CuseLegacy
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I thought this was an interesting read. First it shows that RU hasn't been able to keep that top talent at home (Sounds familiar). And that just because a kid is a top 20 player doesn't mean he will be a success at the college level. I wouldn't mind seeing a series of these articles for NY...are you listening PS lurkers.
http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/i...g_review_how_have_the_top_20_nj_recruits.html
Whenever there's discussion about how Rutgers can reach the next level, there is near universal agreement that the key is retaining more of the top recruits from New Jersey. Rutgers' proximity to homegrown talent should provide an advantage, but the program has been unable to build the proverbial wall around New Jersey.
"They have to get five out of the top 10 if they want to take the next step. And I would say probably 9-10 out of the top 20," Mike Farrell, the national recruiting director for , said in February. "Set your goals high. They're not close to that right now. But they were in the (Darius) Hamilton year (in 2012) and they had a few guys who were committed before the disaster of (2014), too, so it can be done. But I think it's important not to allow other schools to come in and just cherry pick who they want."
The emphasis of keeping Jersey recruits home has been repeated for years. But would stocking the roster with homegrown talent be enough to thrust Rutgers into the upper echelon of college football?
To find that answer, I'm going to review the college careers of the top 20 New Jersey prospects from recent years, according to . Have the top Jersey recruits lived up to the hype in college? Are there more busts than stars? Let's find out, beginning with the 2010 recruiting class:
1. WR Shakim Phillips
High School: DePaul Catholic
College: Boston College/UConn
Rating: 4 stars
Recap: Phillips attended Boston College for one year before transferring to UConn for three years. He finished his career back at BC as a graduate transfer in 2014. He caught 74 passes for 1,096 yards and eight touchdowns in his career. Phillips signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in May.
2. DE T.J. Clemmings
High School: Paterson Catholic
College: Pittsburgh
Rating: 4 stars
Recap: Clemmings played in 16 games at defensive end in his first three years at Pitt and totaled 23 tackles and two tackles for loss. He was moved to offensive line before his redshirt junior year and became a two-year starter at right tackle. Clemmings was named a second-team All-American and a first-team All-ACC selection as a senior. He was picked in the fourth round of the 2015 draft by the Minnesota Vikings.
3. DE Bryan Murphy
High School: Don Bosco Prep
College: Pittsburgh
Rating: 4 stars
Recap: Murphy was a two-year starter at defensive end for Pitt before walking away prior to his senior season to focus on academics. Murphy totaled 33 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and six sacks in three seasons.
4. TE Kevin Haplea
High School: North Hunterdon
College: Penn State/Florida State
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Haplea spent two years at Penn State before transferring in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal and spending his final two seasons at Florida State. He caught 11 passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns in his career. Haplea signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in May.
5. RB Tony Jones
High School: Don Bosco Prep
College: Colorado
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Jones had 308 carries for 1,269 yards (4.1 ypc) and nine touchdowns in his career. He added 90 career catches for 558 yards and three touchdowns.
RELATED: Analysts agree that Rutgers needs to land more top N.J. recruits
6. DB Dontae Johnson
High School: Pennington Prep
College: N.C. State
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Johnson played cornerback and safety at N.C. State, recording 201 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four sacks, three interceptions and two forced fumbles during his career. He was picked in the fourth round of the 2014 draft by the San Francisco 49ers.
7. RB Kamal Hogan
High School: St. Joseph's (Montvale)
College: Louisville
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Hogan had five carries for 13 yards in his first two seasons before shifting to safety, where he saw limited playing time.
8. OL Chris Fonti
High School: Wayne Hills
College: Rutgers
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Fonti finished his career with a year of eligibility remaining after appearing in eight career games as a backup offensive lineman.
9. WR Bennett Jackson
High School: Raritan
College: Notre Dame
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Bennett was a standout kick returner and special teams gunner in his first two seasons before moving to cornerback as a junior. He was a two-year starter at cornerback, recording 129 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions and one forced fumble in his final two seasons. Jackson was picked in the sixth round of the 2014 draft by the Giants.
10. OL Brandon Vitabile
High School: Bishop Ahr
College: Northwestern
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Vitabile started at center in all 50 games he played during his career. He was a two-time All-Big Ten honorable mention. Vitabile signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in May.
11. DT Dante Weaver
High School: New Brunswick
College: Temple
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Weaver did not see game action during his college career.
12. OL Dan Foose
High School: Paramus Catholic
College: Florida State
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Foose appeared in three games in his first three years before his career was cut short by an injury.
13. DE James Kittredge
High School: Don Bosco Prep
College: Vanderbilt/Michigan State
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Kittredge appeared in three games as a freshman at Vanderbilt before transferring to Michigan State. Limited by injuries in his final two seasons, he appeared in 16 career games at Michigan State, recording 14 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss.
14. OL Jake Kaufman
High School: St. Peter's Prep
College: South Florida
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Kaufman appeared in three career games.
15. ATH Tejay Johnson
High School: Egg Harbor Township
College: Rutgers
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Johnson played safety and cornerback in his first three years at Rutgers, totaling 47 tackles and a forced fumble. He was switched to wide receiver in the spring of 2014, but his career was cut short by injury before the 2014 season.
16. WR Jawaun Wynn
High School: Piscataway
College: Rutgers
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Wynn saw action on special teams in three years at Rutgers before transferring to Rhode Island. He caught 37 passes for 419 yards and one touchdown, and added 18 carries for 83 yards, in two seasons at Rhode Island.
17. TE Sherard Cadogan
High School: Camden Catholic
College: Wisconsin
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Cadogan record four tackles in 27 career games. He moved from tight end to fullback before his redshirt sophomore season and transitioned from fullback to linebacker before his redshirt junior season.
18. LB Steele Divitto
High School: Don Bosco Prep
College: Boston College
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Divitto appeared in 48 career games, including 37 straight starts in his final three seasons. He recorded 296 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles during his career. A third-team All-ACC selection as a senior, Divitto signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2014.
19. TE Jarrett Darmstatter
High School: Barnegat
College: Boston College
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Darmstatter had two catches for 48 yards in his career.
20. OL Betim Bujari
High School: Secaucus
College: Rutgers
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Bujari appeared in 46 career games, including 36 starts. Primarily a center, earning second-team All-American Athletic Conference honors as a junior.
Notable recruits outside the top 20:
•23. DB K'Waun Wiiliams: Pittsburgh
•28 LB Doug Rigg: West Virginia
•29. WR Andrew Turzilli: Kansas/Rutgers
http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/i...g_review_how_have_the_top_20_nj_recruits.html
Whenever there's discussion about how Rutgers can reach the next level, there is near universal agreement that the key is retaining more of the top recruits from New Jersey. Rutgers' proximity to homegrown talent should provide an advantage, but the program has been unable to build the proverbial wall around New Jersey.
"They have to get five out of the top 10 if they want to take the next step. And I would say probably 9-10 out of the top 20," Mike Farrell, the national recruiting director for , said in February. "Set your goals high. They're not close to that right now. But they were in the (Darius) Hamilton year (in 2012) and they had a few guys who were committed before the disaster of (2014), too, so it can be done. But I think it's important not to allow other schools to come in and just cherry pick who they want."
The emphasis of keeping Jersey recruits home has been repeated for years. But would stocking the roster with homegrown talent be enough to thrust Rutgers into the upper echelon of college football?
To find that answer, I'm going to review the college careers of the top 20 New Jersey prospects from recent years, according to . Have the top Jersey recruits lived up to the hype in college? Are there more busts than stars? Let's find out, beginning with the 2010 recruiting class:
1. WR Shakim Phillips
High School: DePaul Catholic
College: Boston College/UConn
Rating: 4 stars
Recap: Phillips attended Boston College for one year before transferring to UConn for three years. He finished his career back at BC as a graduate transfer in 2014. He caught 74 passes for 1,096 yards and eight touchdowns in his career. Phillips signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in May.
2. DE T.J. Clemmings
High School: Paterson Catholic
College: Pittsburgh
Rating: 4 stars
Recap: Clemmings played in 16 games at defensive end in his first three years at Pitt and totaled 23 tackles and two tackles for loss. He was moved to offensive line before his redshirt junior year and became a two-year starter at right tackle. Clemmings was named a second-team All-American and a first-team All-ACC selection as a senior. He was picked in the fourth round of the 2015 draft by the Minnesota Vikings.
3. DE Bryan Murphy
High School: Don Bosco Prep
College: Pittsburgh
Rating: 4 stars
Recap: Murphy was a two-year starter at defensive end for Pitt before walking away prior to his senior season to focus on academics. Murphy totaled 33 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and six sacks in three seasons.
4. TE Kevin Haplea
High School: North Hunterdon
College: Penn State/Florida State
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Haplea spent two years at Penn State before transferring in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal and spending his final two seasons at Florida State. He caught 11 passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns in his career. Haplea signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in May.
5. RB Tony Jones
High School: Don Bosco Prep
College: Colorado
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Jones had 308 carries for 1,269 yards (4.1 ypc) and nine touchdowns in his career. He added 90 career catches for 558 yards and three touchdowns.
RELATED: Analysts agree that Rutgers needs to land more top N.J. recruits
6. DB Dontae Johnson
High School: Pennington Prep
College: N.C. State
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Johnson played cornerback and safety at N.C. State, recording 201 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four sacks, three interceptions and two forced fumbles during his career. He was picked in the fourth round of the 2014 draft by the San Francisco 49ers.
7. RB Kamal Hogan
High School: St. Joseph's (Montvale)
College: Louisville
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Hogan had five carries for 13 yards in his first two seasons before shifting to safety, where he saw limited playing time.
8. OL Chris Fonti
High School: Wayne Hills
College: Rutgers
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Fonti finished his career with a year of eligibility remaining after appearing in eight career games as a backup offensive lineman.
9. WR Bennett Jackson
High School: Raritan
College: Notre Dame
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Bennett was a standout kick returner and special teams gunner in his first two seasons before moving to cornerback as a junior. He was a two-year starter at cornerback, recording 129 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions and one forced fumble in his final two seasons. Jackson was picked in the sixth round of the 2014 draft by the Giants.
10. OL Brandon Vitabile
High School: Bishop Ahr
College: Northwestern
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Vitabile started at center in all 50 games he played during his career. He was a two-time All-Big Ten honorable mention. Vitabile signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in May.
11. DT Dante Weaver
High School: New Brunswick
College: Temple
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Weaver did not see game action during his college career.
12. OL Dan Foose
High School: Paramus Catholic
College: Florida State
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Foose appeared in three games in his first three years before his career was cut short by an injury.
13. DE James Kittredge
High School: Don Bosco Prep
College: Vanderbilt/Michigan State
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Kittredge appeared in three games as a freshman at Vanderbilt before transferring to Michigan State. Limited by injuries in his final two seasons, he appeared in 16 career games at Michigan State, recording 14 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss.
14. OL Jake Kaufman
High School: St. Peter's Prep
College: South Florida
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Kaufman appeared in three career games.
15. ATH Tejay Johnson
High School: Egg Harbor Township
College: Rutgers
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Johnson played safety and cornerback in his first three years at Rutgers, totaling 47 tackles and a forced fumble. He was switched to wide receiver in the spring of 2014, but his career was cut short by injury before the 2014 season.
16. WR Jawaun Wynn
High School: Piscataway
College: Rutgers
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Wynn saw action on special teams in three years at Rutgers before transferring to Rhode Island. He caught 37 passes for 419 yards and one touchdown, and added 18 carries for 83 yards, in two seasons at Rhode Island.
17. TE Sherard Cadogan
High School: Camden Catholic
College: Wisconsin
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Cadogan record four tackles in 27 career games. He moved from tight end to fullback before his redshirt sophomore season and transitioned from fullback to linebacker before his redshirt junior season.
18. LB Steele Divitto
High School: Don Bosco Prep
College: Boston College
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Divitto appeared in 48 career games, including 37 straight starts in his final three seasons. He recorded 296 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles during his career. A third-team All-ACC selection as a senior, Divitto signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2014.
19. TE Jarrett Darmstatter
High School: Barnegat
College: Boston College
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Darmstatter had two catches for 48 yards in his career.
20. OL Betim Bujari
High School: Secaucus
College: Rutgers
Rating: 3 stars
Recap: Bujari appeared in 46 career games, including 36 starts. Primarily a center, earning second-team All-American Athletic Conference honors as a junior.
Notable recruits outside the top 20:
•23. DB K'Waun Wiiliams: Pittsburgh
•28 LB Doug Rigg: West Virginia
•29. WR Andrew Turzilli: Kansas/Rutgers
