Keep an eye on 2010 Florida RB Waymon Bowden. Our recent success is starting to pay dividends:
Bowden ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash at a national underclassmen combine following his freshman year. He has been getting letters from many Division I-A college football programs and lists the University of South Florida, Rutgers, Wake Forrest and North Carolina as his favorites.
Rutgers is high on his list because of the way it used Ray Rice, the Scarlet Knights' All-American and Big East Conference rushing leader, who was selected in the second round of this year's NFL draft by Baltimore.
"I like Rutgers because Ray Rice is one of my favorite runners. His running style resembles mine and I like the way Rutgers used him. I like their offensive style," Bowden said.
Rice's success also helped seal the deal with 2009 RB Desmond Scott.
One 2010 name to keep an eye on is Wayne WR Shakim Phillips.
This summer he has taken a couple of trips and has come away with verbal offers.
"I went to Syracuse for an unofficial visit and I got offered," Phillips recalled. "They can’t extend actual papers until September 1. Connecticut said the same thing. I only went to those two. Other than that I’ve just been working out. I like those two."
We've made the top two for Florida CB Rishard Anderson. I think we'd be in good shape here, but I'm not sure how many ships we have left to give.
DB Rishard Anderson (6-0 180) from Plantation is getting more interest from USC than Clemson. "I talked to coach Gillespie, coach Spurrier and coach Johnson," Anderson said. "I liked the campus and the environment, and the academic program. I want to major in business. Coach Gillespie said he's trying to get me an offer but he has to talk to the coaches. They said they like me." Anderson has offers from Wake Forest, Rutgers, Vanderbilt, Syracuse, Northern Illinois, Central Michigan and Western Kentucky. He's also getting interest from Boston College and Virginia. Among his offers he favors Wake Forest and Rutgers. Last season Anderson had 60 tackles and knocked down 20 passes.
Maryland lineman Raynard Randolph gave a video interview last week to the Washington Post.
This week's Recruiting Spotlight features Gwynn Park's Raynard Randolph -- a 6-foot-3, 295-pound lineman with offers from Rutgers, Tennessee, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Connecticut, West Virginia, Michigan State, Illinois and Maryland.
A 17-year-old with a passion for pass-blocking, Randolph has been a team captain at Gwynn Park since his sophomore season and seen the Prince George's powerhouse through some of its best and worst times. Following a 10-2 finish in 2006, the Yellow Jackets suffered through an 0-10 season last fall, forfeitting six games for the use of an ineligible player; however, Randolph has remained an attractive prospect and Coach Danny Hayes says Randolph's growing relationship with Terrapins Coach Ralph Friedgen's wife Gloria could sway the rising senior's decision.
With decisions by Antwan Lowery and Isaac Holmes looming, Rutgers is still looking around Florida for more linemen:
"I think I am going to the LSU and Auburn camps later this month, but I am not sure yet," added Corey Gaines "I have been offered so far by Arkansas, Auburn, Colorado, Iowa State, Ole Miss, and South Florida. Central Florida, Tennessee, and Rutgers are my latest scholarship offers. They offered me this summer."
Tampa DB Mywan Jackson is expecting to cut his list soon, there probably is mutual disinterest at this point however.
DB Mywan Jackson (6-0 180) of Seffner, FL made it to only one Carolina this weekend, the one in Chapel Hill. He originally had planned to stop by Columbia to visit USC but his coach had to get back home, so they went directly back to Seffner Saturday. Jackson got a full two day look at North Carolina. "I think it was real good," he said. "I liked the environment." Jackson does plan to get up close to the Gamecocks with an unofficial visit to USC July 31st. He will visit Michigan this Thursday. Jackson's offers are USC, North Carolina, Michigan, Illinois, Louisville, Rutgers, Auburn and West Virginia. He plans to name a top five by the end of this week.
Rutgers has made Anthony LaLota's top 7.
Anthony LaLota, the 6-foot-5, 260-pound five-star defensive end from The Hun School in Princeton, N.J., now has 38 scholarship offers and has narrowed down his choices to seven schools.
Although he continues to deny a leader, LaLota said he favors Notre Dame, Michigan, Boston College, Virginia, Florida, Penn State and Rutgers.
With Lowery and Holmes deciding soon, Rutgers is hedging its bets on the DT front with Curtis Porter of North Carolina.
"No, I’m not sure when I’m going to (commit)," he said. "I’m still pretty open. I think I’m going to visit Rutgers, Florida, FSU and Miami. Those will probably be officials. Then I’ll make my decision."
Tampa WR Anthony Williams did not name Rutgers in his top 3:
Which colleges is Anthony staying in contact with?
"I have offers from Georgia, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Rutgers, and Indiana."
Which ones stand out?
"My top three right now are Georgia, Ole Miss, and Arkansas."
Rutgers is a finalist for Delaware WR Justin Brown. However, it appears that we are not taking any more at the position.
ESPN 150 Watch List wide receiver Justin Brown currently has Penn State atop his list, affiliate Web site TheBigSpur.com reports.
Rutgers, Virginia, N.C. State and South Carolina appear to be the other programs in the mix for his signature.
Brown mentioned that a team's depth chart will factor into his decision, "I want to go to a school that does not have a lot of wide receivers. I want there to be around 5-6 wide receivers with some graduating as well."
Brown caught 19 passes for 556 yards (29.3 average) and eight touchdowns during his junior campaign.