Reviewing Rutgers 2013 Recruiting Class

 In 2011 and 2012, Rutgers brought in the two best recruiting classes in school history. They landed the top player in New Jersey both years (Savon Huggins in 2011/Darius Hamilton in 2012), as well as a large majority of the state's other top tier players and even some highly sought after recruits from New York and Pennsylvania too. It seemed that recruiting was on a major uptick for Rutgers, but it was going to be very difficult for them to replicate the success of the past two years on the recruiting trail in 2013. The Scarlet Knights had a multitude of factors working against them, and were facing an uphill battle from the start.

Kyle Flood and an almost entirely new coaching staff would try to pick up where Greg Schiano left off before going to the NFL, but they had a lot to prove to recruits. Flood was an unknown commodity as a head coach before the 2012 season, and the coaching staff had to build relationships with players from scratch in a relatively short period of time. Compounding these uncertainties was the fact that New Jersey had a bit of a down year talent wise, and a lot of the top guys in the state were dead set on leaving the northeast. There was also the lingering question of conference affiliation for much of the 2013 recruiting period. Rutgers was able to answer some of these questions when Kyle Flood proved to be a capable head coach and the Scarlet Knights were announced as new members of the Big 10 in November, but it was too late. A lot of targeted players were committed elsewhere or long had Rutgers in their rear view mirror. All of these things led to the Scarlet Knights pulling in a somewhat disappointing haul, at least compared to the last two years.

That does not mean this recruiting class was bad though. In fact, this recruiting class was still pretty decent. Good enough to rank in the thirties or forties nationally and in the upper half of the Big 10, according to the online recruiting services. Although they did miss out on some of their top targets, Rutgers still managed to bring a number of very good players on board who are very good fits for their offensive and defensive schemes. They also filled their positions of need on the roster, and may have even unearthed some diamonds in the rough.

***

Rutgers biggest need in this recruiting cycle was by far defensive back. The Knights lost six of their top seven players in the secondary after the 2012 season, and they had to replenish the system with not only depth, but high end talent as well. Rutgers added five new defensive backs in this recruiting class, including the player who was the headliner of the entire incoming freshman class.

Corner back Nadir Barnwell (6'0" 190, Piscataway HS/Piscataway, NJ) was the biggest recruit Rutgers landed this year, and he is the crown jewel of the entire class. He was arguably the top defensive back in New Jersey and one of the state’s top players overall. Barnwell is a big, physical corner who possesses fluid hips, good ball skills and plenty of speed. He is the entire package Rutgers looks for in their corners and he is a tremendous fit for the press/man coverage scheme they run. He enrolled early and should compete for playing time right away, even after being limited in Spring Practice by offseason shoulder surgery. He has true top corner potential and hopefully he can be a stud at the back end of the defense as the Knights make the transition to the Big 10.

Rutgers further solidified the corner position by bringing in Delon Stepehenson (5'11" 170, Sayerville HS/Sayerville, NJ) and Anthony Cioffi (5'11" 170, Dayton HS/Springfield, NJ). Stephenson signed his letter of intent with Rutgers in 2012, but he did not qualify academically and had to spend last season at a prep school. He is another big, speedy corner who can play man coverage, and he will also battle for playing time right away. Cioffi is an outstanding athlete who was probably the fastest player to come out of New Jersey this year. He played mostly quarterback in high school and is thus a bit raw on the defensive side of the ball, but his athleticism will carry him and give him a chance to be a solid corner.

Rutgers also brought in two very good safeties in this class. T.J. Taylor (6'3" 186, South Brunswick HS/Kendall Park, NJ) is a big, explosive, hard hitter who is an enforcer over the middle. He has good ball skills and can cover well, but he could outgrow the position and he might be a better fit at weak side linebacker in Rutgers' defense anyway. Bryant Gross-Armiento (6'1" 188, American Heritage HS/Sunrise, FL) is also a big, physical safety, and he projects well as a strong safety that can play in the box and provide run support.

Tight end was a big priority for Rutgers in this cycle as well, since they only have two returning scholarship players at the position. They missed out on some of their top targets here who were dynamic receiving threats, and had to settle for two very good blockers at the position in Taylor Marini (6'4" 227, Lake Mary HS/Oviedo, FL) and Nick Arcidiacono (6'4" 230, Archbishop Wood HS/Holland, PA). Both players played a lot of offensive line in high school, and project as solid inline blockers. Neither of them offers much in the way of receiving though, and they both pretty much have to learn route running and other pass catching techniques from the ground up.

Another area Rutgers really had to address was linebacker, and they brought in three versatile players at the position. Myles Nash (6'5" 205, Timber Creek HS/Sicklerville, NJ) was the top linebacker in the state, and he should be a great fit as a strong side backer in Rutgers' defense, playing up on the line of scrimmage. He has great length, uses his hands well and can diagnose plays. He also has the athleticism to cover tight ends and make plays all over the field. He is cut from the same cloth as current starting SAM backer Jamal Merrell. Lester Liston (6'1" 219, Grand Blanc HS/Grand Blanc, MI) will most likely end up as a middle linebacker and he is a big hitter. He can fight through trash, disengage from blockers and make plays in tight spaces. He is a good blitzer and shows potential in coverage, giving him the ability to be an every down player. Nick Internicola (6'3" 230, University School/Pembroke Pines, FL) will get a look at linebacker, but he will most likely make the move to the R position in Rutgers' defense, where he would be a defensive end/linebacker hybrid.

Two of the top overall players in New Jersey this year were defensive ends, and Rutgers missed out on both of them, so they had to settle for two high risk/high reward types at the position in Kemoko Turay (6'5" 210, Barringer HS/Newark, NJ) and Eric Wiafe (6'5" 258, Egg Harbor HS/Egg Harbor, NJ). Turay is a very raw player who only played one year of high school ball, but he does possess rare explosion off the snap and a nice frame with plenty of room to fill out. Wiaffe has great size without sacrificing any speed, but he is a bit rough around the edges technique wise and will need time to develop. It seems that a lot of raw pass rushing types have worked out well for a lot of teams across the country recently, and Rutgers needs to hope that at least one of these two will become an impact pass rusher.

On the interior of the defensive line, Rutgers added Sebastian Joseph (6'4" 270, Stroudsburg HS/Stroudsburg, PA) and Josh Klecko (6'2" 260, Red Bank Catholic/Colt's Neck, NJ). Klecko is an undersized nose tackle, but he has outstanding technique to make up for it and very good blood lines (his dad played for the Jets and his brother played on a few NFL teams). Joseph is a quick, explosive player who can penetrate the backfield. He has a huge wing span and a good frame to start with.

After bringing in five offensive linemen in the last recruiting class, the position was a very low priority for Rutgers. But they did take one o-lineman in this class, Dorian Miller (6'2" 295, Metuchen HS/Metuchen, NJ). Miller was one of the top offensive linemen on Rutgers' board, and he is a big, strong mauler who blocks through the whistle and can finish blocks. He has a bit of a mean streak in him as well, but he's not the most athletic lineman in the world. He is capable of playing either center or guard at the college level.

At quarterback, Rutgers added Chris Laviano (6'2" 200 Holy Trinity HS/Glen Head, NY). He does not have one stand out tool that will amaze you, but he is a very well rounded passer. Laviano possesses above average size, arm strength, and accuracy, to go along with solid mechanics. He played in a pro-style offense in high school, and he has good footwork on straight drop backs and is also athletic enough to throw outside the pocket on bootlegs and sprint outs. He is a very polished passer and can make progressions through a defense. He was a very under rated prospect and I think he is capable of becoming a quality starter at the position. Laviano may not be as highly rated as some other quarterbacks who had more "name value," but I do think he was the top quarterback prospect in the region.

Out at wide receiver, Rutgers brought in three players who are very different types of pass catchers. Andre Patton (6'4" 193, St. Elizabeth HS/Wilmington, DE) is exactly the type of receiver Rutgers has normally had over the years, as he is a big, physical target that is capable of stretching the field vertically. He is a long strider, giving him speed in the open field, and he should be strong enough to win jump balls and catch passes over the middle. Janarion Grant (5'9" 165, Pasco HS/Trilby, FL) is a smaller receiver with standout speed. He is very quick and can change direction, so he has the makings of a good route runner. He is dangerous in the open field and can contribute as a kick returner as well. John Tsimis (6'0" 175, Bergen Catholic/Harrington Park, NJ) doesn’t have the size of Patton or the speed of Grant, but he is very quick and has great hands and seems like a great fit in the slot. He tracks the ball well deep and can stretch the field too. He did have two big games in 2011 against Yuri Wright, who was a 5 star corner, but he flew under the radar this year because he missed the entire season after tearing his ACL over the summer.

Rutgers also added three running backs in this class: Dontea Ayers (5'9" 205, Wicomico HS/Salisbury, MD), Devan Carter (6'2" 220, Barington HS/Rochester, NY), and Justin Goodwin (5'11" 180, Madison HS/Summit, NJ). Ayers is a big, thick back with a low center of gravity that is a very strong downhill runner. Carter offers an interesting blend of size strength and athleticism, and he could be a multi threat fullback. Goodwin does not have standout size or speed, but he has great vision and balance and is a patient ball carrier. He is a perfect fit for Rutgers' zone blocking scheme, and he is adept as a receiver out of the back field as well.

Kyle Flood is a good recruiter, and the high school coaches in New Jersey like him, but he is not on the same level recruiting wise as Greg Schiano. At least not yet. He did a very good job holding the 2012 class together at the last minute, but he didn't exactly close strong this year. Recruiting is different as a head coach than it is as an assistant, and Flood should become a better closer as he gets more experience. He probably could deploy his assistants more effectively by assigning them to a specific area, rather than by committee, and he seems to be doing that, based on his new additions to the coaching staff. Rutgers did get a few potential studs in this class in Laviano, Barnwell, Nash and Patton, and I think Goodwin and Taylor have big time sleeper potential, but this class was merely solid, if unspectacular overall.

Lewis Toler, Nick Marsh Transfer to Rutgers

Last season, Rutgers was able to take advantage of the NCAA's "Graduate Transfer Rule" to sure up a major area of need on the offensive line with RJ Dill. The rule allows players who have already graduated from their current institution to transfer penalty free and have immediate eligibility at their new school. The Scarlet Knights will try to take advantage of this rule for the second consecutive year to help out two areas of concern, adding former Western Michigan corner back Lewis Toler and Utah punter Nick Marsh.

It was previously reported that Marsh would be joining the Scarlet Knights, and Toler had visited Rutgers, but his addition to the roster wasn't reported until last week, when the school officially announced the addition of both players.

Toler is originally from Delaware, and he played under Rutgers defensive coordinator Dave Brock with the Broncos. Rutgers has literally zero experience returning at corner back after losing their top three guys at the position from last year, making this position a potential weakness for the team. Toler somewhat alleviates that concern, providing some much needed experience with 36 career collegiate starts already under his belt. Toler was an All-MAC caliber player who has intercepted 8 passes in his career, and he figures to be a starter for the Scarlet Knights this year.

Rutgers Adds Washington State to 2014/2015 Schedule

Rutgers had one void left to fill on both their 2014 and 2015 schedule, and yesterday the athletic department announced a home and home series with Washington State to fill it. The Scarlet Knights will visit Seattle --rather than Pullman where Wazzu's campus is located-- for their season opener in 2014 and the Cougars will make a return trip to Piscataway in 2015. The two schools have never played each other before.

Washington State has been one of the worst BCS level programs in the country the past few years, but they are still a somewhat interesting opponent. Mike Leach had a lot of success at Texas Tech with his air raid offense and swashbuckling style, and he should be able to improve their program into the realm respectability as he adds more of his own players. At the very least, it will be interesting to see Rutgers play a team that plays a very different style of football than what they are used to seeing in the Big East and what they will see in the Big 10.

The 2014 game will be Rutgers' first as a member of the Big 10 conference and it will be played at Century Link Field, which is where the Seahawks play. Since it is scheduled for a Friday, I'm guessing it has a really good chance of being on ESPN or ESPN2. Seattle is supposedly a really great city, so this could be a good road trip for fans to take. Hopefully Washington State can improve and be at least a decent draw for the 2015 game. Regardless, it sure beats the hell out of playing a non BCS league team.

This series also further establishes Rutgers' presence on the west coast. With this series, a future series against UCLA, and this year's opener at Fresno State, Rutgers could take this opportunity to recruit the west coast. Not necessarily for a lot of recruits or any high profile guys, but for a couple sleepers, similar to what they have done in the midwest so far this year.

New Knights in the NFL

 The 2013 NFL Draft was a historic one for Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights had a school record seven players selected, and that mark was tops in the Big 10 and sixth best in the entire country, behind only Florida State, Alabama, LSU, Florida and Georgia. There weren't a lot of Rutgers players selected early, as five of the seven were day three picks (including four seventh rounders), but it's still an awesome feat. It's a true testament to the old coaching staff's recruiting, scouting and coaching abilities, as well as the hard work the players put in themselves during their years on the banks.

Rutgers North

It's no secret that New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick is quite fond of Rutgers' football program. Due in large part to the friendship he developed with Greg Schiano over the years, Belichick has established a pipe line of players going from Piscataway to Foxborough, and that pipe line grew even stronger during this draft. The Pats added three more Scarlet Knights in the draft, and afterwards, Belichick explained his fascination with Rutgers by stating: "[Rutgers players] are probably as ready for professional football as just about any kids coming out of college."

The first Rutgers player selected in the draft this year was corner back Logan Ryan, who went to New England in the third round with the 83rd overall pick (which also happened to be the pick the Bengals used to draft Mohamed Sanu last year). The Patriots then went back to Rutgers' secondary again with their second third round pick (91st overall), taking safety Duron Harmon.

Ryan is a very good fit in New England, as they prefer big, physical corners in their press/zone coverage scheme. He will be a bit buried on the depth chart this year, but he should contribute right away on special teams and be given a chance to earn a starting spot in 2014. The Patriots have a number of corners who will be free agents after this season, and he seems poised to be one of the Patriots' corners of the future. Ryan will also be reunited with his mentor Devin McCourty, so that should help him make his adjustment to the NFL smoother.

Harmon was a surprise pick this high in the draft, but he seems to be the kind of safety Belichick has historically preferred. The Patriots have had a lot of hard hitting/physical safeties over the years and Harmon fits that bill. He will compete to be the Pats' back up at strong safety, where he can be utilized as a run stopper and an intermediate zone defender. Adrian Wilson is the starter ahead of him, and he was just given a three year deal by New England this offseason.

The Patriots capped off their draft by picking another RU player, linebacker Steve Beauharnais in the seventh round with the 235th overall pick. Beauharnais dropped further than most people expected, and he didn't exactly end up in a great situation for him personally. The Pats have three good young linebackers who were all high draft picks, so it will be tough for him to earn playing time. But with his tremendous instincts and athletic ability, he should still find some kind of role in the pros for somebody.

Monster of the Midway

With 117th overall pick in the fourth round of the draft, the Chicago Bears drafted linebacker Khaseem Greene. Greene fell a bit because this draft was incredibly deep, but he is headed to an organization that is well renowned for its linebacker play. The Bears are keeping the Tampa 2 defense they have run for the last decade or so intact, and Greene is a great fit for that scheme as a weak side linebacker, since he is adept in coverage as a former safety. He will back up Lance Briggs --who is a free agent after this season-- and could figure prominently into the Bears' future plans on defense.

Seventh Round Run 

Ryan, Harmon and Greene were the only Rutgers players drafted in the first six rounds, but four Knights had their name called in the seventh and final round of the draft. The Arizona Cardinals selected tight end DC Jefferson 219th overall, the Washington Redskins tabbed Jawan Jamison as the 228th pick, Beauharnais went to the Patriots at pick 235, and corner Marcus Cooper was selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the third to last pick of the draft (252nd overall).

Jefferson has yet to really put it all together as a tight end, but he ended up in a great situation. He will have a shot at immediate playing time in Arizona, since the Cardinals don't really have a stand out tight end on the roster. If all goes well and he gets coached up, he could develop into a starter there.

The Redskins were pretty much the best place Jamison could have landed in. Washington is pretty deep at running back, but Mike Shanahan has notoriously been very unpredictable with how he uses his running backs. Additionally, Jamison is a great fit for their zone blocking scheme with his slashing style.

Cooper will join a 49ers team that is very deep at corner. He might make their roster because of his special teams prowess, but he will likely be a practice squad player. With outstanding size and speed, Cooper has the raw materials you look for in a corner, but he will need some time to learn San Francisco's off zone scheme.

 

Undrafted Free Agents

Rutgers had seven players drafted, but as usual, they also had a number of players sign with teams as undrafted free agents. Wide receiver Tim Wright and defensive end/linebacker Ka'Lial Glaud signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, offensive tackle RJ Dill signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, corner back Brandon Jones signed with the Patriots, and wide receiver Mark Harrison signed with the Bears before being waived and claimed by the.....you guessed it, Patriots. I don't think any of these players will make the 53 man roster with their respective teams, but they all should end up on a practice squad somewhere.

Safety Mason Robinson (Jets) and defensive tackle Scott Vallone (Lions) were invited to rookie mini camps, but neither of them was given an opportunity to go to training camp with a team. I'm very surprised that nobody was willing to give Vallone a chance.

***

Rutgers had a very talented team in 2012, and the draft further proved that. The Scarlet Knights are sending a total of twelve players to the NFL this year, and that's just an all around great thing for the program. The athletes who grew up as players and people at Rutgers get to move on and continue playing, and having sent all these players to the NFL can play to your advantage on the recruiting trail.