Tag: Sam Pilof

Film breakdown: Rutgers football commit Sam Pilof has strong Power Five tools

Rutgers football won the 2024 recruiting battle for linebacker Sam Pilof when the Wisconsin native provided his verbal commitment in April.

Rutgers football won the 2024 recruiting battle for outside linebacker Sam Pilof when the Wisconsin native provided his verbal commitment in April. Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano and his staff recruited the three-star prospect, beating Iowa State, Penn State, and Wisconsin for this high-caliber recruit.

This was a strong recruiting win for Rutgers football and head coach Greg Schiano.

Pilof from Middleton High School (Middleton, WI) led the Cardinals to a 7-4 record last season. According to 247Sports, the linebacker (6-2 210 pounds) is ranked No. 59 in the country and No. 4 in Wisconsin. He has a 5.6 rating (three-star), according to Rivals.com.

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Skill Breakdown

A top 10 player in Wisconsin in the 2024 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports Composite, Pilof is highly athletic. He can play outside or middle linebacker, using his speed to chase down the ball carrier. During his junior year, Pilof ran a forty-yard dash in 4.52 seconds.

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Pilof can set the edge during running plays, using his long arms to create separation from offensive linemen. He has an endless motor that plays sideline to sideline. The 2024 prospect isn’t scared of contact and can be an excellent downhill run stuffer. Pilof relies on his quickness and speed when rushing the quarterback, beating opposing tackles around the corner.

His pass coverage and his size are some areas of development. Pilof will look to put on more size as he matures into a Big Ten player. Rutgers 2024 football recruiting class now features seven recruits with two on the defensive side of the ball.

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Sam Pilof on why he committed to Rutgers football over the weekend: ‘Greg Schiano.’

Sam Pilof talks about why he committed to Rutgers football.

On Saturday, Wisconsin linebacker Sam Pilof committed to Rutgers football, giving the Scarlet Knights a player with a very high ceiling.

A top 10 player in Wisconsin in the 2024 recruiting class according to the 247Sports Composite, Pilof became the first verbal on the defensive side of the ball for Rutgers. It also represents another reach into Big Ten country for Rutgers in this recruiting class.

In January, Rutgers landed four-star running back Gabriel Winowich from Michigan.

At the time of his commitment, Pilof held offers from Iowa State, Penn State and Wisconsin. Minnesota and Tennessee were likely to offer, Pilof said, if had visited campus.

This weekend represented Pilof’s third visit to the program but the decision to commit is something that had been in the process since earlier this month. He has family in the area.

New Jersey pizza, he said, is eye-opening. He ate pizza three times over the weekend.

Scroll down and check out what Sam Pilof had to say about Rutgers football, his recent visit and why he chose the Scarlet Knights!

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Watch: Sam Pilof is congratulated by the Rutgers football staff after his commitment

Rutgers football landed a linebacker prospect in Sam Pilof.

Sam Pilof wasn’t messing around when he made the decision to commit to Rutgers football over the weekend. His decision was greeted with plenty of enthusiasm from the coaching staff.

The Wisconsin linebacker made a surprise decision on Saturday to give his verbal to the Scarlet Knights, becoming the fourth commitment in the class of 2024. At 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, Pilof plays with a nasty streak and plenty of vision.

He held Power Five offers from Iowa State, Penn State and Wisconsin.

Following his commitment, Pilof was greeted in a hallway at the Hale Center by a number of members of the Rutgers football staff. A couple of faces that stick out in the video include Bob Fraser (senior adviser to head coach Greg Schiano), Joe Harasymiak (defensive coordinator) and Matt Hewitt (offensive quality control and tight ends).

 

Pilof has already changed his Twitter account to read that he is a linebacker at Rutgers.

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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:

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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)

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Breaking: Rutgers football lands three-star Sam Pilof

Rutgers football lands three-star linebacker Sam Pilof.

Sam Pilof committed to Rutgers football on Saturday night, with the Scarlet Knights landing a coveted linebacker from Big Ten country.

A three-star recruit from Wisconsin, Pilof is a top 10 player in the state for the class of 2024. He held offers from Iowa State, Penn State and Wisconsin. Landing a player of this caliber from Wisconsin represents a big recruiting battle win for head coach Greg Schiano.

He is now the fourth commit to the 2024 recruiting class and the first player on the defensive side of the ball.

Pilof is 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds.

An impressive linebacker, he reads as well as reacts instinctually and moves well. He shows good pursuit and is a violent tackler.

He plays for Middleton High School (Middleton, WI). They went 7-4 last season.

Pilof announced his commitment on Saturday evening via his social media.

 

Last November, offensive lineman Kenny Jones became the first verbal in the 2024 recruiting. He was followed this year by four-star running back Gabriel Winowich in January and three-star quarterback A.J. Surace in February.

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Rutgers football set to host Wisconsin linebacker on Friday

Three-star linebacker Sam Pilof set to visit Rutgers on Friday.

Sam Pilof will be on campus on Friday for Rutgers football. This as the coveted linebacker continues what has been an incredibly busy few weeks in his recruitment.

Fresh off a trip to Notre Dame, the three-star linebacker from Middleton High School (Middleton, WI) will be checking in on Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights were an early program to get in on Pilof, offering him on April.

Rutgers was his first Power Five offer.

Now Pilof holds Power Five offers from Iowa State, Penn State and in-state Wisconsin. The offers from Penn State and Wisconsin came in June. He is a three-star according to 247Sports.

Pilof tweeted about his Rutgers football on Thursday:

 

He was an all-conference and all-region selection for a Middleton team that was 8-4 last season.

Pilof is an impressive linebacker with good speed and instincts. At 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, the class of 2024 recruit already has impressive size.

His coverage skills are impressive as his ability to make quick reads.

Wisconsin offers 2024 in-state OLB Sam Pilof

Wisconsin has offered an in-state OLB in the 2024 recruiting class:

During an unofficial visit to Madison on Saturday, Paul Chryst and his coaching staff extended an offer to 2024 three-star outside linebacker Sam Pilof out of Middleton, Wisconsin. 

Per 247Sports, Pilaf is the No. 34 LB in the country, and the No. 5 player in the state of Wisconsin.

Standing at 6-foot-3, 205-pounds, the Middleton High School standout currently holds offers from Iowa State, Rutgers, and now Wisconsin. 

As a sophomore, Pilof registered 98 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, and six forced fumbles en route to being named first team All-Conference.

You can watch his highlights here. 

The in-state OLB announced his scholarship offer from the University of Wisconsin via his Twitter account:

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