Rutgers football is hosting a number of top recruits from the 2022 and 2023 recruiting class.
While last weekend against Ohio State was the big one for recruiting for Rutgers football, Saturday’s game with No. 11 Michigan State certainly isn’t lacking for star power. A number of top recruits will be at SHI Stadium for the showdown.
Rutgers will host a mix of committed and non-committed players as they look to close out the 2022 recruiting cycle strong and begin with some of the talent on the 2023 radar.
Several priority Rutgers verbal commits such as Erasmus Hall linebacker Moses Walker, a four-star recruit and one of the top players in New York, will be on hand. He will be joined by several other members of the 2022 recruiting class.
A look at some of the players who will be at Saturday’s game:
Rutgers basketball landed a big man on Monday night with the addition of Antwone Woolfolk. He is now the third member of the Scarlet Knights 2022 recruiting class.
Originally a tight end prospect in football, Woolfolk is now choosing to focus on the hardcourt. The 6-foot-7 senior is raw but oozing with potential.
Former NBA scout Michael VandeGarde, who spent 18 years with the Philadelphia 76ers organization, sees plenty of promise in Woolfolk’s emerging game. He was asked to evaluate the limited tape on the verbal commit.
“He is a project ‘Big’ that is more center than power forward,” VandeGarde told ‘Rutgers Wire.’
“A hard-nosed player that can handle the physical nature of the game and should be able to play good team defense. His skill set is better than most guys with his size and strength.”
There are areas for improvement, of course, as Woolfolk had been considered a football athlete up until a couple of months ago when he began to consider basketball as a true option at the college level. VandeGarde notes that Woolfolk’s “Shooting and face-up game, rim protection, conditioning, elite quick-twitch explosion” all need to continue to be developed.
He is certainly a bit of a prospect but can and should be able to help head coach Steve Piekiell develop front-court depth.
“He projects as a four-year player that should be able to contribute quickly because of his strength and size,” VandeGarde said. “He has good upside because he has not concentrated on one sport in high school and could makes big strides quickly. His skill set, which is good, could really improve in the coming years.”
He likens Woolfolk to former Michigan State power forward Nick Ward, a former All-Big Ten honorable mention currently playing in Europe.
VandeGarde is currently involved in consulting with several NBA teams. He also is passionately involved with CoachTube. An online training tool that gives athletes access to instruction, knowledge, and sports coaching videos, CoachTube provides access to on-demand online training from the world’s best coaches and players.
Gus Yalden had an official visit to Rutgers on Saturday, the four-star big man taking in a football game and getting some time with men’s basketball head coach Steve Pikiell.
The power forward, ranked by Rivals as the No. 73 player in the nation, got a full tour of campus and the basketball facilities. This included being able to watch the team practice.
“The morning practice was great to watch; it was competitive and had lots of teachable moments,” Yalden told ‘Rutgers Wire’ after his visit.
“Crazy that this early in the season players already dialed in and efficient.”
Personable and outgoing, the class of 2023 prospect is enjoying the recruiting process.
The trip was an opportunity to see the campus, connect with the coaching staff and players and see if the Scarlet Knights were a good fit for him.
He had an opportunity to talk with Pikiell one-on-one during the visit. The message came across loud and clear.
“Pretty simple he just said he wanted to coach me and felt like it would be great for me on and off the court. Coach Pikiell has had an impressive basketball journey…his players and the Rutgers community seem to really embrace him,” Yalden said.
“Not going to lie I’m a little surprised how much I really truly enjoyed my official visit at Rutgers… just can’t imagine making this decision without being able to get on campus.”
Yalden said he hopes to continue his official visits with Nebraska and Wisconsin next on his agenda. He also hopes to take some other programs in on unofficial visits.
After his visit, Yalden wants to come up for one more visit to check a gameday experience at Rutgers.
Rutgers football has landed quite a prospect in four-star running back Samuel Brown. His explosiveness in the open field was on display this past weekend, backing up his status as one of the best players in the Rutgers 2022 recruiting class as well as a premier running back recruit.
Brown had a tremendous afternoon for La Salle in Saturday’s 38-14 win over McDonogh as the Rutgers commit had a 74-yard touchdown on a wheel route. The highlight play showed his athleticism, speed, and versatility.
The traits on the run make him a perfect fit for Rutgers offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson. On the run, Brown showed shiftiness and good vision to break into the open field, follow his downfield blocking and get the touchdown.
Brown, who committed to Rutgers in late March, is the No. 12 player in Pennsylvania according to Rivals.com and is the No. 23 running back in the nation. He held offers from Arizona State, Baylor, Maryland, Michigan State, Mississippi, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Virginia Tech among others at the time of his verbal to Rutgers.
Jim Harbaugh recruits New Jersey heavily. Let’s take a look at the New Jersey high school football players who committed to Michigan over the last few years and some players you may see representing the Wolverines in the coming seasons.
Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh’s return to college football in 2015 sent waves through the college football landscape. His impact could be felt in the headlines, in the perception of Michigan’s program, and in the Big Ten. Most importantly, he made an immediate impact across the nation when it came to recruiting. Once again, Michigan became a place where players from around the country wanted to play.
Who wouldn’t want to play for a coach that took the San Francisco 49ers to consecutive NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl in 2013? Harbaugh set his sites on rebuilding Michigan into the power that Rutgers faces off against this weekend. One area that he targeted heavily when he first took over as Michigan head coach: New Jersey. Rutgers fans who follow recruiting classes and New Jersey high school football will know some names donning the maize and blue on Saturday in Ann Arbor.
Let’s take a look at the New Jersey players who committed to Michigan over the last few years and some players you may see representing the Wolverines in the coming seasons.
