The Philadelphia Inquirer has more accolades for Rutgers commit Taj Alexander, naming him to their all-Southeast Pennsylvania team on defense.
Taj Alexander, Downingtown East. At tackle, the beefy Rutgers recruit produced 56 tackles, with 24 resulting in losses, 17 sacks and six fumble recoveries.
WR target Brandon Coleman was a standout during Under Armour All-American Bowl practices.
Coleman showed a bit more quickness and fluidity than we thought he had in him, and did a good job creating separation off the line.
That's not the only HS All Star game on the calendar. Of course, there's the Army AA game from over the weekend, and lower on the totem pole is the Offense-Defense game. RB Mustafa Greene was in attendance, eager to shake off an injury-prone season, and emerge from Marcus Lattimore's shadow to show that he's an excellent prospect in his right. Something could be throwing a wrench in bringing the Brooklyn native home though, as their leading rusher Toney Baker is leaving for the NFL, thinning an already weak depth chart.
Baker's departure could help, though, with N.C. State's recruitment of Mustafa Greene from Irmo, S.C. Rated one of the nation's top running back prospects, Greene has essentially narrowed his list to the Wolfpack and Rutgers. He's scheduled to make an official visit to Raleigh sometime this month, after which he's expected to announce his decision. The N.C. State coaches will no doubt be using the prospect of immediate playing time in their pitch to Greene.
H'es visiting NC State this weekend. Here are some more brief comments (scroll down) from a site that's notorious for having bad grammar; those make me optimistic. So while we worry about whether Greene is tempted by early playing time, the fallback option at tailback appears to be Jawan Jamison.
Bolles running back Jawan Jamison moved Rutgers to the top of his list after an in-home visit with Rutgers coach Greg Schiano.
"Rutgers has the lead," Jamison said. "Coach Schiano and my mom hit it off right off the bat."
That article also has a brief update on FL DB Rashad Knight. I asked Tom from mgoblog last week about the rumors that if Michigan lands CA S Sean Parker they wouldn't have any room left for Knight, and he didn't think that was true. So there's that, and then Tom posted that he thinks Rutgers may be leading.
Coach Schiano just visited Jeremy Deering at home. He may take an unofficial to UF, and just came back from FSU. Notre Dame is showing interest in CB Dionte Ponder. Probably won't amount for anything, but RU is in contact with former Texas Texas WR commit Kadron Boone. I'm not optimistic about FL ATH Ace Sanders if he doesn't take an official visit. It'll probably be South Carolina over WVU. He dropped USF after the whole Leavitt mess. Yeah, Florida produces a lot of talent. Wouldn't be a surprise at all to see any new names pop up from there, especially with the coaching carousel spinning into January.
Hope is still alive for the time being with MD S Lorenzo Waters.
Also, McGregor said, defensive back Lorenzo Waters has narrowed his choices to Rutgers, Wake Forest and California.
"He's got to make up his mind shortly here," McGregor said. "Maryland was in [earlier this week], they were still trying to get Lorenzo. But I called James [Franklin], he wants to go away from home."
An early junior day is coming up this Saturday, so here are a few '11 updates. mgoblog linked the MaxPreps Junior AA team last week. Surprised not to see Savon Huggins on there. The Roanoke Times has an update (scroll down) on Virginia's top 2011 juniors (addendum has more). Rivals just posted a free article on Darius Jennings. NY ATH Quentin Gause just picked up an offer. The premium sites are now showing offers out to PA TE Ben Koyack, OH TE Ray Hamilton, and CB Miles Shuler from Long Branch. The interesting thing about Shuler that his father posts on Rivals...
Of note is that Pitt WR coach Bryan Bossard is likely to move on; he recruited Delaware and Maryland for the Panthers. It's not RU-related, but for anyone still interested in the Antwon Chisholm saga the (the Florida back who pulled a knife on a security guard at a mall), he decommitted again, this time for Marshall. Be sure to check the dead/quiet period calendar if you have any questions about what those terms mean.
PA DT Sharrif Floyd committed to Florida over Ohio State. FL WR Michaelee Harris committed to Louisville. FL RB James White committed to Wisconsin. FL WR Chris Dunkley committed to Florida, and NY DE Dominique Easley switched to his verbal to the Gators too. They had always been his number one choice, and finally made room in their class with the post-Meyer defections. FL WR Kenny Shaw committed to FSU. SC WR Torian Richardson committed to ECU.
Watchlist: Bill Belton, Dan Foose/Kamal Hogan, Jonathan Haskett, Kyshoen Jarrett, Tyrone Johnson, Tommy Jordan, Tony Jones, Jazz King, Jimmy Lawson, Djwany Mera, Stephane Ngoumou, Kevin Reihner, Dillon Romain, Trevarris Saulsberry, and Chris Woods.