Tag: Jaelyne Matthews

What four Rutgers football commits are in the ESPN 300?

Rutgers football now has four ESPN300 commits in the class of 2025.

One of the top recruiting classes in the nation, Rutgers football isn’t just deep with their 2025 class. They are, according to the ESPN 300, also a very talented group of commits to the Big Ten program.

Rutgers has been hot on the recruiting trail over the past month, with 20 commits during that span. The flurry of verbals, nearly one a day, has led the Scarlet Knights to have a top-10 recruiting class and one of the best classes in the Big Ten.

And there is the potential for this class to be the best ever in program history. Following the commitment over the weekend of four-star linebacker D.J. McClary, Rutgers now has one of the top recruiting classes in the ESPN 300 for the class of 2025.

Currently, four Rutgers football commits in the 2026 class are ranked in the ESPN 300. And perhaps most impressive is that three of the four committed players are in the top half of the class.

Here are the four Rutgers football commits who are in the ESPN 300:

  • No. 111: Michael Thomas III (wide receiver at Donovan Catholic in Toms River, New Jersey)
  • No. 125 Tariq Hayer (defensive back at St. John’s College in Washington, D.C.)
  • No. 150 D.J. McClary (linebacker at Snyder High School in Jersey City, N.J.)
  • No. 258 Jaelyne Matthews (offensive lineman at Toms River North in Toms River, New Jersey)

Also of note here is that three of the four players (Thomas, McClary and Matthews) are from New Jersey. A state that is notoriously difficult to recruit (and is perhaps over-recruited) has certainly shown confidence in Rutgers this recruiting cycle.

A major win for head coach Greg Schiano.

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There are still some top New Jersey players left for Rutgers to target including four-star offensive lineman Malachi Goodman and four-star linebacker Kamar Archie (who took a recent official visit to Rutgers).

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Goodman and Archie are both top 12 players in the state this recruiting cycle.

Following the commitment of D.J. McClary, where does the Rutgers football recruiting class rank?

Rutgers football has a recruiting class that is doing well in the national rankings.

It was a flip-tastic Sunday for Rutgers football with the committment of linebacker D.J. McClary. The four-star linebacker continues a hot streak for the Scarlet Knights as they rise up the rankings in the Big Ten and nationally.

It is a huge pick-up for Rutgers as they flipped McClary from Penn State. McClary is the No. 145 recruit in the ESPN 300.

McClary joins a high-profile group of commits that includes offensive lineman [autotag]Jaelyne Matthews[/autotag] (No. 93 in the ESPN 300), defensive back [autotag]Tariq Hayer[/autotag] (No. 98 in the ESPN 300) and wide receiver [autotag]Michael Thomas III[/autotag] (No. 108 in the ESPN 300) .

Of note, Matthews, Thomas and McClary are all from New Jersey, underscoring the strides made in in-state recruiting by Rutgers and head coach [autotag]Greg Schiano[/autotag].

How is Rutgers doing in the national rankings and among the Big Ten?

The class could well improve.

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Rutgers hosted four-star linebacker Kamar Archie two weeks for an official visit. Archie is one of the big recruiting targets left that Rutgers has targeted and is expected to announce in July (h/t Brian Dohn of 247Sports).

‘We don’t worry about the stars’ – Greg Schiano says Rutgers recruits culture and philosophy, not rankings

Rutgers football head coach Greg Schiano breaks down his philosophy on recruiting.

BEDMINSTER, N.J. – As nice as it is for Rutgers football head coach Greg Schiano to have a highly ranked recruiting class, it is equally – if not more important – that the group fits the culture being developed around the Big Ten program.

It has been the road less taken for Schiano and Rutgers since his return, with Rutgers finally tasting a winning season in his fourth year back with the program.

Speaking last week prior to the start of his charity golf classic, Schiano discussed the impact of last season on recruiting. The class of 2025 is currently ranked among the best recruiting classes in the nation, with five committed players ranked as four-star recruits in the On3 Industry Rankings.

The impact of the Pinstripe Bowl win over Miami, before a national broadcast on ESPN, can’t be understated for Rutgers. It gave Schiano and his staff a bowl win over an elite name in college football.

That win sent a message that the Rutgers rebuild, set to enter its fifth season this fall, has staying power. The bowl game has become a part of the recruiting pitch for Rutgers.

And, given that the Scarlet Knights have a top-10 national class, it seems to be working.

“Going and beating a name brand like Miami in a game that,a lot of people saw – I think everything gets put into the equation,” Schiano said.

“So the relationships that are created by the coaches, our players do an incredible job on the recruiting visits making these guys understand they are going to be part of the solution. And it’s no secret, we need to be different. We’re not going to do it the same the ‘bluebloods’ do it and do it better than them and go flying by them. We got to be different. We go to do it our way, and our way is different. Usually, players know they want to be a part of it or they know they don’t.”

All told, the 2025 recruiting class has seven committed players who are ranked four-star recruits by either On3, Rivals, 247Sports or ESPN.

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It is the highest rank for a Rutgers class since Schiano returned to the program. And, it has the potential to be the highest-ranked class that Rutgers has ever brought into the program.

There are some blue chip players for sure, including the likes of Under Armour All-American Jaelyne Matthews and recent running back commit [autotag]John Forster[/autotag]. But there is also a lot of quality and depth to this group.

And while the class features a number of four-star commits, there are also several under-the-radar players without the star rankings or big Power Five offers who are a part of the class. Schiano said that the evaluation of his coaches is paramount, as is the cultural fit into the program.

Rutgers, as a developmental program, does not get what Schiano calls the “ready-made” recruits. Instead, players are brought along and blended into roles within the program.

They develop and grow in the weight room and on the field before they are ready to make an impact.

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In the modern era of college football and the transfer football where instant gratification is the norm, not every recruit buys in Schiano’s philosophy for the program.

“Well, I really love the group and the guys that we have committed right now,” Schiano said.

“I think the reason (is that) our coaches do a great job of identifying the guys that are right for us. We don’t worry about their stars or who else is recruiting them. We really do a deep dive and evaluation on each kid- and it takes a lot of time. And my guys…I’m grateful that they put that time in. So it’s not only evaluating their film and evaluating their measurables but it’s evaluating the person. Are they a cultural fit for a program? And that takes the most time because how do you find that out those questions until you find out if this guy is a potential fit for our program.

“I think it’s even magnified now in this day and age.”

ESPN analyst breaks down the impact of Rutgers football’s recruiting class

Tom Luginbill talks about the Rutgers football recruiting class.

Tom Luginbill sees the momentum Rutgers football has built on the recruiting trail, and the ESPN analyst believes that this is a very strong class for the Big Ten program.

The recruiting class for Rutgers football is shaping up to be one of the best – if not the best – in program history. Currently ranked top-10 by both Rivals and 247Sports – there are six players currently committed who are four-star recruits in this class.

The most recent commits for Rutgers, offensive lineman [autotag]Jaelyne Matthews[/autotag] and wide receiver [autotag]Michael Thomas III[/autotag], are four-star recruits (and both are from New Jersey, coincidentally). Matthews and Thomas are both ranked in the ESPN 300 as well.

For a Rutgers program looking to move up in the Big Ten, this class has the potential to raise that standard. The Scarlet Knights have the third-best class in the Big Ten according to Rivals.

Per the Rivals rankings, Notre Dame has the top recruiting class in the nation. The second overall class belongs to Ohio State with USC fourth overall.

Luginbill, the national recruiting director for ESPN, sees upside for Rutgers from this recruiting class.

“These are the types of prospects in the state of New Jersey at premium positions that are critical for Rutgers to keep at home,” Luginbill said of Rutgers adding Matthews to the class.

“It’s going to always be hard to keep them all, but if you chip away, each and every class, there’s going to be another one after that who will start buying in.”

 

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Adding Matthews, Luginbill noted, is a big recruiting win for Rutgers but the job isn’t done.

“Now just like every other early commitment, you’ve got to hang on,” Luginbill said.

 

After a flurry of four-star commits, Rutgers football has a top-five recruiting class

Several new commits pushes up Rutgers football’s recruiting class ranking.

With four commits ranked as four-star recruits coming to Rutgers football in the last few days, the Big Ten program now has a recruiting class ranked among the best in the nation.

The commitments of offensive lineman [autotag]Jaelyne Matthews[/autotag] and wide receiver [autotag]Michael Thomas III[/autotag], both from New Jersey, now sees Rutgers with the No. 5 recruiting class in the nation according to Rivals.

It is also the third-best class in the Big Ten.

The Rutgers class currently has 23 commits.

In the Rivals rankings, Notre Dame has the top-ranked class in the nation followed by Ohio State. New Big Ten member USC is fourth.

While the ranking is likely to be adjusted and move down in the coming weeks as other schools fill-up their own classes, it is still an important measuring stick for Rutgers in the new look Big Ten.

Being able to piece together a top-25 recruiting class, especially after three solid classes brought in by head coach [autotag]Greg Schiano[/autotag], is an important part for a developmental program.

Schiano has consistently said that player development is key for Rutgers as they look to create a pipeline of talent. In the new era of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), Schiano believes that Rutgers has to be a program that develops its young players if it is to compete in the ultra-competitive Big Ten.

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Per the team rankings from 247Sports, Rutgers has the ninth-best recruiting class in the nation. They have five commits according to 247Sports who are ranked as four-star recruits.

ESPN analyst Tom Luginbill on Rutgers football commit Jaelyne Matthews

Tom Luginbill likes the potential for Jaelyne Matthews.

Rutgers football added a commitment on Tuesday from four-star Jaelyne Matthews. For ESPN analyst Tom Luginbill, this is a significant addition to the 2025 recruiting class for Rutgers.

Matthews is the No. 93 player in the nation according to ESPN. He is now the highest ranked player committed to Rutgers in this class.
A four-star offensive tackle from Toms River North (Toms River, New Jersey), he picked Rutgers on Tuesday over an announced final three of Georgia, Miami and Tennessee.
An Under Armour All-American, Matthews has impressed Luginbill, the national recruiting director for ESPN.
“One of the things that we liked a lot about Jaelyn is that he actually played on both sides of the ball,” Luginbill told Rutgers Wire on Tuesday night.
“He’s a mammoth prospect that projects on the offensive line with height and length and has room to still gain another 15 or 20 pounds.
“He has an 81-inch wingspan and plays with aggression and a finishing style.”
Matthews became the sixth player committed to this class who is a four-star recruit. Luginbill sees a high ceiling for Matthews, especially as he refines his game.
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“He’s a very good athlete for his size,” Luginbill said. “He doesn’t have elite testing times but he plays well.”

Michael Thomas III commits to Rutgers football over Michigan, Penn State

Michael Thomas III commits to Rutgers football.

Rutgers is on a roll, landing a commitment on Tuesday night from four-star wide receiver Michael Thomas III. The New Jersey athlete represents the fourth recruit to commit to Rutgers football over the past three days who is ranked as a four-star.

ESPN ranks Thomas as a four-star and the No. 108 recruit in the ESPN 300. He is the eighth-ranked wide receiver in the nation.

247Sports ranks him as the fourth-best overall prospect in New Jersey. He held offers from Boston College, Duke, Michigan, Penn State, Syracuse and West Virginia among others.

An official visit to Syracuse for this weekend has been canceled.

Thomas made his commitment to Rutgers known via his social media.

 

Last year, the 5-foot-11 wide receiver from Donovan Catholic (Barnegat, New Jersey) recorded 38 catches for 458 receiving yards and five touchdowns.

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Also on Tuesday, four-star offensive lineman [autotag]Jaelyne Matthews[/autotag] committed to Rutgers during a ceremony at his school.

Also in the mix for Matthews were of Georgia, Miami and Tennessee.

Jaelyne Matthews picks Rutgers football over Georgia, Miami and Tennessee

Jaelyne Matthews has committed to Rutgers football.

In the spring, four-star offensive lineman Jaelyne Matthews said he wanted to ‘shock the world’ with his college commitment. Well, Matthews did just that on Tuesday with his commitment to Rutgers football.

Matthews picked Rutgers over an announced final three of Georgia, Miami and Tennessee. Rutgers was not in his final three but they were the shocking pick.

A 6-foot-7, 337-pound offensive tackle at Toms River North (Toms River, New Jersey), Matthews gives Rutgers six players committed from New Jersey in the 2025 class. He is the highest-ranked verbal from New Jersey to Rutgers.

He is also now the highest-ranked commit in this class.

It goes without saying but this is a significant pick-up for Rutgers. Matthews is the No. 93 player in the nation according to ESPN. In the On3 Industry Rankings, he is a top-25 offensive tackle in the nation.

Matthews has been selected to play in the Under Armour All-America Game, a prestigious high school football all-star game. His commitment to Rutgers should be another boost for a class that is top-15 in the national recruiting rankings.

His commitment marks three straight days for Rutgers where they’ve landed a four-star. On Sunday, four-star safety [autotag]Tariq Hayer[/autotag] committed to Rutgers after an official visit. On Monday afternoon, four-star offensive lineman [autotag]Josh Blackston[/autotag] gave his commitment to Rutgers.

Matthews took an official visit to Rutgers in the last weekend of May. This past weekend, Matthews was on an official visit to Miami.

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Rutgers was Matthews’ first offer, coming in for him following his freshman season.

2025 offensive tackle Jaelyne Matthews includes Vols in top three

2025 offensive tackle Jaelyne Matthews includes Tennessee in his top three schools.

2025 offensive tackle prospect Jaelyne Matthews included Tennessee in his top three schools.

Matthews’ top three schools are Tennessee, Georgia and Miami, according to Rivals. The offensive tackle is scheduled to announce his commitment on June 11 at noon EDT.

Matthews is ranked as the No. 246 prospect in the class of 2025. He also ranks as the No. 26 offensive tackle and No. 7 player in New Jersey, according to 247Sports.

The 6-foot-5, 305 pound four-star offensive tackle is from Toms River North High School in Toms River, New Jersey.

Matthews will officially visit Tennessee on June 14. He unofficially visited Tennessee on April. 13 for the Orange &White Game.

The Vols offered Matthews a scholarship on Aug. 19, 2022.

The Vols have 10 commitments in its 2025 recruiting class: Quarterback George MacIntyre, defensive lineman Ethan Utley, tight end Jack Van Dorseiaer, cornerback Dylan Lewis, running back Justin Baker, wide receiver Joakim Dodson, cornerback Tyler Redmond, safety Sidney Walton, wide receiver Radarious Jackson and offensive lineman Antoni Kade Ogumoro.

Who made the final 3 for Under Armour All-American, 4-star Jaelyne Matthews?

Jaelyne Matthews reveals his top three.

Jaelyne Matthews is down to three schools, the Under Armour All-American told Rutgers Wire on Friday morning.

Matthews, a four-star recruit is the No. 88 recruit in the nation according to ESPN. He is the second-highest-ranked recruit in New Jersey in the class of 2025

He is listed at 6-foot-7 and 337 pounds. This offseason, Matthews played lacrosse for Toms River North (Toms River, New Jersey) where he has been a multi-year starter at offensive tackle on the football team.

Matthews was offered by Rutgers following his freshman season. Last year, he was selected to play in the Under Armour All-America Game which is scheduled for this January in Orlando, FL.

“My top schools are Tennessee, Georgia and Miami,” Matthews said on Friday morning via text.

“And I’m planning on deciding June 11 at 12:00 p.m.”

He is scheduled to visit the Miami Hurricanes this weekend for an official visit.

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Last weekend, he took an official visit to Rutgers.

 

“It’s time for me to focus on being a senior in high school and playing football for my school,” Matthews said.

Matthews is a noted fan of WaWa and is a self-proclaimed pizza connoisseur.