Tag: Cooper Ackerman

Rutgers football recruiting: Cooper Ackerman official visit update

Three-star defensive lineman Cooper Ackerman had a Rutgers football official visit scheduled.

On Thursday, three-star defensive lineman Cooper Ackerman committed to UConn on an official visit. This decision appears to have impacted his scheduled official to Rutgers, which was supposed to take place in early June.

Ackerman, a class of 2024 recruit from Shrewsbury High School (Shrewsbury, MA) is a consensus three-star and a top-five-ranked player in Massachusetts. He held Power Five offers from Boston College and Rutgers in addition to offers from Army, Temple and, of course, UConn.

He tells Rutgers Wire that he is 100 percent sold on UConn following his verbal this week, to the point that he is closing down his recruitment. No ifs, ands or buts.

“Now that I’m committed to UConn I won’t be taking visits elsewhere,” Ackerman told Rutgers Wire on Friday night.

This means that there won’t be a Rutgers official visit in June.

Rutgers was perceived as the favorite to land Ackerman, especially since they were the only Power Five official visit that he scheduled. But UConn did a great job of recruiting Ackerman and sold him on the idea of playing close to home.

“Things with Rutgers just didn’t work out, the coaching staff was great the whole time and I respect the whole staff,” Ackerman said.

“UConn was just a better fit for me and I feel that it is the right place.”

[lawrence-related id=27215,27200]

Rutgers football recruiting: Cooper Ackerman lays out his official visits

Cooper Ackerman details his official visits including Rutgers football.

Three-star defensive end Cooper Ackerman already has an idea of not only his official visits but also when he might make a commitment.

Ranked by 247Sports as the fifth-best player in Massachusetts in the 2024 recruiting class, Ackerman is a 6-foot-4, 240-pound edge from Shrewsbury High School (Shrewsbury, MA). He holds Power Five offers from Boston College and Rutgers.

As for his official visits, Ackerman is planning to visit Rutgers the weekend of June 9. He also will be at UConn the following weekend.

Ackerman took a visit to Rutgers in the spring and is doing well in his recruitment. The breadth and depth of his connection with the coaching staff is what is leading to his official visit at Rutgers in June.

“Rutgers is one of my officials because they’ve been there since the beginning of my recruitment,” Ackerman told Rutgers Wire on Sunday night.

“They were the first school to offer and have been in consistent contact since. They’ve shown loyalty this whole time, I have a great relationship with the whole staff and I love what they have to offer.”

Last season, Shrewsbury finished a disappointing 4-7.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

In terms of any other official visits beyond Rutgers and UConn, Ackerman is open to the idea of visiting one or two other programs that he has developed a relationship with over the past couple of seasons.

“I’d say Army or Navy might also get an official because those schools interest me and you get bigtime football,” Ackerman said.

“And you’re pretty much set after you graduate.”

[lawrence-related id=26828,26830]

[mm-video type=video id=01h08xdzwxqxf2j1vscg playlist_id=none player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01h08xdzwxqxf2j1vscg/01h08xdzwxqxf2j1vscg-9aba86069bf184ee23ae8edc61c89575.jpg]

Cooper Ackerman takes another successful visit to Rutgers football, locks in a June official visit

Three-star defensive end Cooper Ackerman from Massachusetts spoke about his recent Rutgers football visit and upcoming decision plans.

Three-star defensive end Cooper Ackerman was on campus over the weekend and visited Rutgers football. The visit, according to Ackerman, was a solid one for one of New England’s top prospects.

Ackerman is ranked as the fifth-best player in Massachusetts according to Rivals. He is a 6-foot-4, 230-pound defensive lineman at Shrewsbury (Shrewsbury, MA).

His Power Five offers currently stand at Boston College and Rutgers. He also holds offers from programs such as UConn and UMass.

Ackerman checked out Saturday’s scrimmage at Rutgers, the first of the spring season.

“It was great. They showed me the NIL and marketing side of things which was really cool,” Ackerman told Rutgers Wire.

“I like how they teach the players good money management. Skills like that are good for life after football and I like how they look out for their players from the financial aspect.”

On Saturday, Rutgers received a commitment from Sam Pilof, a three-star linebacker who held three Power Five offers including two from Big Ten programs.

[lawrence-related id=25934]

Ackerman has made multiple visits to Rutgers over the past year and has developed a solid relationship with the program and the coaching staff.

In June, he will be taking an official visit in June at Rutgers. No other official visits, as of now, are being planned by Ackerman.

He hopes to commit to a program in July.

Saturday’s visit was another good opportunity for Ackerman to deepen his relationship with the program. As far as what stood out, he talked about the program’s mentality as they enter a fourth season of rebuilding under head coach Greg Schiano.

[lawrence-related id=25941]

“I’d say the culture of the team,,” Ackerman said. “Watching at practice they were really pushing each other to be the best they can be.”

[lawrence-related id=25947]

[mm-video type=video id=01gxp2zr276vj0awak2m playlist_id=none player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gxp2zr276vj0awak2m/01gxp2zr276vj0awak2m-3b87afee5929daeecfba02b25638a3a4.jpg]

 

What recruits visited Rutgers football for Saturday’s scrimmage?

Sam Pilof, Cooper Ackerman highlight visitors from Saturday.

A trio of impressive visitors were at Rutgers on Saturday, one of whom gave a surprise commitment to the program.

This weekend, Rutgers football hosted a coaching clinic that was highlighted by guest speaker Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots head coach, and his son Brian Belichick (Patriots safeties coach). A number of high school coaches from the area were present for Saturday’s practice, where they saw a combination of drills but also the first scrimmage of spring.

The scrimmage provides a backdrop for Rutgers football to host several players over the weekend, including one who gave a verbal on Saturday evening:

[lawrence-related id=25934]

Who visited Rutgers last week? Tuesday’s practice saw the following recruits in attendance:

On Thursday, the following recruits attended practice:

  • Benjamin Black, a wide receiver from Mallard Creek (Charlotte, NC)
  • Teddy Foster, a defensive back from Cardinal Mooney (Sarasota, FL)
  • Devon Gonzalez, a running back from Holy Trinity (Hicksville, N.Y.)
  • Emanuel Mingo, a running back from East Side (Newark, N.J.)
  • Nick Parisi, a linebacker from Holy Trinity (Hicksville, N.Y.)

In addition, two committed players were in attendance on Thursday:

  • A.J. Surace, a three-star quarterback from Notre Dame Prep (Lawrenceville, N.J.)
  • Gabriel Winowich, a four-star running back from Detroit County Day (Beverly Hills, MI)

[lawrence-related id=25947]

[mm-video type=video id=01gxxeqq35yr8hwfgy4h playlist_id=none player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gxxeqq35yr8hwfgy4h/01gxxeqq35yr8hwfgy4h-7bbd04ee2c55d46f142f82f197d0c51f.jpg]