Committed Players
Lafayette Pitts canceled his Pitt visit, then decided to take it after all. He's a player who nine years out of ten would go to Pitt. Great if RU can keep him, but it's no skin off the staff's back if they can't. Pitt offered his cousin, who probably isn't going to qualify. Paul Zeise apparently thinks Pitts will flip, and also doesn't seem to know that every Rutgers official visit features a trip to NYC.
Savon Huggins and Max Issaka committed, and both are very good prospects. Huggins would not be a Scarlet Knight today if not for the change in offensive coordinators. That doesn't necessarily mean that Cignetti clinched Huggins, but Rutgers absolutely needed to can Ciarrocca and hire someone better. Keith Sargeant also looks at the angle of an Ocean County player commuting all the way to Jersey City. Savon is also playing in the USA vs. the World game.
Unfortunately Rutgers lost Josue Matias to FSU. The Matias news is as bad as the Huggins news is good. FSU is FSU, and they have seven OL commits now. They can get other prospects at his level. Rutgers can't. These guys are the team's bread and butter, which is why the staff has no choice but to fight this one out until Signing Day. It may not work, but there's no possible way that FSU does not have as much at stake with his commitment. Reversals can happen (Casey Turner, D.C. Jefferson etc...), and FSU's even seen two this year with Cortez Davis and Aaron Lynch, which probably inspired their quiet period subterfuge.
So Marquis Lucas isn't even considering Rutgers now?
Add Warwick, NY/Bosco FB Paul Canevari.
Two new recruited walk-ons are in the fold.
Uncommitted Players
Kristian Dyer sees Marquise Wright signing with Rutgers. Mike Farrell writes this but tweets this, which should make the RU sites trying to keep a lid on Wright's announcement thrilled.
Will family ties lure Fou Fonoti to Michigan State?
RU is surprisingly back in the mix for PA OL/DT Delvon Simmons, who's back from visiting USC. He and Pitts are wild cards going into tomorrow.
Lions 247 has a few notes on a bunch of random '12 prospects (2).
FL OG Kaleb Johnson is deciding tomorrow (link also recaps this weekend's traumatic events for the squeamish). FL DE Chad Hannah is probably going to Cincy. Look out Tom Savage: FL QB Jacoby Brissett is probably picking Miami.
What kind of impact has Jeff Hafley had on recruiting? He's undoubtedly helped. The answer here has less to do with who Rutgers ends up signing, and more with who they would/could have signed without Hafley.
Facebook is the new recruiting battle ground. Have to say, everyone posting endlessly on Matias's page (and creating extra secondary violation paperwork for the athletic department) really needs to get a life.
Andy Staples thinks maybe everyone should stop talking about SEC speed, and start talking about SEC chronic obesity. Yep, loving how New Jersey produces so many defensive linemen despite being a relatively healthy state.
The Florida president calls grayshirting "morally reprehensible". It is in the context in which he describes it (coming as a last-minute surprise), although the practice is fine IF both parties agree to it beforehand. Florida, Georgia, and Vanderbilt deserve credit as the three SEC programs that don't oversign.
Armwood HS in Tampa has barred Purdue for pulling a recruit's scholarship after knee surgery
Bruce Feldman shadowed Al Golden for ESPN Insider.
FL RB Tre Mason committed to Auburn. GA DE Ray Drew committed to UGA. NJ TE Ryan Malleck switched from MD to VT. FL DE Bryant "B.J." Dubose committed to Miami. FL TE Brandon Fulse committed to Auburn. FL LB Gionni Paul switched from ASU to Miami. Not sure if FL LB LaQuentin Smith had an offer, but he's going to Pitt.
Watchlist: This is a section of this site's weekly recruiting posts featuring links to players that Rutgers may or may not be showing interest in, but has not yet offered.
Jared Allison, Chevelle Buie (2) (3), Ivan Foy, Greg Garmon, Rashad Hill, and Taylor Wrice.