3-star OL Joe De Croce commits to Rutgers football

Good news continued to roll in on the recruiting front for the 2022 class on Saturday. Rutgers received its third verbal commitment this week from an in-state 3 star offensive lineman, as Joe De Croce of Northern Valley Regional verbally pledged to the program.

The 6’6”, 290 pounder from Demarest, New Jersey holds over half a dozen power five offers from that includes Maryland, Syracuse, Boston College, Louisville, Vanderbilt, West Virginia, as well as UConn and Buffalo. The offensive tackle is ranked 28th in New Jersey and 72nd nationally in the 2022 class per 247 Sports.

Rutgers has now added the second, third, and fourth ranked offensive line prospects in New Jersey for the 2022 class. De Croce joins Taj White, who committed on Wednesday night, and Nelson Monegro, who committed on Thursday night. All three stand between 6’5” and 6’7” and hold almost two dozen power five offers between them.

Offensive line coach Andrew Aurich has added three prospects from North Jersey who have big frames that could potentially develop into key contributors for a position group that is a major priority in the 2022 class.

Adding this group so early in the recruiting cycle sends a positive message to the rest of the recruits that Rutgers is targeting for this class. It’s no secret the talent level of the offensive line needs to be significantly upgraded and the coaching staff has sent a strong message to priority recruits who play other positions that help is on the way. Getting that help from North Jersey sends another message that this staff is making inroads in an area that Rutgers must excel but hasn’t in the recent past. All three are also top 30 recruits in the state this recruiting cycle, which is another positive development this early on.

To watch highlights of De Croce’s junior season, click here.

Rutgers now has six prospects verbally committed in the class of 2022, all on the offensive side of the ball with three wide receivers and three offensive linemen. They are all 3-star prospects and the wide receivers include Rashad Rochelle from Springfield, Illinois, Addison Copeland from Buffalo, New York, and Jojo Bermudez from Egg Harbor City, New Jersey.

It’s early in the recruiting cycle, but the current group is ranked 4th in the Big Ten and 12th nationally per 247 Sports in the class of 2022.

UPDATE: 3-star offensive lineman Kwabena Asamoah from Ohio committed later on Saturday night. Read more on Asamoah here.