Tag: Elijah King

Film Assessment: Did Rutgers land a Power Five defensive end in Elijah King?

2024 recruit Elijah King is a solid addition to Rutgers football as he has all the characteristics of becoming a standout Power Five player.

Rutgers football landed defensive end Elijah King to their 2024 recruiting class when the Ohio native provided his verbal commitment on Thursday.

On June 2, King visited the Scarlet Knights, and communication with the three-star recruit never stopped. The 6-foot-6, 230-pound defensive end is ranked No. 31 in Ohio and No. 64 among edge rushers in his recruiting class, according to On3.

King, from Gahanna, OH, received 19 offers and visited Purdue last weekend. The three-star prospect had a visit scheduled with Indiana but is off now that King is all in on being a Scarlet Knight. With his commitment, King is the first Ohio recruit in the Rutgers 2024 class.

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In 2022, King guided Lincoln High School (Ohio) to a 13-2 record and are the No. 12 school in the state.

Film Breakdown

Watching King’s film from last season, you notice he is an all-around solid player. King offers excellent pass-rush moves and can maintain gap responsibility during running plays. He fires off the ball with good pad leverage and uses violent hands to cause penetration in the backfield.

King has a high football IQ, knowing to maintain outside leverage when playing the edge position. Opposing offensive linemen can’t seal the edge because of King’s hand placement and technique. The new Scarlet Knight uses his length to help him shed opposing blockers.

His quickness and speed are King’s strengths when playing defensive end. The three-star prospect is quick off the ball, causing havoc in the offensive backfield.

King’s ability to take on double teams might be an issue as he develops into a Power Five player. At times, King does get pushed back when opposing linemen double-team him. Being only 230 pounds, King is on the lighter side for a defensive end in the Big Ten Conference.

When King arrives on campus, head coach Greg Schiano will have him in the weight room to put on some size. King is a solid addition to Rutgers football as he has all the characteristics of becoming a standout Power Five player.

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A special bond with Rutgers football and the chance to play in the Big Ten: Inside Elijah King’s commitment

Rutgers football landed Elijah King through a clear bond and connection with the program.

Nearly three weeks after his official visit to the Rutgers football program, Elijah King committed to the Scarlet Knights. It was a decision born from his comfort level with the program as he connected with the coaching staff and players during his three days in New Jersey.

King, a long and athletic edge rusher from Gahanna, OH (Lincoln High School), is a strong addition to the 2024 recruiting class for Rutgers.

A consensus three-star according to Rivals and 247Sports, King has a strong Power Five offer list that includes Cincinnati, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, Kentucky, Minnesota, Purdue and West Virginia among others. He took an official visit to Rutgers on the weekend of June 2.

He said the relationship with head coach Greg Schiano and defensive line coach Marquise Watson played a role in his commitment to Rutgers three weeks after his official visit.

“The players really stuck out to me, talking to them, getting to know them and seeing what their life is like,” King told Rutgers Wire this week.

“They just told me how coach Watson would have my back, coach Schiao is always open. They like it there.”

His player host for the weekend was defensive end D.J. Allen who is from Indiana. The time King spent with Allen was influential in his eventually picking Rutgers.

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King was going to visit either Iowa or Indiana this weekend. He notified both programs that he would not be attending either official visit.

He said that the time on the official visit helped him develop a bond and a connection with the program that stood out from all the other official visits he had. It was a feeling that he couldn’t find anywhere else.

“Just really, the culture and the people – coach Schiano and coach Watson – just the people and just everybody,” King said.

“It was the vibe. When I got there, I felt great. I felt they had it on a different level. I felt like they got me and it was genuine.”

There was also the chance to play in the Big Ten, something that definitely factored into his decision.

Growing up in Ohio, King was a fan of the Big Ten and had dreams of playing in the conference. Now with his commitment to Rutgers, the Ohio defensive end will have the chance to play in the Big Ten.

“It meant everything, I always wanted to play in the Big Ten,” King said. “It is a great opportunity to play in a great conference, and get a great education.”

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Elijah King talks Scarlet Knights commitment: ‘Rutgers hit different’

Rutgers football connected with Elijah King in a special way.

Elijah King caps off a busy two days for Rutgers football that saw three recruits – all on defense – commit to the Scarlet Knights.

A defensive lineman from Lincoln High School (Gahanna, OH), King is an already impressive 6-foot-6  and 230 pounds. He says that Rutgers defensive line coach [autotag]Marquise Watson[/autotag] likens his game to that of Aaron Lewis, the Scarlet Knights standout who was one of the top edge rushers in the nation a season ago.

After taking an official visit to New Jersey in early June, King took the past couple of weeks to take other visits before starting to feel like Rutgers football and head coach [autotag]Greg Schiano[/autotag]’s program could be home. He had one more official visit opening for this upcoming weekend, at either Indiana or Iowa, but he canceled both visits after committing to Rutgers on Thursday afternoon.

The three-star defensive lineman said that one thing on the official visit to Rutgers really stood out to him.

“Just really, the culture and the people – coach Schiano and coach Watson – just the people and just everybody,” King told Rutgers Wire on Thursday shortly after his commitment.

“It was the vibe. When I got there, I felt great. I felt they had it on a different level. I felt like they got me and it was genuine.”

Cincinnati, Indiana,  Iowa, Iowa State, Kentucky, Minnesota, Purdue and West Virginia all offered King.

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He speaks of a relationship with Rutgers with Watson that is meaningful and impactful. One that he said stuck out from the other places he visited.

“I feel like coach Watson – he’s a different guy. He made it feel like home on the visit,” King said.

“I just didn’t feel like it was fake. I felt I could be myself, I didn’t have to put on a show. I felt comfortable with the coaches, the players. They reminded me of my family. The things they believe in – ‘F.A.M.I.L.Y.’, ‘Trust’ and ‘CHOP’ are the things I believe in too.”

The process is over, King said, and he isn’t planning on taking any other visits. He admits to being a bit relieved and is focused on his offseason workouts as well as spending some time relaxing, primarily at the pool with his friends.

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Making the decision, he says, now has him feeling “relieved” that the recruiting process is over.

Prior to his visit, there were concerns prior to his visit about being so far away from home but those were alleviated after talking with coach Schiano and feeling a sense of comfort around the program.

“Rutgers hit different,” King said. “I felt comfortable there. I don’t know how else to say it, but it just felt right for me.”

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King of Rutgers: Ohio three-star defensive end Elijah King commits to Rutgers football

Rutgers football lands Elijah King.

Elijah King announced to Rutgers football on Thursday, with the Scarlet Knights continuing their recruiting momentum.

It is now three commitments for Rutgers in two days, all coming on the defensive side of the ball.

At 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, King is a class of 2024 defensive end from Gahanna Lincoln (Columbus, OH). He is a tremendous presence off the edge, with good length coupled with a nice twitch that is a headache for offensive tackles.

He holds offers from a range of programs including Cincinnati, Indiana, Iowa State, Kentucky, Minnesota and West Virginia among others.

King announced his commitment to Rutgers via his social media on Thursday afternoon.

King visited Rutgers for an official visit in early June.

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King of the Hill? Elijah King talks official visits…will Rutgers football get one?

Rutgers football recruit Elijah King talks official visits including Rutgers football.

Three-star Elijah King is emerging as one of the top recruits in what has been a rather strong year in Ohio. The defensive end has a couple of Big Ten official visits lined up in June with Rutgers football leading off things.

Powerful and with a good, solid twitch, King is a class of 2024 defensive end from Gahanna Lincoln (Columbus, OH). At 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, he already has legitimate size and strength, a major reason why he has pulled in several Big Ten offers.

In June, King has several official visits lined up with potentially one more in the mix.

“I got three locked in for sure,” King told Rutgers Wire. “I (also) got to pick Indiana or Iowa.”

The three official visits for King that are definites will all take place in June:

  • Rutgers (June 2-4)
  • Cincinnati (June 9-11)
  • Purdue (June 16-18)

Ohio State is a place that could be one to watch for King

“I mean, my main goal is to just better as a player. It would be awesome if I did (get an offer) since most of my family has gone through Ohio State,” King said.

“I just have (my) blood in the football program – my grandma’s brother played for Woody Hayes and won a national championship.”

That relative is Howard Lambert and he was a part of the 1961 Ohio State team under the legendary Hayes. That team went 8-0-1, won the Big Ten and was awarded the national championship by the Football Writers Association of America.

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In addition, King’s mother worked as a student assistant at Ohio State under former head coach John Cooper.

As for the official visits, Rutgers is the first of the visits and one of the programs after him the hardest. He singled out defensive line coach Marquise Watson for his role in recruiting him.

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“They have been in contact with me the most – really everyone has,” King said about Rutgers.

“Coach Watson came to the showcase and only came to ours for me.”

As for the relationship with Rutgers, King said it is a strong one. The three-star is intrigued by the values within the program as the Scarlet Knights head for their fourth season of a rebuild under head coach Greg Schiano.

“What stands out is the CHOP,” King said. “I’ve never heard anything like it – I love it. Their culture is amazing.”

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Elijah King has Rutgers football official visit planned, others from the Big Ten

Elijah King will be visiting Rutgers football in June for an official visit.

Ohio defensive lineman Elijah King has several Big Ten official visits planned and in the mix. The first of those visits will be Rutgers football in June.

King, at 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, is a class of 2024 defensive end from Gahanna Lincoln (Columbus, OH). He is a three-star recruit according to Rivals.

His most recent offers came in March from Iowa and Purdue.

Official visits are looming for Kind, who will first check-in with Rutgers on June 2:

  • Rutgers (June2-4)
  • Cincinnati (June 9-11)
  • Purdue (June 16-18)

The standout defensive lineman also said that there also is the possibility of King taking official visits to Iowa and Indiana.

In early March, King spoke with Rutgers Wire about his relationship with the Scarlet Knights and where things stand with the program.

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“I love what they have there and the culture. I do look forward to going and learning more about Rutgers,” King said.

The Rutgers football recruiting class currently stands at eight commits, with six coming on the offensive side of the ball.

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Who is visiting Rutgers football on Saturday?

Rutgers football set for a star-studded group of visitors this week.

Saturday will be a busy day for Rutgers football as the Big Ten program will host a number of top recruits for practice.

Several top recruits from Ohio as well as one of New Jersey’s best offensive linemen will be at the scrimmage. Here is a look at some names to keep an eye out for

  • Jack Hines, a three-star offensive tackle from Avon Old Farm (Avon, CT)
  • Elijah King, a three-star defensive lineman from Gahanna Lincoln (Columbus, OH)
  • Monty Keener, a three-star tight end from Linden High School (Linden, MI)
  • Jason Patterson, a running back from Sneads High School (Sneads, FL)
  • Judah Pruitt, a three-star offensive lineman from Malcolm X. Shabazz High School (Newark, N.J.)
  • Devyn Zahursky, a three-star tight end from Midland (Cleveland, OH)

The trip for Pruitt indicates a second visit in as many weeks, a good sign as Rutgers continues to trend well with the No. 28 player in New Jersey. The Scarlet Knights are believed to be the favorites right now for the 6-foot-5, 315-pound guard prospect.

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The visit from Hines is more good news for Rutgers as one of New England’s premier players makes another trip to the program. Hines has spoken positively about the program and offensive line coach Pat Flaherty in a recent interview.

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Elijah King, a three-star edge, opens up on Rutgers football offer and his spring visit to Ohio State

Ohio three-star Elijah King talks about his recent Rutgers football offer.

Elijah King was offered by Rutgers football this week and so far, the Big Ten program has made a strong impression on the three-star defensive lineman.

At 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, King is a class of 2024 defensive end from Gahanna Lincoln (Columbus, OH). He is a tremendous presence off the edge, with good length coupled with a nice twitch that is a headache for offensive tackles.

The recruitment from Rutgers was kicked into high gear with the offer this week. It began with a conversation between King and tight ends coach Andrew Aurich. Then progressed to a talk with head coach Greg Schiano.

“I was first contacted by coach Aurich and we had a FaceTime call talking about Rutgers. Talking about F.A.M.I.L.Y, Trust, CHOP and talking about the culture. Then he got me in touch with coach Schiano,” King told Rutgers Wire.

“After talking with coach Schiano, I feel really good about the program. I’m looking forward to finding out more. I truly appreciate them for believing in me enough to give me an offer.”

He holds offers from a range of programs including Cincinnati, Indiana, Iowa State, Kentucky, Minnesota and West Virginia among others.

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It is early, but Rutgers is doing well with King.

“I love what they have there and the culture. I do look forward to going and learning more about Rutgers,” King said.

King said that the programs after him the hardest are “Purdue, Indiana, Minnesota and Ohio State.”

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The Buckeyes are likely to get a visit from King in the spring.

“I grew up in a Buckeyes family that went to Ohio State – and Ohio State is a great program,” King said.

“It would mean a lot to have an offer from there however, I would still use the same determining factors I would use with any other college.”

He said those factors are “Family within the team, great relationships with all the coaches, program of study and after-college programs.”

Rutgers currently has three players committed in the 2024 recruiting class:

  • Kenny Jones, a three-star offensive lineman from New Jersey
  • A.J. Surace, a three-star quarterback from New Jersey
  • Gabriel Winowich, a four-star running back from Michigan

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Rutgers football extends an offer to Elijah King

Ohio defensive end Elijah King offered by Rutgers football this week.

It has been a busy few weeks for Elijah King as the three-star defensive end from Ohio is racking up multiple Power Five offers. The latest Power Five offer came on Monday night from Rutgers football.

King, a 6-foot-6, 230-pound defensive end from Gahanna Lincoln (Columbus, OH), has seen offers come in from Minnesota, Kentucky, West Virginia and Indiana over the past month. The class of 2024 recruit also holds Power Five offers from Cincinnati and Iowa State.

He is ranked a three-star recruit by 247Sports. He is the No. 65 recruit in Ohio and the No. 75 edge in the nation.

Gahanna is a powerhouse program in Ohio, finishing last season 13-2.

Rutgers has pulled in a couple of players from Ohio over the past few seasons. Kwabena Asamoah, an interior offensive lineman from Ohio, earned several starts for Rutgers in 2022 as a true freshman.

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Part of the 2023 recruiting class, Dom Rivera is a 6-foot-8, 315-pound offensive tackle from Olmstead Falls (Olmstead, OH). He picked Rutgers over offers that included Boston College, Iowa State and Syracuse.

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