The month of June in past years has been a successful one for Rutgers football when it comes to recruiting.
And so far, this June has been no different.
Greg Schiano and the Scarlet Knights have reeled in nine commitments since the first weekend of the month, bringing the total number of pledges in the 2026 recruiting class to 19.
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It’s a strong class so far – 247Sports ranks it eighth in the nation and fourth in the Big Ten.
Nine states are represented in the class, including two commitments from Georgia athletes and three from North Carolina, two states where Rutgers has continued to build recruiting momentum in recent cycles.
Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano leads his team onto the field for the Rate Bowl at Chase Field on Dec. 26, 2024, in Phoenix.
The Scarlet Knights’ recruiting footprint has continued to expand and this class reflects that.
So far the only in-state commitments are from Cameron Greene, an offensive tackle from St. Augustine Prep in Richland and Adam Shaw, who plays quarterback at Pascack Valley in Hillsdale but will be joining the Scarlet Knights as a linebacker.
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Rutgers co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Zach Sparber has recruited Shaw for a while and extended an offer back when he was at James Madison.
With Sparber now at Rutgers, the Scarlet Knights offered Shaw and his recruitment heated up from there with Pittsburgh, Michigan State and Wake Forest among the programs to extend offers.
“I knew it would explode at some point – everyone just kept on saying to be patient, and I trusted that advice,” Shaw said. “I know the type of player I am, and once they saw me move in evaluations, it was just going to be a matter of time. However, it meant a tremendous amount that Rutgers saw that potential and extended an offer. It validated everything I believed about myself and showed me they truly saw my future impact. I think once other schools see me play significant time on the defensive side of the ball, they’ll try to test my commitment.”
Shaw had a personal connection to MSU − his father played football there and his mother played field hockey for the Spartans.
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But Shaw ultimately believed Rutgers was the right fit.
“My folks always stressed the importance of having a strong connection with your position and strength and conditioning coaches, and at Rutgers, that really clicked,” Shaw said. “I’ve liked Coach Sparber’s infectious energy since the first day I met him when he was at JMU.”
Another important trend that’s emerged in this class is the number of offensive linemen – six have committed as the Scarlet Knights work to add depth to arguably the most important position in the Big Ten.
And the athletes Rutgers has landed all boast Big Ten-size.
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That includes Tyrell Simpson, a 6-foot-7, 310-pound lineman from North Carolina, and Jared Smith, a lineman from Georgia who’s ranked a four-star prospect by the 247Sports Composite. Smith is 6-foot-5, 335 pounds with 34-inch arms.
Tyler Duell is a 6-foot-6, 265-pound lineman from Pennsylvania who committed to the Scarlet Knights on May 31. His offer list included Nebraska, Syracuse, Virginia Tech and Missouri.
Rutgers has also added a quarterback in the class to replace Gavin Sidwar, who de-committed back in October.
On May 31 the Scarlet Knights landed a commitment from Xavier Stern, a 6-foot-6, 215-pound QB from Germantown Academy in Pennsylvania.
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Stern is a big, physical quarterback with high upside as he develops.
June has already been a fruitful month for Rutgers football and the month is only about a week old.
With plenty more official visits to come through the next few weeks, that’s unlikely to slow down anytime soon.
Rutgers has built recruiting momentum.
Schiano and the Scarlet Knights hope to seep that going.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Rutgers football recruiting: How Class of 2026 is taking shape
