Tag: Marquise Watson

Rutgers football recruiting: Dominic Funke impressed following Sunday visit

Dominic Funke breaks down his Sunday visit to Rutgers.

Dominic Funke checked out Rutgers football on Sunday, the class of 2025 recruit getting a chance to see a strong performance from the Scarlet Knights in their season opener.

Rutgers played complementary football in a 24-7 win over Northwestern. Scoring on their first three drives to roll out to a 17-0 lead, Rutgers didn’t allow Northwestern to score until their final possession of the game.

A defensive end from St. Sebastian’s (Needham, MA), Funke is a 6-foot-3, 210-pound prospect, Funke. has offers from Boston College, Pittsburgh, Temple and Wisconsin among others. In January, he was offered by Rutgers.

The class of 2026 recruit talked with Rutgers Wire this week about attending the season opener on Sunday.

“The experience on Sunday was awesome. It was great to get down to Rutgers again, but it was different this time because it was game day,” Funke told Rutgers Wire on Tuesday morning.

“The atmosphere in the stadium and the energy from the team was electric. It was great to see how much people care for Rutgers football and to see the intensity the team played in a real game. I loved how aggressive and powerful Rutgers was, especially on defense. Overall, I really enjoyed my experience this Sunday.”

Funke is a priority recruit for Rutgers, as evidenced by his strong offer list so far. He is forming a good connection with the coaching staff, including defensive line coach Marquise Watson and linebackers assistant coach Charlie Noonan.

“The coaches I’ve been in touch with the most have been coach Noonan and coach Watson. I’ve been keeping in touch with them for a while now and I look forward to continuing those relationships,” Funke said.

“I’ve also gotten to meet coach Schiano (head coach Greg Schiano) on a few occasions and it’s always great to talk with him and get a glimpse of his leadership and wisdom. There are a lot of great guys on the RU coaching staff who I’ve made relationships with and I’m excited to further those relationships as well.”

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Funke’s season hasn’t started yet but Funke said “I’m ready for a great season and to make some noise.”

Greg Schiano gives an update on Marquise Watson

Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano gives an update on Marquise Watson.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Rutgers football defensive line coach Marquise Watson missed Sunday’s season opener due to an undisclosed medical condition. On Tuesday, Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano sounded hopeful about the return of Watson to the sidelines.

Schiano said, without providing details of what sidelined Watson, that the defensive line coach has been in contact with his position group. But in terms of a timetable for a return, Schiano was not specific.

He did say as part of his comments that Watson “is getting better.”

“I don’t know if we’ll have him back for Saturday night. I sure hope so,” Schiano said.

“He’s doing better And he’s, you know, he’s one of us. He’s a tough, tough guy. And he’ll he’ll, he’ll get he’ll get well.”

Watson is spoken highly of by the players on the defensive line as well as by recruits.

In a follow-up question, Schiano was asked about when it was known that Watson would not be available ot coach in Sunday’s season opener.

“That, that’s personal. I probably said more than I should because I know people care about him and I want them to know that he’s doing better and we’ll get him back eventually,” Schiano said.

Isaiah Iton talks Rutgers football defensive line coach Marquise Watson: ‘He can bring the juice’

Isaiah Iton credits Marquise Watson for helping to bring him to Rutgers.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Things are different right now for Isaiah Iton, but the Rutgers football defensive lineman is settling in with his new program. Iton, who joined Rutgers out of the transfer portal from Ole Miss, has the chance to be an impact player in the Big Ten.

In his last two seasons at Ole Miss, Iton had 24 total tackles, a pass defended and a shared sack. It would seem that the defensive tackle could step into a prominent role with Rutgers, a team that very much needed his talent and size in the interior of their line.

In 2021, Iton was at Ole Miss when Marquise Watson was on staff with the SEC program. Watson was hired last year by head coach Greg Schiano to become the defensive line coach with the Scarlet Knights and has become an instant hit within the locker room.

“We have a really good relationship, I’m glad I’m here to play for him. He’s a real good coach, a real good coach,” Iton said following practice on Wednesday. “I’m here to play for him and Schiano.”

Watson, gregarious, energetic and outgoing, was a real draw for Iton when he was in the portal.

“He is a lot of energy, he can bring the juice all the time,” Iton said.

At 6-foot-2 and 290 pounds, Iton certainly brings an element of strength and size that Rutgers has consistently been lacking in the Big Ten.

The transition to a new program has given Iton a chance to be in a new environment. Given Schiano’s coaching background, including two years in the NFL as a head coach, Iton said he is taking advantage of the opportunity to get ready for the next step in his career.

“Playing here, I’m learning a lot. I’m learning a lot,” Iton said. “That’s all I’m really worried about right now.”

The transfer has also given Iton the chance to see a new part of the country. From Houston, TX, Iton originally thought of New Jersey as cold but he has warmed up to the state.

“I love being around here, being around New Jersey and Rutgers,” Iton said. “I love the atmosphere around here.”

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Caden Brown recaps Rutgers visit on Saturday, gives timetable on his decision

Rutgers football hosted Erasmus Hall three-star Caden Brown over the weekend for an unofficial visit.

Things continue to trend in a positive direction for Rutgers football and Caden Brown this weekend, with the New York three-star back on-campus over the weekend.

Brown took an unofficial visit on Saturday to Rutgers football, joining a dozen committed players on-campus for a day of learning more about the program. He was the only player in the group who was not a Rutgers football commit.

A 6-foot-3, 205-pound defensive lineman from Erasmus Hall (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Brown is a class of 2024 recruit who is ranked a three-star by ever prominent recruiting service. He is a consensus a top-five player in New York.

He has a strong offer list that includes Boston College, Maryland, Michigan State, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Washington in addition to Rutgers.

“The visit was great. We had…a chance to experience what a full workday would be like as a Rutgers football player.,” Brown told Rutgers Wire over the weekend.

“What stood out was learning some new pass-rushing techniques from coach Watson (defensive line coach Marquise Watson) and the d-line staff.”

In May, he cut down his recruitment to a final four of Maryland, Michigan State and Penn State and Rutgers.

For now, Brown continues along with his recruitment, although he did recently claim that the school is his top program.

“The relationship with Rutgers is strong. I definitely understand what is expected from me as a D1, Power Five athlete and more specifically a Rutgers football player,” Brown said.

“I’m embracing the challenge and I feel I will be ready soon.”

Rutgers is currently doing well in New York, landing four-star K.J. Duff and three-star defensive lineman Aaris Bethea, who is a teammate of Brown’s at Erasmus Hall.

 

As for a timetable for his own decision, Brown said things are progressing nicely in his recruitment and that a decision is likely to come this fall.

“I will make a commitment sometime during the season. I’m in no rush,” Brown said. “But when I do commit it will be a commitment I will stand behind.”

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Three-star Caden Brown previews his Scarlet Knights visit this weekend: ‘Rutgers is my number one choice’

Caden Brown talks about his upcoming visit to Rutgers football.

Caden Brown will be on an unofficial visit to Rutgers this weekend. It is another interesting development for one of New York’s top players and one of the highest-ranked recruits in the region who is very high on Rutgers.

A 6-foot-3, 205-pound defensive lineman from Erasmus Hall (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Brown is a class of 2024 recruit who is a consensus three-star as well as being a top-five player in New York. Throughout his recruitment, he has picked up some substantial offers from Boston College, Maryland, Michigan State, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Washington  (where he took a visit over a year ago in April) and West Virginia as well as Rutgers.

Brown announced a top four of Maryland, Michigan State and Penn State as well as Rutgers in May. He cites a strong relationship with the Scarlet Knights program, starting at the top with head coach [autotag]Greg Schiano[/autotag] and defensive line coach [autotag]Marquise Watson[/autotag].

“This weekend at Rutgers will be a relaxed, laid-back visit. I’ve visited Rutgers multiple times already and I’m very familiar with all the coaches,” Brown told Rutgers Wire.

“So it will feel very comfortable to me. I’m not expecting much but I look forward to speaking with head coach Schiano and the d-line coach, coach Watson and the rest of the coaching staff.”

This offseason was a huge one for Brown, who consistently showed up at camps and was a dominant performer off the edge. At one camp in Louisiana this past January, he was unstoppable off the edge.

Brown didn’t take any official visits this summer, instead wanting “to focus on football and the upcoming season.

“Right now, Rutgers is my number one choice. They have been number one for quite a while. Rutgers has been showing interest since I was in seventh grade, so the relationship goes back awhile. I’m hoping to make a commitment soon,” Brown said.

“I just want to make sure that when I make a commitment it is the right decision for me. I’m looking forward to having a great season and solidifying my position as the best rush end/linebacker out of New York.”

The current recruiting class is a solid one for Rutgers in terms of local talent. This summer, the Scarlet Knights received commitments from two New York players in four-star wide receiver/tight end K.J. Duff and three-star defensive lineman Aaris Bethea.

Bethea is a teammate of Brown at Erasmus Hall.

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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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Want proof that Rutgers football commit Aaris Bethea is a special prospect? Watch as he impresses against a Power Five recruit

Rutgers football commit Aaris Bethea has a lot of tools to work with.

Three-star defensive lineman Aaris Bethea committed to Rutgers football on Saturday afternoon, giving the Scarlet Knights another potential weapon along their defensive front.

Bethea, who likely projects as an interior defensive lineman, is a fluid athlete who moves well despite being 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds.

He is a consensus three-star and top 10 player in New York in the 2024 recruiting class.

Bethea really has some impressive ability and isn’t a typical Power Five level recruit. He has tremendous balance and footwork, with good hips. He gets out of his stance solidly and has some nice explosiveness in his first step.

He overall uses his hands well and takes good angles in pursuit.

There is some tremendous upside for Rutgers football in adding a player like Bethea. He comes in with some polished moves and has played at a high level for Erasmus Hall (Brooklyn, N.Y.), one of the top programs in the tristate area.

But he also has a high ceiling, something that should excite head coach [autotag]Greg Schiano[/autotag] and defensive line coach [autotag]Marquise Watson[/autotag].

In this clip from the Speed,Power, Exposure Camp in January, Bethea puts a tremendous move on Matai Jefferson. A class of 2025 recruit, Jefferson is an outstanding prospect from California who already holds an offer from Texas. Jefferson is legit.

 

And here is another one for good measure. Just look at his fluidity of motion and the power from which he emerges from his spin move to get in on the pocket:

 

OK, just one more. Here is Bethea from a year ago, going in on Jake Polito, a member of the class of 2023. Polito was a two-star and a solid recruit who signed with Navy (also had offers from Army, UConn, Dartmouth and others). This is the clip that is perhaps the most impressive from Bethea.

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It is a simple bull rush, but it shows Bethea’s straight-up power against a player who is one year older. If Bethea is playing in the interior at the Big Ten level, then gap integrity is a big part of his game.

As is the ability to collapse the pocket, which Bethea shows an ability to do in this short clip against the strong and talented Polito:

 

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Rutgers football taps the Erasmus Hall pipeline, offers Lyrick Samuel

Lyrick Samuel is offered by Rutgers football on Wednesday.

Lyrick Samuel is the latest New York standout to be offered by Rutgers football. The Brooklyn wide receiver pulled in an offer from the Big Ten program on Tuesday night.

The talented wide receiver is projected to be one of the top three athletes in New York’s 2025 recruiting class.

Samuel counts Rutgers as his fourth Power Five offer, having already been offered by Michigan State, Penn State and Syracuse.

A 6-foot-4, 175-pound wide receiver, Samuel played for a powerhouse Erasmus Hall team that finished last season 10-2.

In a social media post on Tuesday night, Samuel announced the offer, tagging Rutgers defensive line coach [autotag]Marquise Watson[/autotag] along with head coach Greg Schiano:

 

Rutgers football is no stranger to Erasmus Hall with alumni such as [autotag]Aron Cruickshank[/autotag], [autotag]Christian Izien[/autotag] and [autotag]Sean Ryan[/autotag] among others having passed from Brooklyn to the banks of the Raritan.

Rutgers currently has the No. 22 recruiting class in the nation according to 247Sports and is No. 23 per Rivals.

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Caden Brown: I can see myself playing for Rutgers football defensive line coach Marquise Watson

Four-star Caden Brown has formed a good relationship with Rutgers football defensive line coach marquise Watson.

Caden Brown could be giving a commitment this week, with Rutgers football in the mix for the four-star defensive lineman.

A 6-foot-3 defensive lineman from Erasmus Hall (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Brown has a final four that includes Michigan State, Rutgers, Penn State and Maryland. Brown is a consensus top-five recruit in New York in the 2024 recruiting class.

Rutgers is the program that Brown has been to the most in his recruitment. It is a relationship that he says dates back to seventh grade.

And now that relationship with Rutgers has extended to the defensive line coach, Marquise Watson.

“Rutgers made the final cut because of my close relationship with the defensive line coach. I can see myself playing for coach Watson,” Brown told Rutgers Wire.

“He’s a great coach and I feel he can develop and prepare me for the next level.”

He is the No. 220 recruit in the nation and a four-star according to On3.

A close relationship with his father has also been important for Brown during his recruitment. As this process winds down, Brown said that he found value in leaning on his father to make what is his own decision.

“My dad tells me about the history of the programs and we talked about the pros and cons,” Brown said.

“But (he) said it is my decision. So where ever I decide to go I know my dad will be my biggest supporter.”

Should a decision come this week, Brown is likely to shut down his recruitment and consider it closed. It appears that a commitment will be final for Brown, wherever

“After I make my commitment, I don’t think I will take any other visits,” Brown said.

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Judah Pruitt says academics, relationship with Marquise Watson helped him land at Rutgers

Defensive lineman Judah Pruitt opens up on why he picked Rutgers football.

Judah Pruitt committed to Rutgers football on Saturday in large part due to his connection with the school. A connection that he says went beyond the football field.

A three-star offensive lineman, Pruitt picked Rutgers over Power Five offers that included Boston College and Syracuse. He comes to Rutgers as a defensive line commit. With an impressive frame at 6-foot-5 and 330 pounds, there is the belief that he can handle more muscle with ease.

The Saturday commitment from Pruitt came while on a visit to campus for a scrimmage. Per 247Sports, he is the No. 28 recruit in New Jersey.

A good student at Malcolm Shabazz High School (Newark, N.J.), Pruitt said Rutgers gave him the perfect fit for football and academics.

In talking with Rutgers Wire on Saturday, Pruitt outlined his reason for committing to Rutgers:

“The reason why I picked Rutgers is because it really feels like home, the coaching staff cares about the team and everyone that is going to be a part of the family,” Pruitt said.

“But despite the football part, the Rutgers business school is incredible and that’s what I want to take part in for the next four years in college, leading to the NFL.”

Pruitt is now the fifth commitment to the Scarlet Knights in their 2023 recruiting class. He is the third verbal from New Jersey, joining offensive lineman [autotag]Kenny Jones[/autotag] and quarterback [autotag]A.J. Surace[/autotag].

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Capable of playing on the offensive line or as a defensive tackle, Pruitt said that his bond with defensive line coach Marquise Watson is a strong one. The recruitment by Watson is a major reason why Pruitt was attracted to the Scarlet Knights.

“My relationship with coach Watson is great,” Pruitt said.

“I’ve known him since my junior season and he’s been recruiting me since then. He’s like family.”

Last Saturday, three-star linebacker Sam Pilof from Wisconsin committed to Rutgers while on a visit.

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