By Danny Wild
MaxPreps.com
Will Hill is headed to Florida.
Perhaps the biggest news out of New Jersey on Wednesday came when Offensive Player of the Year Will Hill signed his letter of intent to play for the Gators under Urban Meyer.
The news came when Hill committed at the ESPN Zone in Manhattan. Hill, a 6-foot-3, 203-pound quarterback for St. Peter's Prep in Jersey City, entered the week with as many as nine colleges in pursuit. The resume on the West Orange native is long and impressive.
The senior was ranked as the top athlete in the class of 2008 by Rivals.com, ranked No. 2 in the ESPN 150 and was ranked as the fifth-best player available by Scout.com. Scout also named Hill the top-ranked safety. His choices reportedly came down to Florida, Florida State, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Penn State, USC, Virginia and hometown Rutgers.
Hill was named a Parade All-American, competed at the ESPNU Under Armour High School All-American Game and was a first-team all-state selection as a senior. He was named a USA Today first-team All-American, is a two-time Newark Star-Ledger Offensive Player of the Year and is a three-time Associated Press New Jersey first-team all-state selection.
Look at these insane senior numbers: Hill rushed 960 yards, passed for 947 yards and scored 26 touchdowns (19 passing, seven rushing). Hill led the Marauders to a 34-2 record in three years, highlighted by a 12-0 record and the NJSIAA Non-Public Group 4 Championship as a sophomore. Also recruited as a safety, Hill was responsible for 3,817 all-purpose yards and accounted for 34 touchdowns as a junior.
As a junior, Hill threw for over 700 yards as a QB and rushed for more than 600 yards as a running back at St. Peter’s. Even more impressive, Hill also racked up 400 yards as a wide receiver.
Baker Seeing Red
Louisville signed Scotch Plains-Fanwood linebacker Keith Baker. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder recorded 118 tackles as a senior, including nine sacks and two interceptions. Baker was named the Conference Player of the Year, selected as an All-Area and All-State at linebacker and was selected to play in the Governor's Bowl in 2007. He was second team All-State as a junior and was named the Union County Player of the Year in 2006. He reportedly chose Louisville over Temple, Connecticut, Michigan State, Iowa, Boston College and Maryland.
Michigan Scores Three From New Jersey
Michigan signed a program-record three recruits from the Garden State. West Windsor Plainsboro South outside linebacker J.B. Fitzgerald chose the Wolverines over Rutgers, Cal and Georgia Tech.
New Brunswick safety Brandon Smith went with Michigan after considering the likes of West Virginia, Wisconsin, Colorado, Florida and Florida State. Smith was selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and was ranked as the No. 11 safety in the nation by Rivals.
Holy Spirit linebacker Marcus Witherspoon passed up Rutgers, Florida and Clemson to join Michigan as well.
Rutgers Signs Nine Top NJ Athletes
The Scarlet Knights recent success has instantly put the school’s name on the list of every aspiring football player in New Jersey. Not surprisingly, Rutgers scored nine of the top Garden State recruits this week.
Yes, nine native New Jersey recruits out of 20 total.
Manasquan offensive lineman Art Forst was ranked No. 4 in the state by Rivals.com and is the highest-ranked player to join the Red-and-Black. Forst, a towering 6-foot-8, 290-pounder, picked Rutgers over Syracuse, Virginia, BC, Clemson, Duke, Florida, Maryland, Michigan and Notre Dame.
Seriously – judging by that list, Forst’s decision is quite a statement about Rutgers’ current place in college football. Rutgers’ press release described Forst as “one of the top offensive line prospects in the country.”
"Art is a student of the game,” said Manasquan coach Pete Cahill. “He is a leader by example and one of the most mature young men we have ever had come through at Manasquan High School. Knowing Art and his tremendous work ethic and how much he is looking forward to Rutgers."
Piscataway linebacker Marvin Booker joined Rutgers after leading the Chiefs to a 11-1 record in 2007 and tallying 113 tackles - including 25 for loss - five sacks and three forced fumbles. Booker was a First Team All-Area selection by the Home News Tribune and a Second Team All-State by the Associated Press.
“Marvin was one of those once-in-a-lifetime type of guys and it's not a surprise that he led the ship this year,” said Piscataway coach Dan Higgins. “He (filled the leadership role) whenever he felt it was necessary.”
Khaseem Greene, a 6-foot-1 defensive back from Elizabeth, joined Rutgers after playing a season at Avon Old Farms in Connecticut. Greene was a Star-Ledger Third-Team All-State in 2006 at Elizabeth and was part of an 11-1 Minutemen team that won the New Jersey North II, Group IV State Championship at Rutgers Stadium in 2006.
The Scarlet Knights also signed Marquis Hamm, a tight end from New Brunswick who also spent time at defensive end. The 6-foot-4 Hamm finished as Middlesex County's second-leading receiver with 36 catches for 605 yards and six touchdowns. He was rated the No. 23 prospect in New Jersey by Rivals.com, ranked No. 16 in the state by Scout.com , was a First Team All-Area selection by the Home News Tribune and was a Second Team All-State by the Associated Press.
Winslow Township’s Brandon Jones picked Rutgers after he totaled eight interceptions and 54 tackles as a senior. Jones was named a Second Team All-South Jersey selection and First Team All-Group 3 by the Camden Courier-Post. “ For us, Brandon was a difference maker,” said Winslow coach Mike McBride. “He was able to excel on both sides of the ball and in the kicking game.”
Colonia’s Eric LeGrand signed up with Rutgers after he totaled 115 tackles from his middle linebacker spot and rushed for 980 yards and 12 touchdowns last fall. LeGrand was ranked by Scout.com as the No. 14 recruit in New Jersey and the No. 21 middle linebacker prospect nationally. He was a Second Team All-State by the Associated Press and a First Team All-Middlesex County and Second Team All-State by The Star-Ledger.
Ewing quarterback Steve Shimko agreed to join coach Greg Schiano after he leaves Ewing as the school's all-time leader in career passing yards (3,834) and touchdown passes (45). Shimko set a school single-season record with 18 touchdown passes as a junior before he threw for 1,347 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior.
Teaneck RB Rashad White agreed to play at Rutgers after he rushed for 1,463 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior to lead team to the opening round of the state playoffs. White was a First Team All-Bergen County offensive selection by the Bergen Record and finished prep career with 5,044 yards and 53 touchdowns.
Wall WR Tim Wright picked Rutgers after he rushed for 383 yards and three touchdowns while hauling in 23 receptions for 347 yards and six touchdowns as a senior. The 6-foot-4, 205-pounder was a First Team All-Shore selection by the Star-Ledger, was ranked No. 11 in New Jersey by Rivals.com and No. 10 in the state by Scout.com. “Without question, Timothy is one of the most versatile athletes we have had at Wall,” said coach Chris Barnes.
Rest of the Best
Here’s a quick glance at who went where from the Garden State:
- Metuchen WR Dejuan Miller signed with Oklahoma
- Morristown Beard WR Colin Larmond went with Boston College
- Elizabeth DT Hafis Williams will fight with the Irish of Notre Dame in 2008
- Wayne Valley TE Chris Pantale heads to Red Sox nation and Boston College
- Hackensack DB Ausar Walcott signed with Virginia
- Patrick Neumann will graduate from St. Joe’s Montvale and play for Boston College
- St. Augustine DE Jack Crawford takes his talent to Penn State
- Winslow Township DB Tyrone McBride is heading to Massachusetts
- Bergen Catholic TE Bill Schautz is leaving Oradell for Virginia
- Don Bosco Prep’s Alex DiSanzo will represent the Ironmen at Boston College
- Seton Hall Prep DB Grant Mayes will enjoy the snow of Syracuse
- Blair Academy’s Ed Imeokparia is heading to Florida State
- Cherokee’s Lynell Payne leaves Marlton for Cincinnati
- Christian Klein will join teammate Pat Neumann when he leaves St. Joseph’s for BC
- Franklin’s Gavin Roberts signed up with Purdue
- Holy Cross DE Jerome Williams is heading to UConn
Sign Me Up
Dwayne Beckford, a 2007 First Team All-State linebacker from Irvington, signed his letter of intent with Purdue. Beckford, a 6-foot, 210-pound senior, averaged 12 tackles a game for Irvington (9-1). He reportedly chose Purdue over Michigan State and Temple.
Third Team All-State selection Ashton Wilder, of Shabazz, signed with Howard University as a two-way lineman. Wilder finished with 55 tackles last autumn and reportedly went with Howard over Maryland, Temple and Syracuse.
Piscataway cornerback Dwyane Gratz and Burlington Township’s Jerome Williams both signed on with UConn.
Temple Time
Deven Baker, Maurice Jones, Tahir Whitehead and Muhammad Wilkerson all signed letters of intent with Temple University.
Newark West Side’s Whitehead, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound running back, agreed to play for Temple earlier this week. Whitehead helped West Side to its first NJSIAA football title in North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3.
Baker is a 6-foot-4 190-pound wide receiver from South Bound Brook who totaled 17 touchdowns last season, while Jones split time at running back and defensive back for Belleville. The mammoth 6-foot-5, 290-pound Wilkerson dominated on the defensive life for Linden/Hargrave.
Is This Heaven?
St. Joseph’s Greg Castillo changed his mind from Villanova and signed with Iowa on Wednesday. The 5-foot-10, 158-pound cornerback reportedly had settled on ‘Nova a few weeks ago. Syracuse, Bowling Green, Ohio, Delaware, Boston College, BYU and UConn were all pursuing the Mt. Laurel star. Oh yeah, and Iowa.
Piscataway’s J.D. Griggs visited Iowa in December and made the choice to hit up the Big 10 on Wednesday. Griggs was also considering Kansas State, Maryland, Michigan State, ‘Cuse, Temple, Hofstra and BC.
New Hampshire Signs Four From NJ
The University of New Hampshire acquired four New Jersey natives on National Signing Day.
Isaiah Martin, a 6-foot-2, 285-pound lineman from Pennsauken, signed with UNH after he led the Indians from his line positions to the state semifinals in two of his three years as a starter for the varsity program. A captain in his senior year, Martin was named first-team All-Olympic Conference on both the offensive and defensive lines. He became a Second-Team All-Group IV selection in Southern New Jersey and was also selected to play in the Southern New Jersey All-Star Game. Martin had a variety of options - he lettered in both basketball and track at Pennsauken.
Chris Zarkoskie, a 6-foot-2, 290-pound lineman from West Caldwell, joined UNH after he was named the Essex County Offensive Lineman of the Year. A two-time all-state selection for Seton Hall Prep, Zarkoskie was named all-conference and all-county three times, earned seven varsity letters in both football and track and finished strong in his senior football campaign, when he totaled 72 tackles on defense. His efforts as a senior earned him second-team all-state honors and first-team All-Non Public State, first-team All-Essex County and first team all-county.
UNH also signed Ken Howard, a 5-foot-10, 220-pound RB/LB from Plainfield. Howard rushed for over 2,000 yards on 199 carries for an average of 9.4 yards per carry at The Hun School of Princeton. He earned both all-league and all-state honors, was named first-team all-prep in 2006 and 2007 by The Trenton Times, The Trentonian, The Star Ledger and the NJSIAA. Howard was named the MAPL Offensive Player of the Year as a junior and The Star Ledger’s Prep Player of the Year as a senior.
A team captain in both football and track, Howard gained additional accolades on the oval as a junior and was named first-team all-conference and second-team all-state.
Alan Buzbee was another New Jersey native who signed with UNH. Buzbee, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound RB/LB from Chester Woods, dominated in both football and basketball at Chester Woods. Buzbee was named first-team all-conference, second-team All-Essex County and third-team all-group as a junior. His success in 2006 was enough to overshadow his injury-filled senior season. Buzbee was also named the Junior Defensive Player of the Year in Essex County.
Danny Wild is a writer and photographer for MaxPreps and can be reached at danny@danny-wild.com
