Another Strong Football Recruiting Year in South Jersey
South Jersey has long been a haven for football recruiters and that was demonstrated during the early signing period.
For the second year, the NCAA has allowed an early signing period, which this year was from Dec. 19-21. A majority of college football players are taking advantage of this early date.
Those who don’t commit in the early signing period must wait until the second signing period, which begins Feb. 6.
A total of 19 players from the seven-county South Jersey area have signed in the early period. Of this group, nine signed with Football Bowl Subdivision schools, formerly known as 1-A and the 10 committed to Football Championship Subdivision schools, formerly known as 1-AA.
The most noted South Jersey player who will commit in the second signing period is Woodrow Wilson receiver-defensive back Stanley King.
The 6-foot-5, 190-pound King had made a verbal commitment to Louisville, but he then decommitted after the Cardinals fired coach Bobby Petrino during the football season.
King caught 79 passes for 1,413 yards and 15 touchdowns. He has plenty of suitors and for good reason. At his size, he can outleap defenders and also run by them.Article continues below
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So he will be a person to watch closely in February.
Rutgers, which many feel must recruit well in New Jersey to compete with the heavyweights in the Big 10, did well in the early signing period in South Jersey.
The Scarlet Knights signed three players, defensive back Donald Williams of Camden, defensive back Donovan Bunch of Winslow Township and Pleasantville linebacker Mohammed Toure.
According to the Rutgers website, Toure is among the six Rutgers recruits who will enroll in January and participate in spring practice in March.
Players who enroll early often do so with the idea of playing right away. It’s so beneficial to learn the playbook during spring practice as opposed to coming in the summer.
Toure was a highly regarded recruit and many feel that he can make a contribution as a true freshman.
It’s possible that Rutgers also signed its quarterback tandem of Camden’s Williams and Winslow Township’s Bunch for the next several years.
That is not to suggest that both will come in and start immediately, but it would be surprising if they aren’t starting corners during some part of their college football career.
Pleasantville and Camden each has three commitments. Besides Toure, the other Pleasantville players were defensive back Jabril Shakur (Monmouth) and defensive back Elijah Glover (Villanova).
Besides Williams, the other Camden commitments were offensive lineman Ronald Custis (Morgan State) and defensive back JuJuan Hudson (Bowling Green).
Usually there are around 30 or more commitments once the second signing period is completed. Either way, 19 is already a strong number for South Jersey, demonstrating its strength in football.
South Jersey FBS or FCS commitments
JuJuan Hudson Camden DB Bowling Green
Ronald Custis Camden OL Morgan State
Donald Williams Camden DB Rutgers
Nick Kargman Woodrow Wilson QB Western Michigan
Joe Bonczek LB St. Augustine Princeton
Jaylen DeCoteau St. Augustine DB Kent State
Aidan Borguet Delsea RB Harvard
Jabril Shakur Pleasantville DB Monmouth
Mohamed Toure Pleasantville LB Rutgers
Elijah Glover Pleasantville DB Villanova
Tyreke Brown Penns Grove LB Sacred Heart
Omar Rodgers Burlington Township DB Elon
Donovan Bunch Winslow Township DB Rutgers
Jason Collier West Deptford TE Pittsburgh
Kenny Lim West Deptford RB Princeton
Jermaine Donaldson Eastern OL Temple
Wisdom Quarshie St. Joseph DL Temple
Jayvin Little WR Timber Creek Wagner
Jon Searcy Shawnee LB Bucknell
© SouthJersey.com 2018. All rights reserved. This article or parts thereof may not be reprinted or reproduced by any other party without the express written consent of SouthJersey.com. For more information, please call 856-797-9910.
For more Local Sports features, visit our South Jersey Sports page.
For the second year, the NCAA has allowed an early signing period, which this year was from Dec. 19-21. A majority of college football players are taking advantage of this early date.
Those who don’t commit in the early signing period must wait until the second signing period, which begins Feb. 6.
A total of 19 players from the seven-county South Jersey area have signed in the early period. Of this group, nine signed with Football Bowl Subdivision schools, formerly known as 1-A and the 10 committed to Football Championship Subdivision schools, formerly known as 1-AA.
The most noted South Jersey player who will commit in the second signing period is Woodrow Wilson receiver-defensive back Stanley King.
The 6-foot-5, 190-pound King had made a verbal commitment to Louisville, but he then decommitted after the Cardinals fired coach Bobby Petrino during the football season.
King caught 79 passes for 1,413 yards and 15 touchdowns. He has plenty of suitors and for good reason. At his size, he can outleap defenders and also run by them.
advertisement
So he will be a person to watch closely in February.
Rutgers, which many feel must recruit well in New Jersey to compete with the heavyweights in the Big 10, did well in the early signing period in South Jersey.
The Scarlet Knights signed three players, defensive back Donald Williams of Camden, defensive back Donovan Bunch of Winslow Township and Pleasantville linebacker Mohammed Toure.
According to the Rutgers website, Toure is among the six Rutgers recruits who will enroll in January and participate in spring practice in March.
Players who enroll early often do so with the idea of playing right away. It’s so beneficial to learn the playbook during spring practice as opposed to coming in the summer.
Toure was a highly regarded recruit and many feel that he can make a contribution as a true freshman.
It’s possible that Rutgers also signed its quarterback tandem of Camden’s Williams and Winslow Township’s Bunch for the next several years.
That is not to suggest that both will come in and start immediately, but it would be surprising if they aren’t starting corners during some part of their college football career.
Pleasantville and Camden each has three commitments. Besides Toure, the other Pleasantville players were defensive back Jabril Shakur (Monmouth) and defensive back Elijah Glover (Villanova).
Besides Williams, the other Camden commitments were offensive lineman Ronald Custis (Morgan State) and defensive back JuJuan Hudson (Bowling Green).
Usually there are around 30 or more commitments once the second signing period is completed. Either way, 19 is already a strong number for South Jersey, demonstrating its strength in football.
South Jersey FBS or FCS commitments
JuJuan Hudson Camden DB Bowling Green
Ronald Custis Camden OL Morgan State
Donald Williams Camden DB Rutgers
Nick Kargman Woodrow Wilson QB Western Michigan
Joe Bonczek LB St. Augustine Princeton
Jaylen DeCoteau St. Augustine DB Kent State
Aidan Borguet Delsea RB Harvard
Jabril Shakur Pleasantville DB Monmouth
Mohamed Toure Pleasantville LB Rutgers
Elijah Glover Pleasantville DB Villanova
Tyreke Brown Penns Grove LB Sacred Heart
Omar Rodgers Burlington Township DB Elon
Donovan Bunch Winslow Township DB Rutgers
Jason Collier West Deptford TE Pittsburgh
Kenny Lim West Deptford RB Princeton
Jermaine Donaldson Eastern OL Temple
Wisdom Quarshie St. Joseph DL Temple
Jayvin Little WR Timber Creek Wagner
Jon Searcy Shawnee LB Bucknell
© SouthJersey.com 2018. All rights reserved. This article or parts thereof may not be reprinted or reproduced by any other party without the express written consent of SouthJersey.com. For more information, please call 856-797-9910.
For more Local Sports features, visit our South Jersey Sports page.
Author: Marc Narducci; Photo by Marc Narducci
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