Rutgers football continues on recruiting trail this fall
With the Rutgers football team off to a good start, it is also looking to continue its upward trajectory on the recruiting trail this fall.
Notre Dame high school continues dominant season behind two Scarlet Knights (4-1, 1-1) commits
The Irish are off to a blazing 6-0 start, led in part by three-star quarterback AJ Surace and three-star running back Gabriel Winowich. Surace still leads the team in passing and rushing, notching 1,113 yards through the air with 13 touchdowns and only one interception. On the ground, he has rushed for 557 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Surace has not used his legs as much recently, thanks to the return of Winowich. The Detroit product has already run for 424 yards and six touchdowns in only three games after missing the first three due to NJSIAA transfer regulations. He has also shined on the defensive side, totaling 11 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
Notre Dame has dominated its competition through much of the season, averaging approximately 47 points per game (PPG) thanks to the dynamic quarterback and running back combination. The two will report to Piscataway for spring practice following their senior seasons in Lawrenceville.
Knights host many visitors in a dominant win
In Rutgers' 52-3 win over Wagner on Saturday, the team hosted many visitors for the game. One of the most notable visitors was four-star offensive lineman Jaelyne Matthews from the class of 2025.
Matthews recently decommitted from Penn State, reopening his recruitment eligibility. He still holds several offers from Power Five schools such as Michigan, Texas and Tennessee, but the Knights have the advantage of being geographically closest to the offensive lineman from Toms River. If he were to commit to Rutgers, it would be a huge get to springboard the 2025 class.
The other visitors for the Knights at last Saturday's game were also from the classes of 2024, 2025 and even 2026. The 2024 visitors included Winowich, Surace, four-star tight end Korey Duff, three-star offensive lineman Kenny Jones and three-star offensive lineman Raynor Andrews, along with twin three-star defensive linemen Tyclean Luman and Tycoolhill Luman. Andrews and the Luman twins are all teammates at Miami Norland High School in Florida.
Other 2025 visitors on the offensive side included wide receivers Michael Scott, and Darien Williams. Tight end Eli Johnson traveled to Piscataway from Wisconsin, so the long trip certainly shows some kind of interest in Rutgers. On the defensive side, defensive lineman Sharlandiin Strange visited, as well as athletes Jayden Locke and Renick Dorilas.
Quarterback Riley Martinez and defensive lineman Luke Wafle were the lone 2026 visitors.
The Knights continue to bring many high-caliber recruits on campus, and Rutgers did its part in impressing the visitors with a dominant win over the Seahawks.
Rutgers opens the 2025 class with a quarterback commitment
Head coach Greg Schiano and the Knights started their 2025 recruiting class by getting their first commitment from a quarterback. Sean Ashenfelder of Saint Augustine in Florida announced his commitment to Rutgers on September 17, the day after the team's win over Virginia Tech. Ashenfelder is rated as a three-star quarterback by 247Sports.
"I chose Rutgers because of the coaches and the program," Ashenfelder told TheKnightReport. "I love how coach Schiano runs the program. I love his messages and how he talks to them and the culture that he brings. I think that Rutgers is the place where I can be the best version of myself."
Ashenfelder is also a strong baseball recruit, graded as a 9 out of 10, according to Perfect Game. On the diamond, he plays primarily catcher and shortstop.
Through five games for Creekside High School, Ashenfelder has thrown for 697 yards with six touchdowns and four interceptions. On the ground, he has also notched 333 rushing yards and six touchdowns, indicating a strong dual-threat game.
While it is still early, the Knights are looking to add talent in further classes, and Ashenfelder’s commitment is a good start.
As Rutgers' season continues, Schiano and his staff will also continue to look for talent to add through the recruiting trail. The 2024 class is close to winding down, and the 2025 class is just heating up. So, there will be plenty of targets and stories to look out for.
For more updates on the Rutgers football team, follow @TargumSports on X.
To view more of Alec Crouthamel's work, follow @aleccr12 on X.
