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Early Signing Period: Cedrice Paillant Signs With Rutgers Football

JUCO lineman expected to push for immediate playing time

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 11 Rutgers at Penn State
RU needs some guys to push the pile.
Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Cedrice Paillant is from New Rochelle, but played at Monroe College after High School. Rutgers dipped into the Junior College ranks for the second straight year to find a starting caliber offensive tackle. The hope is Paillant is that guy and after he verbally committed last week, signed his LOI on Wednesday.

Rutgers needs another starting offensive tackle in 2020 and the hope is Cedrice can fit that bill after dominating the JUCO ranks. You don’t bring JUCOs in unless you expect them to be in the two-deep and Rutgers has plenty of serviceable guards, so they are banking on Paillant’s abilities to hold up on the edge. He can deliver blows on the move that no one on the current team can. Let’s hope we see it Saturdays this fall.

High School Position: DT/OT (6’5”, 305 lbs.)

Projected college position: Offensive tackle

Junior College: Monroe

Hometown: New Rochelle, NY

Most notable other offers: FIU, Youngstown St.

The Rutgers Offensive Line left something to be desired in 2019. They could neither shove defenders back to open creases in the running game, nor hold up long enough to give quarterbacks time while throwing with enough consistency. The group loses two starters to graduation, but anyone who can step in and be a difference maker in any facet of the game will start. The rest of the group in Schiano’s first year will be cobbled together as there are plenty of three-star prospects on the roster, just no stars to build around.

Floor: Omari Cooper

Most likely: Cam Stephenson

Potential: Darnell Stapleton

Check out his highlights below:

Stick with On the Banks all day for more National Signing Day coverage.