Timber Creek's Williams heading to his dream team: Rutgers
Tyreek Williams said it wasn't always his dream to play big-time college football. His aspirations were more specific than that.
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Tyreek Williams said it wasn't always his dream to play big-time college football.
His aspirations were more specific than that.
"It always was my dream to play for Rutgers," Williams said.
That dream will move a little closer to reality next Wednesday, when Williams is expected to sign a national letter of intent to play for the Scarlet Knights.
Williams, a senior at Timber Creek, orally committed to Rutgers on Wednesday.
Williams had committed to Buffalo in August.
"I had a good relationship with the coaches at Buffalo," Williams said. "But they understood when I called them. They understood that I wanted to play at Rutgers."
The 6-foot-1, 207-pound Williams made 74 tackles with two interceptions last season as Timber Creek went 9-3 and won the South Jersey Group 4 title.
He projects as a weakside, outside linebacker at Rutgers.
Williams' "flip" to Rutgers was another sign of the new coaching staff's commitment to improve the program's recruiting among top New Jersey players.
Rutgers also has made a late push to sign Camden Catholic's Tyree Rodgers, who had committed to Old Dominion in the summer.
"I got a great vibe from the coaching staff," Williams said. "I think there are great things ahead at Rutgers."
Rodgers' options. Rodgers, who led Camden Catholic to a 17-3 record as a quarterback/defensive back the last two seasons, is mulling late offers from Rutgers and Virginia Tech.
Camden Catholic coach Nick Strom said the 6-foot-2, 175-pound Rodgers projects as a cornerback at Rutgers.
One person close to the Rutgers program said the new coaching staff regards Rodgers as possibly "another Eli Apple," the former Eastern star who started for two seasons at Ohio State and has declared for the NFL draft.
New Rutgers coach Chris Ash previously was an assistant at Ohio State.
Back on the market. Camden senior defensive end/linebacker Jamal Holloway withdrew his commitment to Syracuse on Wednesday night.
Holloway said his agreement with Syracuse "broke down" after a change in coaching staffs.
"It's disappointing because I really liked it up there," Holloway said of Syracuse. "I loved the Carrier Dome."
Maine, Monmouth and Tennessee Tech are among possible destinations for Holloway.
"It's frustrating," Holloway said. "I thought [his recruitment] was over. Now I have to try to find another place that's right for me."
Welsh to Monmouth. Shawnee quarterback Mike Welsh, a first-team all-South Jersey selection, has committed to Monmouth. He will sign on Wednesday.
"It's a great fit for me both academically and athletically," Welsh said. "They have a great coaching staff that is building something special and I love all the players up there."
Welsh will join South Jersey seniors Evan Powell of Cherokee and Lonnie Moore of Paul VI in signing with Monmouth.
First offers. Two of South Jersey's top running backs/defensive backs in the class of 2017 picked up their first offers this week.
Cherokee junior Jon Lovett received an offer from Old Dominion, according to Chiefs coach P.J. Mehigan.
Overbrook junior Marques DeShields picked up an offer from Temple, according to Rams coach Frak Wilcyznski.
Wolfpack six pack. North Carolina State made a big splash on Tuesday by offering scholarships to six Woodrow Wilson players, including juniors Jelani McCargo, Tyler Parsons, Carontae Brickhouse and Edwin "Tank" Lopez.
The Wolfpack also made offers to sophomore Jairo Ramos and freshman Stanley King, according to Woodrow Wilson coach Preston Brown.
"Recruiting at Woodrow Wilson will be what it once was," said Brown, who recently finished his first season at his alma mater.
Invite. Clearview junior running back/defensive back Gyair Sharper has received an invitation to Nike's "The Opening," a showcase camp for top prospects in the class of 2017.
Sharper is one of the state's fastest players, with a 40-yard dash time of 4.3 seconds, according to Pioneers coach Mark Deal.
This and that. Cedar Creek junior Bo Melton, the Inquirer's South Jersey offensive player of the year, picked up an offer from Ohio State this week. Melton also has offers from Michigan, Boston College and Rutgers. . . . Burlington Township junior Everett Wormley picked up an offer this week from Boston College. . . . Palmyra senior offensive lineman Noah Stephenson has received his first offer, from Bucknell. . . . Camden senior LB Josh Clark is scheduled to visit Wagner this weekend. . . . Lenape senior all-purpose Ryan Shuts picked up an offer from Stonehill, a Division II program in Easton, Mass.
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