Rutgers Football Recruiting: Can Knights Keep Things Together Without Schiano?

Rutgers football recruiting has had a crazy week. With the loss of Greg Schiano, the rumored (and subsequently denied) hire of Mario Cristobal, to the hire of Kyle Flood, the Scarlet Knights have had to deal with a lot of uncertainty in the recruiting ranks.

Early this week, in Rutgers Football Recruiting: Greg Schiano's Exit Could Kill A Strong Class, I wrote:

There's no way Rutgers can recover in time to have the class it was looking like it would land. Recruiting is about relationships, and those relationships have been irreparably damaged. Many of the lesser-rated kids will stay with Rutgers because they don't have better offers and want to play close to home. But the top players with options will certainly investigate those before committing the next four years of their life to the uncertainty that is the Rutgers program. The timing is simply awful for a program that was looking great on the recruiting front just a few days ago.

Tonight, however, Rutgers received a major shot in the arm as elite defensive end recruit Darius Hamilton committed to the Scarlet Knights. Hamilton had been considering Florida and Miami. An elite recruit like Hamiton choosing Rutgers could be a catalyst for other recruits to choose the school as well.

As of this writing, it was uncertain when Rutgers star commitments Quanzell Lambert and Ryan Brodie would sign, or if they would sign with Rutgers at all. Rutgers has some quality commitments. It just needs to keep them in the fold.

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Darius Hamilton, one of the top defensive ends in the country has committed to Rutgers. Wright stars for Ramsey, (N.J.) Don Bosco Prep. Holding more than 20 offers, Hamilton most strongly considered the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, the Cal Bears, the Miami Hurricanes and the Florida Gators.

Hamilton made his announcement on MSG Varsity, and discussed how the departure of Greg Schiano made him realize the importance of committing just to a coaching staff, but to a school. Hamilton said that for him, Rutgers was always that school.

The 6'4", 255-pound Hamilton is rated as four-star prospect by most of the major recruiting services. He's highly sought after not just for his pass-rushing ability, but also for his talents in stopping the run. In this era of the spread option, an edge player who can take on blockers, hold his ground, shed and tackle is extremely valuable. Hamilton plays with good discipline for a prep player, and has excellent strength. If he can keep his quickness while adding bulk, he could be a special defensive end at about 275 pounds.

Hamilton seems likely to play early for Rutgers. This is an excellent pickup for the Scarlet Knights.

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Fans of Rutgers, Florida, Cal and other programs won't have to wait quite so long to see where Darius Hamilton ends up. Hamilton was scheduled to sign on National Signing Day (February 1), but now comes word, according to Luke Stampini, that Hamilton will sign on Tuesday. Tuesday night, to be exact, on the Madison Square Garden Varsity cable network.

The defensive end plays for New Jersey's Don Bosco Prep. Son of former NFLer Keith Hamilton, Darius is 6'4" and 250 pounds. He shows great promise against the run, but can also rush the passer. Hamilton's skills against the run likely come from him playing a good bit of defensive tackle in high school. He's clearly been coached up, and uses his hands well for a prospect of his age. The four major recruiting services award Hamilton five stars as a rating.

Rutgers was once considered a heavy favorite to land Hamilton, but now, according to SB Nation New York, the loss of head coach Greg Schiano to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have Rutgers slipping.

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