Just think if Rutgers were able to keep the top kids in state. All it would take for them is one class like the 2016 class and it would instantly make them a competitive program that could challenge for conference and national titles in a few years. I hope he comes to OSU, but should he go elsewhere, I do hope its Rutgers. That program is an anomaly in how it struggles yet is surrounded by elite HS talent in bunches every year.
Spurred on by the above quote from Fromthe18 in the Ahmir Mitchell (Top100 NJ ATH that OSU is likely to nab) thread, I was curious where Rutgers' classes would land if they were to control the state of New Jersey. Obviously no one team will ever get all of the state's top talent (OSU is arguably the closest to doing so being the only power-5 school in the state, yet even they still lose the occasional 4/5* to an OOS school); but I thought it would be fun to look at the hypothetical anyway.
This is what Rutgers' 2016 class would look like, so far as NJ-based talent:
5* DT - Rashan Gary
5* RB - Kareem Walker
4* ATH - Ahmir Mitchell
4* QB - Jarrett Guarantano
4* ATH - Jordan Fuller
4* WR - Brad Hawkins
4* WR - Cam Chambers
4* WDE - Ron Johnson
3* WR - Elijah J Robinson
3* WDE - Jamal Holloway
3* OLB - Solomon Manning
3* OT - Will Fries
12 commits (avg. # of commits teams currently have): good for the #4 class in the country currently (behind only FSU, OSU, and Miami). If the rest of their class was filled out by 3*s from around the country, at worst they would be a top #10-15 class by NSD.
The 2015 class, with a similar foundation, would have finished as a top 15 class as well.
For curiosity's sake, that would have included (among others):
5* DB - Minkah Fitzpatrick
4* QB - Brandon Wimbush
4* WR - Juwan Johnson
4* OC - Tommy Hatton
4* OT - Grant Newsome
4* OLB - Manny Bowen
4* WR - Irvin Charles
The 2014 class would have been even better, with one 5* and nine 4*s (including 5* DB Jabrill Peppers). Over the last two years, only: OSU, ND, USC, Alabama, FSU, Tennessee, LSU, Georgia, Auburn, and Texas A&M have finished in the top 15 both years. As A&M and Tennessee have shown, this doesn't necessarily put you in elite company right away, but it will ensure that you are competitive with the potential to be elite. When you factor in that as far back as you go, just controlling the state of New Jersey would put them in the top 15 every year, it's not unrealistic to assume that Rutgers would have challenged for a national title at least a few times in the last 20 years. Building a trend of competitive teams would mean an easier time recruiting 4* and 5*s outside of New Jersey, as well.
So what's the point of this thread? There isn't much of one, honestly haha. Except to say that it'll be interesting to see what Rutgers can do with the increased exposure of the B1G.
Yet, with the #53 class in 2014 (pre-B1G alliance) vs. the #56 in 2015 and #50 in 2016 (w/B1G alliance) -- it doesn't appear to be making much of a difference so far. We'll see if that changes in the future. They could be a dangerous team if they ever found a way to control the state of NJ. Though as they say, if wishes were horses than beggars would ride. Currently Rutgers is merely a beggar of the B1G, and not a member of its aristocracy.
Thread Subtitle: Dang, NJ has a lot of talent.
