Rutgers Football Recruiting: Prospect Party in Piscataway

Three B1Gtime class of 2016 prospects will be at Rutgers on Saturday, taking in the second scrimmage of training camp. I cannot stress this enough - New Jersey's 2016 class is absolutely loaded, and three of our best will be at Rutgers at the same time.

Rashan Gary

Paramus Catholic's Rashan Gary was the first to announce he would be on campus this weekend.  Recruit-watchers have been tracking Gary for years, because of his NFL size and limitless potential. Strike that - it's not just potential anymore; it's demonstrated ability at this point. Gary is a 6'5", 290 lb weapon of mass destruction banned by the Geneva Convention defensive end.

Gary was one of only three rising juniors to participate in the Opening, an annual invite-only premier recruiting event held at Nike's world headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, where he drew rave reviews, and double takes, from the 5* senior offensive lineman he was regularly blowing up. From Bleacher Report on his Opening performance:

"Wait, hold on," [5* Florida OL Martez] Ivey said. "He's only going to be a junior? Whoa, I had no idea," Ivey said. "He definitely stepped up his game. That's pretty crazy. The guy deserves a lot of credit for how he handles himself."

Fellow 5-star offensive tackle Mitch Hyatt shared that sentiment and surprise.

"Like most of the linemen, I didn't find out he's a rising junior until the final day of competition," the Clemson commit admitted. "We just assumed he was another senior, especially based on the way he competed. It was a shock for sure."

Gary is a beast on the gridiron. He is a 5* national recruit, who just transferred to Paramus Catholic from Scotch Plains-Fanwood. Think Darius Hamilton, but 30 pounds heavier and blasting around the edge of the offensive line instead of up the middle. He has been on campus several times before, but every time Rutgers can get him to Piscataway is a major step in the right direction.

Gary has offers from, among others, Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, MSU, Ohio State, ttfp, South Carolina, USC and Wisconsin.

Kareem Walker

Gary will be joined by 5* DePaul running back Kareem Walker, who was recently named the top-rated running back nationwide in the 2016 class by Rivals. Walker is a 6'0", 212 lb. wrecking ball whose combination of speed, agility, constant leg motion and terrific balance make him very difficult to bring down. He reminds me of current Packer/former Crimson Tide star Eddie Lacy.

Walker has also been on campus many times, most recently last Saturday for fan appreciation day with some of his DePaul teammates. After his latest visit, he told Todderick Hunt, "I like being up there. It's just home."

Walker has offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, FSU, Michigan, MSU, Notre Dame, Ohio State, ttfp, South Carolina and Wisconsin, among many more.

Jarrett Guarantano

Bergen Catholic quarterback Jarrett Guarantano will complete the trifecta at Rutgers on Saturday.  At 6'3" and 200 lbs, Guarantano is rated as the #6 pro style QB in the country, and he is the son of James Guarantano, a former Rutgers wide receiver and Rutgers Football Hall of Fame inductee.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Heading to my dad&#39;s alma mater tomorrow ® <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CHOPNation?src=hash">#CHOPNation</a></p>&mdash; Jarrett Guarantano (@Guarantano18) <a href="https://twitter.com/Guarantano18/statuses/500351285028470784">August 15, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Guarantano recently released a "final 4" list that did not include the Scarlet Knights, but it is a long way to signing day in February 2016, so don't count the home-town school out just yet.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>My final four schools . <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Buckeyes?src=hash">#Buckeyes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sooners?src=hash">#Sooners</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CrimsonTide?src=hash">#CrimsonTide</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tigers?src=hash">#Tigers</a> <a href="http://t.co/JTviZv962c">pic.twitter.com/JTviZv962c</a></p>&mdash; Jarrett Guarantano (@Guarantano18) <a href="https://twitter.com/Guarantano18/statuses/497898006528925696">August 9, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Is There a Common Thread Between These Young Men?

Glad you asked.

Aside from being lucky enough to be natives of the great State of New Jersey, and within an hour's drive of Rutgers University, all three share a training relationship with new Rutgers coach E.J. Barthel, formerly of ETS Fitness in Teterboro, NJ, now working with Coach Panagos and the D-line (although Rutgers has still not officially announced his title or role with the team).  We told you about Coach Barthel, and his ridiculous connections with top NJ high school talent here.

Pics from Coach Barthel's instagram:

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