Rutgers Football: 2021 Recruiting class update

The regular season may be postponed as of now, but Rutgers has been busy on the recruiting scene. The Greg Schiano era has started off with a bang as the Scarlet Knights currently have 22 commits in the Class of 2021. They are currently ranked 37th nationally and ninth in the Big Ten, according to 247Sports.

Rutgers has been extremely active in New Jersey. Schiano and his staff has focused on keeping home grown talent in the state And they have done a good job so far. Here are the players from New Jersey who have given a verbal commitment to date:

Khayri Banton, OLB, Newark West Side

Alijah Clark, CB, Camden

Keshon Griffin, WDE, St. Joseph’s Hammonton

Jordan Thompson, ATH, Parsippany HIlls

Shaquan Loyal, CB, Newark West Side

Al-Shadee Salaam, RB, East Orange

Zaire Angoy, DT, Irvington

Desmond Igbinosun, S, Union

Zack Taylor, LS, Parsippany Hills

Rutgers was able to land some big time recruits on the defensive side of the ball. Banton is the biggest fish in the net. The linebacker from Newark is a significant win for the defense in the future. Clark was recruited as a three-star prospect but has since been bumped up, according to Rivals. He joins Banton as the only four-star recruits in the Scarlet Knights’ Class of 2021.

They are not done either. Rutgers is still in the mix for some of the top players in New Jersey, including the state’s top running back Audric Estime. Rutgers was one of Estime’s top six schools when he revealed his latest update. It is noteworthy that Estime’s teammate at St. Joseph’s Montvale and No. 1 offensive lineman in the state Geno VanDeMark announced his commitment to Michigan State just last week.

Schiano and his staff have been active in New Jersey but also around the nation, especially in the northeast. Here are the verbal commitments that Rutgers has received from outside of New Jersey.

Carnell Davis, WR, Eau Gallie (FL)

Ryan Keeler, SDE, Nazareth Academy (IL)

Tyler Needham, OT, William Penn Charter (PA)

Henry Hughes, WDE, Tampa Bay Tech (FL)

Cam’Rom Stewart, SDE, Governor Mifflin (PA)

Max Patterson, WR, Yorktown (VA)

Kyonte Hamilton, ATH, Georgetown Prep (MD)

Albert Reese, OT, Clearwater Academy International (FL)

Shawn Munnerlyn, ATH, Independence (OH)

Kevin Toth Jr., OT, Hudson (OH)

Brayden Fox, WR, Archbishop Hoban (OH)

Austin Dean, ILB, Berkeley Prep (FL)

Gus Zilinskas, OC, Cherry Creek (CO)

Davis announced his commitment while at St. Augustine Prep in Richland, NJ. He has since decided to finish his high school career at Eau Gallie (FL) and enroll at Rutgers in December. Keeler became the latest three-star recruit to commit to the Scarlet Knights. He is another huge addition to the defense as he was ranked the top defensive lineman in Illinois.

Over the past couple weeks, Schiano has offered recruits from Michigan and California. The Scarlet Knights are still in the mix for Steffan Johnson, but is seems unlikely after he announced his decommitment. Johnson initially committed to Rutgers in May but rescinded in July.

Rutgers has won just three games last two years and have not won a conference game since 2017. It is clear that the Schiano effect is strong. Not to mention he is pulling this off in the midst of a global pandemic. This strong recruiting class means nothing but good things in the future on the field and for recruiting moving forward.