Rutgers football recruit Bo Melton becomes a recruiter himself
For most athletes, committing to a college signals the end of the active recruiting period. For Cedar Creek High School's Bo Melton, it marked the beginning.
For most athletes, committing to a college signals the end of the active recruiting period.
For Cedar Creek High School's Bo Melton, it marked the beginning.
Melton, a junior all-purpose football star who was the Inquirer's offensive player of the year as a junior, is finished with his own search for a school. He committed to Rutgers on April 15.
But Melton said he plans to serve as an unofficial recruiter for the Scarlet Knights, attempting to persuade some of New Jersey's other top players to stay home and play for the state university.
"I'm going to be calling all those guys," Melton said. "I'm going to try to convince them to play for Rutgers and start something special for the hometown team."
The 6-foot, 180-pound Melton scored 24 touchdowns last season in leading Cedar Creek, which is located in Egg Harbor City, Atlantic County, to the South Jersey Group 2 title. Melton is a speedy, shifty and extremely versatile player. He had 26 scholarship offers before committing to Rutgers, and had Oregon and Ohio State in his top three along with the Scarlet Knights.
He ran for 11 touchdowns and caught 11 touchdown passes. He scored twice on returns and also threw a pair of TD passes.
Melton is a key recruit for Rutgers and new coach Chris Ash, who has made no secret that retaining some of the state's top players is a high priority.
Brian Dohn, national recruiting analyst and East Region manager for Scout.com, said a commitment from Melton could pay major dividends for Rutgers.
"With Melton being such a high-profile kid it, is a big step in helping the Scarlet Knights reshape their image all over the state and definitely in South Jersey," Dohn said. "There's still a lot of work to be done in South Jersey as it pertains to Rutgers, but this is a significant step."
Melton said he was impressed with the Rutgers coaching staff and campus as well as the future of the program.
It also helped Rutgers' case that both of Melton's parents played for the Scarlet Knights: His father, Gary, was a football player and his mother, Vicky, was a basketball player.
"They gave me a little push," Bo Melton said of his parents. "But it was my decision."
Melton said he planned to reach out to top 2017 recruits such as Bridgeton's Markquese Bell, Salem's Jon Taylor, Burlington Township's Everett Wormley and the Hun School's Fred Hansard, among others.
"I think we could do something special up there," Melton said.
Cedar Creek coach Tim Watson said Melton is determined to try to convince other top players in New Jersey to commit to Rutgers.
"He sincerely wants to lead the charge to get more guys to stay home and build Rutgers into a national power," Watson said. "He believes in Coach Ash's vision and I think by committing now, it gives him a chance to galvanize others to be part of the movement."
@PhilAnastasia
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