Rutgers Lands Pair of In-State St John Vianney Offensive Linemen

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

Year after year the state of New Jersey always turns out top next level football talent. In recent years Rutgers has fought the good fight trying to keep Garden State players in-state with mixed results. As the early results from Class of 2017 efforts are coming in, the Scarlet Knights are off to a great start in building that proverbial fence around the state.

Rutgers got a big boost on Tuesday when St. John Vianney teammates Jamaal Beaty and Micah Clark committed to the Scarlet Knights.

St. John Vianney proved to be one of the top teams in the state of New Jersey rolling through Shore-Central A competition to an 11-1 season before falling to DePaul Catholic in the championship game. The Lancers were pushed forward by their dynamic duo up front.

Beaty, listed at 6’4”, 270, picked Rutgers over an offer from Old Dominion while Clark was in the neighborhood of 20 offers when committing to the Scarlet Knights. Clark (6-5, 283) had offers from Alabama, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Tennessee, Syracuse, Clemson, Auburn, and Penn State before choosing Rutgers.

All five of Rutgers commitments are in-state products highlighted by Clark. Cedar Creek wide receiver Bo Melton was another prized recruit for Rutgers with nearly 30 Division-I scholarship offers.

Rutgers 2017 Verbal Commitment List

CB Naijee Jones, 6-1, 185, Timber Creek HS, Sicklerville, NJ

OG Jamaal Beaty, 6-4, 270, St. John Vianney, Holmdel, NJ

OT Micah Clark, 6-5, 283, St. John Vianney, Holmdel, NJ

WR Bo Melton, 6-0, 180, Cedar Creek HS, Egg Harbor, NJ

WR Bryce Watts, 6-0, 165, Toms River North HS, Toms River, NJ

 

Photo credit: shoresportsnetwork.com; No. 56 Micah Clark.