St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City, N.J.) running back
Savon Huggins is the No. 1 recruit in the state of New Jersey and the
No. 50 recruit overall in the 2011 Top 100. He's also the nation's top uncommitted recruit at his position.
As such, he's a very hot commodity, and teams from around the country are still vying for his services.
Savon Huggins is the nation's top
uncommitted running back.
Photo by Dan Coppola
However, if there's any team that truly needs to land Huggins, it's Rutgers.
The Scarlet Knights have seen throngs of elite talent leave New Jersey during Greg Schiano's tenure. Chicago Bears tight end Greg Olsen, Texans linebacker
Brian Cushing, and former Florida Gators safety
WIll Hill are all former blue-chip recruits who headed out of state for college.
Rutgers needs Huggins as a statement that it will no longer allow top talent to escape New Jersey as much as it needs Huggins for his tremendous on-field ability.
However, the speedy yet powerful back, who rushed for 3,140 yards and 49 touchdowns in his career, is far from a shoe-in to land in Piscataway.
North Carolina and Notre Dame are also high on Huggins' list.
With relatives and a warmer climate both to be found in the Tar Heel State, North Carolina is an attractive option, one with which Huggins has long been intrigued.
Notre Dame and Huggins also have a strong mutual interest. The Fighting Irish traditionally have done well recruiting New Jersey and Huggins would vie for early playing time in Brian Kelly's offense.
An hour away from his home town, Rutgers offers Huggins the opportunity to be a feature of the team's offense almost immediately, and would allow him to play in front of friends and family. He has a familiarity with the campus and players. It also doesn't hurt that teammate
Keith Lumpkin has already committed to the Scarlet Knights.
Rutgers has done well landing some important local recruits in the class of 2011. In addition to Lumpkin, Long Branch athlete
Miles Shuler and Don Bosco Prep quarterback
Gary Nova have also committed to the Scarlet Knights.
Being on the national radar since his freshman season, Huggins is no stranger to the spotlight and has had few problems with the recruiting process, according to St. Peter's Prep assistant coach Rich Hansen Jr.
"Savon has handled the recruitment process really well," Hansen Jr. said. "He started with an open mind and really wanted to see what every school had to offer. The way he's handled the pressures and attention just speaks to the type of person he is."
Hansen also said that he believes that Huggins, who will announce his commitment in a press conference held at St. Peter's Prep, has yet to reach a decision.
"After over a year of serious recruiting, I don't think he truly knows the right choice yet, but I'm sure he will come to a good decision that is consistent with what he and his family values."
Making a late play for Huggins are two wild cards, Auburn and Michigan State.
The Tigers have already been reaping the recruiting benefits of winning a national championship, and Huggins enjoyed his visit there in December.
Michigan State also appears to be making a late run for Huggins. He and his family visited Lansing over the weekend and enjoyed the trip, taking in a Spartans basketball game while on campus.
Huggins may not have made a decision yet, but come Jan. 28, fans throughout the country will be watching intently to see where he lands.
Here are the odds on where we think Huggins ends up:
North Carolina (40 percent): While popular opinion seems to have Huggins landing at Rutgers, North Carolina could be the team to beat. The Tar Heels have made great inroads into New Jersey, and landing Huggins might be their first major Garden State coup.
Rutgers (30 percent): Rutgers will get Huggins' final official visit, so the Scarlet Knights could jump UNC and eventually land Huggins. Distance is usually a critical factor in recruits' decision-making, and could end up being the trump card for Rutgers.
Notre Dame (20 percent): Brian Kelly has been on a recruiting tear lately, so it'd be hard to count out the Irish. Notre Dame is not the favorite here, but the program's recent momentum could give the Fighting Irish a late boost.
Auburn (5 percent): Auburn's national title, coupled with its tradition of churning out NFL running backs, is attractive to any running back recruit. However, the Tigers are definitely a long shot with Huggins.
Michigan State (5 percent): The effects of Huggins' visit to Lansing are still unknown. Regardless of how well it went, the Spartans are still a major underdog.
