Rutgers keeps Rising 2017 In-State Star QB Johnathan Lewis at Home
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
The long courtship of Johnathan Lewis by Rutgers ended on a positive note for everyone in the Garden State on Saturday when the three-star talent verbally committed to the Scarlet Knights.
Lewis will bring a winning pedigree with him to Rutgers coming from famed St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City. During Lewis’ sophomore season he served as a backup on the Marauders 11-1 championship team. The reigns of the team were handed over to Lewis in 2015 guiding the team to an 8-3 season.
The dual-threat talent was offered by Rutgers last summer and had been around the Scarlet Knights program since visiting on Oct. 24 for the Ohio State game. During the offseason Lewis started to see his interest and offers take off. Georgia, Boston College, Wake Forest, Temple, and Iowa have offered with Michigan, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Purdue, and Penn State showing interest. Another team showing interest in the 6’3”, 205 pound, talent was Ohio State. Lewis visited the Buckeyes on April 9. OSU recruited another St. Peter’s Prep quarterback, Brandon Wimbush, hard as part of the 2015 class before he signed with Notre Dame.
Lewis made his announcement national via Twitter posting, “I am excited to say that I am COMMITTED to The Rutgers University. #FenceTheGarden #AshEra.”
Rutgers has been making a push on the recruiting trail of late collecting five of their seven commitments in the month of April. All seven of the commitments are from New Jersey players highlighted by four-star offensive lineman Micah Clark.
Rutgers 2017 Verbal Commitment List
CB Naijee Jones, 6-1, 185, Timber Creek HS, Sicklerville, NJ
OG Jamaal Beaty, 6-4, 270, St. John Vianney, Holmdel, NJ
OT Micah Clark, 6-5, 283, St. John Vianney, Holmdel, NJ
QB Johnathan Lewis, 6-3, 205, St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, NJ
WR Bo Melton, 6-0, 180, Cedar Creek HS, Egg Harbor, NJ
WR Bryce Watts, 6-0, 165, Toms River North HS, Toms River, NJ
WR Everett Wormley, 6-1, 175, Burlington, Burlington, NJ
Photo credit: nj.com; No. 1 Johnathan Lewis drops back to pass for St. Peter’s Prep.