Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Rutgers Players From PA and Penn State Players from NJ



When you share a boarder with another program, you are going to compete for the same recruits as them, in your state and theirs. Florida State and Alabama do it, LSU and Texas A&M do it, Oklahoma and Texas do it, among countless other examples. That's just the way it is in college football and no matter who you are, you are going to win some battles and you are going to lose some battles. Rutgers and Penn State are no different than other neighboring states in that regard, so naturally Rutgers has a lot of players from Pennsylvania and Penn State has a lot of players from New Jersey.

The focus lately has been on what Penn State is doing recruiting wise in New Jersey, because quite frankly, James Franklin has been kicking Rutgers' ass on the recruiting trail this year. But Rutgers has hauled in quite a few blue chippers from Pennsylvania over the last few years as well. This week's match up will of course have future recruiting implications for both teams, as it could play a role in whether a recruit decides to become a Scarlet Knight or a Nittany Lion. This will be the first time the two programs have met since 1995, which was before players currently being recruited were born.

So which school has received a greater impact from players from their neighbor's own back yard? Let's take a look.

Penn State Players From New Jersey


Including walk ons, the Nittany Lions have fourteen players from New Jersey.


Big Time Football Bill Belton Sr. RB Sicklerville
Rutgers Offer: Yes
At PSU: Belton is the Lions starting runningback, and he has 52 rushing yards through two games this season after rushing for 803 yards and 5 scores a year ago.

Jesse Merise Jr. CB Hillsdale
Rutgers Offer: No
At PSU: Walk on, not on two deep roster.

Saeed Blacknall Fr. WR Manalapan
Rutgers Offer: Yes
At PSU: The one time Rutgers commit who decommitted a week before signing day has been pressed into action as a true freshman, but he has yet to record a reception.

Anthony Smith So FS Dover
Rutgers Offer: No
At PSU: Walk on, not on two deep roster.

Brandon Bell So. LB Oakcrest
Rutgers Offer: Yes
At PSU: Bell is Penn State's starting strongside linebacker this year and he has recorded three tackles thus far.

Chris Gulla Fr. P Tom's River
Rutgers Offer: No
At PSU: Starting punter

Kyle Austin Fr. DB Robinsville
Rutgers Offer: No
At PSU: Walk on

Jason Cabinda  Fr. LB Felmington
Rutgers Offer: No
At PSU: Back up weakside linebacker

Wendy Laurent So. C Hamilton
Rutgers Offer: No
At PSU: Back up center.

Angelo Mangiro Jr. C Roxbury
Rutgers Offer: Yes
At PSU: First year as a starter at center after two years of playing as a reserve.

Brendan Mahon Fr. OG Randolph
Rutgers Offer: Yes
At PSU: New starter at left guard this year.

Mike Gesicki Fr. TE Manahawkin
Rutgers Offer: Yes
At PSU: Presumably going to red shirt this year.

Garrett Sickels Fr. DE Red Bank
 Rutgers Offer: Yes
At PSU: A reserve.

Antoine White Fr. DT Millville
Rutgers Offer: Yes
At PSU: Presumably redshirting.

Austin Johnson So. DT Galloway
Rutgers Offer:No
At PSU: Starting nose tackle with four tackles after recording 14 tackles and a sack as a reserve a year ago.

Rutgers Players From Pennsylvania

Rutgers has eleven players from Pennsylvania

Desmon Peoples So. RB Cheltenham
Penn State Offer: No
At RU: Back up running back who has rushed for 91 yards after rushing for 16 a year ago.

Rob Martin Fr. RB Harrisburg
Penn State Offer: Yes
At RU: Eight rushing yards in a reserve role as a true frosh.

Dre Boggs Fr. CB Coatsville
Penn State Offer: Yes
At RU: Boggs missed the first two games of the season with an injury, but he figures to see playing time as a reserve when he returns.

Nick Arcidiacono So. TE Holland
Penn State Offer: No
At RU: 5 receptions for 44 yards last season, has yet to play this year because of injury.

Sam Bergen Sr. FB East Stroudsburg
Penn State Offer: No
At RU: Special teams contributor.

Kevin Snyder Sr. LB Mechanicsburg
Penn State Offer: No
At RU: Snyder has been a four year contributor, playing all three linebacker spots. He started all 13 games at will a year ago and starts in the middle this year. He has recorded 178 tackeles (17 for loss) and five sacks in his career.

Sebastian Joseph Fr. DL Stroudsburg
Penn State Offer: No
At RU: One career tackle as the back up nose tackle this season.

Chris Muller So. OG Perkiommenville
Penn State Offer: Yes
At RU: Muller started 12 games at right guard last year and is the starter there again this year. Powerful run blocker who is improving in pass protection.

JJ Denman So. OT Yardley
Penn State Offer: Yes
At RU: The former Penn State commit is the back up at right tackle and has received playing time in both games this year.

Taj Alexander Sr. OT Downingtown
Penn State Offer: No
At RU: Alexander is the starter at right tackle and has started 16 games and played in 26 in his career.

Tyler Kroft Jr. TE Downingtown
Penn State Offer: No
At Rutgers: Kroft is a second year starter at tightend, and he caught 43 passes for 573 yards and 4 scores on his way to being named a first team All Big East performer a year ago.

Charles Scarff Fr. TE Lancaster
Penn State Offer: No
At RU" Walk on tightend.

In terms of volume, Penn State has more players and more starters from New Jersey than Rutgers does from Pennsylvania, but in terms of production, I think Rutgers comes out ahead. Kroft is an all conference caliber performer and Snyder is one of their best defensive players, while Penn State's Jersey LBs are relatively inexperienced. Muller, Denman and Alexander have been better than Penn St's Jersey trio of lineman as well, and a large part of Penn state's volume comes from their walk ons  who do not play. I am of course biased, but it seems Rutgers receives a bigger impact from players from Pennsylvania than Penn State does from New Jersey players in 2014.



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