It’s not lost on Rutgers Head Coach Greg Schiano how important the state of Florida is to his program.
As pointed out by NJ.com writer James Kratch in his story published Tuesday morning, Schiano signed 62 players from the state during his first tenure as Rutgers Head Coach. Schiano’s ties to the state date back to when he was the University of Miami’s (FL) Defensive Coordinator from 1999 to 2000, and years later Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach in 2012 and ’13.
“We’re back in a bowl game, and we’re in an area that has been very, very good to us,” Schiano said in his Monday afternoon press conference. “The state of Florida overall, and the Jacksonville area, have been very good to Rutgers football over the years. To be back down there in that location for what amounts to probably half a week, and the media coverage and all those things, that’s always good.”
PISCATAWAY, NJ – NOVEMBER 06 : Rutgers Scarlet Knights wide receiver Bo Melton #18 runs for a first down after making a catch against the Wisconsin Badgers during the first half of a game at SHI Stadium on November 6, 2021 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Schiano added that Director of Communications and Branding Jordan Wolkstein and his recruiting staff will be hand all week in the state of Florida to talk to recruits as Rutgers prepares to face Wake Forest in the 77th Annual Gator Bowl in Jacksonville on Friday.
Rutgers has 20 commits to the 2022 recruiting class this year, and were ranked 27th in the nation, which is the highest for the program. Two of those recruits are from Florida in Interior Offensive Lineman Dantae Chin (of Fort Lauderdale, FL) and wide receiver Amarion Brown (Stuart, FL).
In an interview with Fox Sports New Jersey over a week ago at the NFL Alumni COVID clinic, former Rutgers quarterback Ray Lucas spoke glowingly about how Schiano and his staff are getting the program back on track.
Listen to the audio here:
Check out Greg Schiano’s full press conference here!