National signing day 2025 has finally arrived!
Rutgers is poised to sign at least 25 football recruits heading into Wednesday, which should land Greg Schiano a top 30 national recruiting class, and arguably, Rutgers’ single best haul of talent all-time.
The class features four players in the ESPN 300 — Rutgers’ most ever.
The work is mostly done, but Rutgers must lean the class over the goal line before the staff can celebrate a job well done.
Rutgers hopes to flip Somerville running back and Wake Forest pledge Terrell Mitchell for a signing day splash.
Schiano offered Mitchell — who is built similarly to and moves like Kyle Monangai, the first-team, All-Big Ten runner — last month, during Mitchell’s final high school campaign, before hosting the senior for an official visit (on Nov. 23) when Rutgers faced Illinois.
A 5-foot-9, 190-pounder rated three-stars, Mitchell pledged to Wake Forest on April 2, one week after visiting the Winston-Salem-based school.
Mitchell, who runs an 11.21-second 100-meter (per MileSplit), rushed for 1,419 yards, 18 touchdowns and converted eight two-point conversions this fall, and has 2,644 rushing yards and 35 rushing scores in three years. Boston College, UConn, and Temple round out his FBS options.
Meanwhile, St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.) four-star RB John Forster and Rutgers have mutually parted ways. Despite committing to Rutgers for six months, Forster will sign elsewhere following a senior year where he gained 618 yards and four touchdowns on 129 carries over 10 games.
The University of Illinois is one of a handful of teams that could add the 5-foot-10, 185-pound speedster, who also caught 12 passes for 163 yards and a receiving score for the 6-5 Green Knights.
Rutgers true freshman running back Antwan Raymond, from Clearwater Academy International in Fla., was Rutgers’ 2025 running back addition, but enrolled a year early, generating 344 rushing yards and five scores. Hence, adding a back is not a pressing need, despite the staff’s effort to add Mitchell and depth to the room.
Additionally, Tampa, Fla. interior offensive lineman Gerrick Gordon won’t sign with Rutgers after all. A developmental lineman, Gordon pledged to Schiano in June during a rush of commitments for the Scarlet Knights, but proved to be a better fit elsewhere.
A 6-foot-4, 270-pound prospect ranked three-stars, Gordon will choose from his remaining list of offers, which, according to On3 recruiting, features USF, Louisville, The University of Miami, South Carolina, Georgia Tech, Duke and Purdue.
Rutgers’ 2025 class entered signing day ranked 26th nationally per the 247Sports Composite.
Todderick Hunt covers Sports and Culture and Recruiting. Have a story idea or a tip? He can be reached at thunt@njadvancemedia.com.
