews took a visit to Rutgers for the annual spring game.

 

Check out what [autotag]Ja’elyne Matthews[/autotag] had to say about his recent offers from Georgia, Ohio State, Penn State and also his thoughts on where Rutgers stands in his recruitment.

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Former Rutgers recruiting target Audley Isaacs enters transfer portal

Former Rutgers football recruiting target Audley Isaacs has officially entered the transfer portal.

One of the top 150 linebackers and top 50 high school football players out of Pennsylvania from the class of 2017 has entered the transfer portal. Former Temple linebacker Audley Isaacs officially entered the transfer portal last week.

The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native and Valley Forge Military Academy alum is leaving Temple as a graduate transfer.

A two-star recruit according to Rivals and a three-star linebacker in the 247Sports Composite signed his letter of intent to play for the Temple Owls in May of his senior high school season. Prior to that, he received interest  from UConn, West Virginia, Cornell, Army, and Rutgers.

Isaacs finishes his time at Temple mostly seeing time on special teams. He did finish with 26 tackles and a fumble recovery in 27 games played during his time with the Owls. Greg Schinao’s defense is strong and tenacious, something Isaacs has shows when given the opportunity when rotating in at linebacker.

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He did suffer a season ending injury in a game against Memphis in 2020, but that was after stepping in at linebacker and setting a career-high in tackles (eight), as well as scooping up that fumble. He would bring veteran experience and leadership to the Scarlet Knight locker room.

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Semaj Bridgeman adds major offer from Alabama

Four-star linebacker Semaj Bridgeman now has an offer from Alabama football.

Four-star linebacker Semaj Bridgeman just pulled down an offer from Alabama on Wednesday, bringing another big-time offer to the Pennsylvania linebacker.

Bridgeman, a multi-year starter at Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia), tweeted about the offer from the SEC powerhouse on Wednesday morning.

The linebacker has been considered a bit of a lean to Rutgers, having made multiple visits the past year and developing a good relationship with the Scarlet Knights.

The Alabama offer shouldn’t be a surprise given that Bridgeman holds a number of top offers.

There has been a flurry of SEC activity in the Mid-Atlantic area over the past few days. Class of 2025 offensive tackle [autotag]Ja’elyne Matthews[/autotag] (Toms River North; Toms River, N.J.) got an offer from Georgia football on Monday. In addition, Georgia offered New Jersey defensive end [autotag]Jordan Thomas[/autotag] (Don Bosco Prep; Oradell, N.J.) on Wednesday. Both Georgia offers came from secondary coach Fran Brown, a former assistant at Rutgers.

Bridgeman got an offer from Georgia in February.

 

According to Rivals, Bridgeman is the No. 11 linebacker in the nation and the seventh-best player in Pennsylvania.

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In addition to the aforementioned programs of Alabama, Georgia and Rutgers, Bridgeman also holds offers from the likes of Florida, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State among others.

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Former Rutgers recruiting target Ryan Conway enters transfer portal

Former Rutgers recruiting target and Seton Hall Pirate Ryan Conway has entered the transfer portal. Rutgers should target him again

The NCAA transfer portal has been very active in April. One of the top 25  point guards overall and the No. 4 recruit in Maryland from the class of 2021 is a free agent. Ryan Conway from Seton Hall officially entered the transfer portal Thursday.

The 6-foot-one guard was a two-time All-Metro selection by The Baltimore Sun. Conway was also a First Team All-State selection by the Maryland Basketball Coaches Association.

As a sophomore in high school, he averaged 21.5 points, 4.5 assists, and 2.7 steals per game. He exploded for a 55-point game in January of his senior high school season, as well.

A three-star shooting guard in the 247Sports Composite, Conway did not see the court during his freshman season with the Seton Hall Pirates despite being heavily recruited out of high school. The sophomore will have four years of eligibility whenever he makes his decision. He committed to Seton Hall in May of his senior season. Prior to committing to play for the Pirates, Conway received offers from Stanford, Vanderbilt, Pittsburgh, Kansas State, and Rutgers.

Rutgers needs scoring help and depth at guard. With head coach Steve Pikiell’s penchant for getting the most out of players, Conway revisiting Rutgers may be best for both parties.

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Rutgers basketball latest to offer three-star Devin Royal

Rutgers men’s basketball offers three-star forward Devin Royal of Ohio.

Devin Royal is one of the latest high school ballers to receive an offer from Rutgers men’s basketball. The senior announced the offer on social media on Monday.

The 6-foot-6, 210-pound small forward fits the mold of the type of player coach Steve Pikiell wants on his squad. A physical, athletic finisher around the rim that excels off the dribble. Add in his developing jump shot, and he could see a higher level than his three-star rating.

Royal finished with a game-high 20 points to lead his school, Pickerington Central, to win the Ohio Division I state title. They snapped their opponents 45 game win streak in the process.

247Sports has Royal ranked as a three-star forward and the sixth best player in Ohio in the class of 2023. He already has offers from several Big Ten schools like Penn State, Ohio State, Illinois, and Michigan State – as well as Butler, Xavier, and Florida State among others.

The Spartans offer came just two days before the Scarlet Knights’.

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Georgia latest to offer New Jersey stud freshman offensive tackle Ja’elyne Matthews

Ja’elyne Matthews, offered by Rutgers football in the fall, gets a Georgia offer on Monday.

Ja’elyne Matthews is blowing up on the recruiting cycle, the freshman offensive lineman getting a major SEC offer on Monday.

National champion Georgia offered Matthews, getting in early on the starting left tackle for Toms River North.

At 6-foot-6 and 300 pounds, Matthews already has the size of most Big Ten and SEC offensive line recruits. He has very good strength, naturally moves well and showed well in his first season as a starter on the Toms River North’s varsity team.

In October, Matthews got his first offer from Rutgers football. He became the first class of 2025 player in New Jersey to be offered by the program.

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Matthews attended the Rutgers spring game on Friday night. He has spoken positively about the program in the past.

 

Matthews posted about the offer on Monday morning:

 

Last week, Matthews tweeted his freshman highlights. It is easy to see from the film why he is becoming such a big recruit and will easily be a four-star recruit.

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In addition to Monday’s offer from Georgia and his first offer from Rutgers, Matthews also holds offers from Boston College and UConn.

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Four-star Sydir Mitchell talks Rutgers football, spring visit and his upcoming officials

Sydir Mitchell talks about his recent Rutgers football visit and his upcoming official visits.

Sydir Mitchell is one of the most coveted players in New Jersey, the defensive tackle coming off a Friday visit to Rutgers football for the annual spring game.

Mitchell is a four-star in the 247Sports Composite. The 6-foot-5, 335-pound interior defensive lineman combines tremendous attributes of strength must also athleticism that will allow him to chase down ball carriers well beyond the line of scrimmage. He is the complete package as a defensive tackle.

The Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) prospect is ranked the fifth-best recruit in New Jersey according to 247Sports. Rivals has him as a four-star and the fourth-best player in New Jersey for the class of 2023 as well as the nation’s No. 15 defensive tackle.

In late March, Mitchell announced that he will participate in the Under Armour All-America Game.

In an interview on Sunday afternoon, Mitchell talked about the programs that likely will be getting an official visit. Mitchell likely won’t take an official visit to Rutgers given his familiarity with the program but he plans on taking an unofficial trip over the summer.

Mitchell is planning to drop his top 10 on Monday. It seems that Rutgers and several other top programs will make the cut.

He hopes to announce his college decision sometime in August.

What did Mitchell think of his visit to Rutgers football for the spring game? How is his relationship with Rutgers head coach [autotag]Greg Schiano[/autotag] and defensive line coach [autotag]Marquise Watso[/autotag]n? And what four programs are after him the hardest (spoiler alert…he says Rutgers, Georgia, Texas A&M and Auburn)? Are any officials set in stone for Mitchell? Check out Mitchell’s interview for the latest scoop on the four star’s plans!

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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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