N.J.’s top recruits poached

Jonathan Taylor is a freshman running back who could make an immediate impact in the Big Ten. The Salem, N.J., native might even replace another former New Jersey product in the starting lineup.

The problem for Rutgers, the state’s lone FBS program, is Taylor will be doing so for a conference rival. Taylor, the No. 8 player in New Jersey last year, according to the 247Sports composite rankings, chose to follow in Corey Clement’s footsteps at Wisconsin.

Rutgers is entering its fourth year in the Big Ten. The move undoubtedly will provide the long-term financial stability the school and athletics program was desperately seeking.

Will it be a long-term benefit on the football field, or will it just help other Big Ten rivals recruit Garden State players?

“It makes those other places more attractive to players,” St. Peter’s Prep coach Rich Hansen said. “The families can watch them play. The Big Ten gets a lot of notoriety in New Jersey because we’re part of it now.”

Rival Big Ten coaches can offer “home” games at Rutgers, and the Big Ten Network has a much bigger presence in the area with the Scarlet Knights as members.

From 2006-12, Rutgers signed 61 players who were ranked among New Jersey’s top-30 recruits by 247Sports. That’s nearly nine top30 prospects per year, and included studs like Kenny Britt, Anthony Davis and Mohamed Sanu.

In the four recruiting cycles before Chris Ash became coach (2013-16), the Scarlet Knights signed 14 top-30 in-state players, or 3.5 per year.

Ash did have a strong first recruiting class, with eight top-30 New Jersey prospects, including two top-10 talents (offensive tackle Micah Clark and wide receiver Bo Melton) who should provide immediate help.

“Those guys are working extremely hard. They’re out recruiting like crazy,” DePaul Catholic coach John McKenna said. “Once they start winning a few more games, they’ll get even more players but it seems like they’re doing pretty well in recruiting.”