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Commit Alert! Shameen Jones

The New York native becomes the 17th member of the 2017 class.

By Scott Logan
Jim O'Connor-USA TODAY Sports

For the fourth day in a row, Rutgers has secured a commitment for the 2017 class. Today, New York wide receiver Shameen Jones made his announcement.

A three-star recruit, Jones' Rutgers recruitment has been a fast-paced one. While he first camped with Rutgers last June, Jones didn't seem to have much contact with the Scarlet Knights until defensive backs coach Bill Busch visited him last month. Busch's visit must have gone well, as Rutgers then offered Jones on June 9, becoming the tenth program to do so.

After receiving his offer, the ninth-ranked prospect from the Empire State took an unofficial visit to the banks on June 18. He was back just a week later, taking in the Rutgers Passing Camp last Saturday before taking another unofficial visit on Sunday. Now, just two days later, he is a Scarlet Knights commit.

The 6-2, 171-pounder's best attributes are his speed, moves, and vision. Jones shifts into another gear when he finds open field, blazing by defenders. When he's not in open field, he still finds ways to gain yards, showing the patience to follow his blocking. When the situation calls for it, he can make his own move to make a defender miss. He can get open on the outside, but I was particularly impressed by what he can do over the middle. He's not afraid to go one-on-one with an opponent and beat them on a jump ball for a big gain.

Rutgers beat out ten other teams for Jones' commitment, including Temple, Bowling Green, and Delaware. While they didn't offer him, Jones also received interest from Maryland, Indiana, Wisconsin, Virginia Tech, Pitt, Syracuse, Boston College, and others.

To say Rutgers is on fire on the recruiting trail right now could be an understatement. The Scarlet Knights have now secured four commitments in four days: three-star wide receiver/safety Tyler Hayek on Saturday, four-star linebacker Tyshon Fogg on Sunday, three-star running back Johnathan Lovett on Monday, and now Jones today.

Jones' commitment moves Rutgers up to No. 17 in the nation in 247Sports' class rankings. The Scarlet Knights have jumped Northwestern to become the fourth-ranked class in the Big Ten, just behind powerhouses Ohio State, Michigan, and Iowa.

The coaching staff clearly views wide receiver as a position of need, as Jones is the sixth receiver in the 17-man class, joining Hayek, Bo Melton, Everett Wormley, Bryce Watts, and Tim Barrow. It is worth noting, however, that Jones, Hayek, Watts, and Barrow can all play on the defensive side of the ball, too.

Jones is the fourth out-of-state commit, and the second from New York.

You can take a look at Jones' film right here:

Welcome to the banks, Shameen!