Timber Creek's Lambert reconsidering commitment to Rutgers

Timber Creek linebacker Quanzell Lambert probably won't make a decision on maintaining his commitment to play football at Rutgers until the Scarlet Knights hire a new coach, Timber Creek coach Rob Hinson confirmed on Friday.

Hinson said Lambert is "taking some time" after learning that Rutgers coach Greg Schiano was leaving the Scarlet Knights to become the head coach of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Lambert, who led Timber Creek to a 12-0 record and the South Jersey Group 3 title, is probably the No. 1 recruit in Rutgers' 2012 class.

One thing is clear: Lambert is back in play as far as other schools are concerned.

A source close to the player noted that every school with which Lambert was involved - and that list includes the likes of Alabama, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Iowa and Northwestern - has been back in contact, along with a few new ones. Lambert had scholarship offers from many of those schools before he chose Rutgers.

Hinson said Thursday that Lambert was "shocked" by Schiano's departure.

Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti said at a news conference Thursday that he thought hiring a new coach before Wednesday's national signing day for football recruits was "doable."

Wednesday is only the first day high school football players can sign letters of intent. They can sign after Wednesday, too.

Among those considered to be candidates are Florida International coach Mario Cristobal, New York Giants assistant Pat Flaherty, and Notre Dame defensive coordinator Bobby Diaco.

Scarletreport.com, a website that covers Rutgers football and basketball, reported Friday that Rutgers is interested in Temple coach Steve Addazio and that Addazio would meet with Rutgers officials later that day. Temple officials denied the report.

The Record of Hackensack, N.J., reported that Tom Bradley, Joe Paterno's longtime defensive coordinator who was interim coach after Paterno's firing, is also a candidate.

When he committed to Rutgers in early January, Lambert stressed that his decision was based in large part on the school's engineering program. He said that under Schiano, Rutgers had football practice in the morning, which freed students to attend engineering classes and labs in the afternoon.

The next Rutgers coach could change the practice schedule, which could affect Lambert's ability to pursue his engineering degree.

Lambert took his time before committing to Rutgers. He likely will take his time before deciding whether to stick with the Scarlet Knights or opt for another major-college program.

Another factor in Lambert's decision likely will be the fate of the current assistants under the new regime - including Phil Galiano, who was instrumental in his recruitment.