Rutgers football recruiting update: transfer portal news, official and unofficial visits on tap

© Andrew Mills/nj.com/TNS Rutgers recruits (l to r) Donte Smith, Keyan German, Acear Cornish and Jacob Zamot on the sideline during the annual Scarlet-White Game on Friday, April 20, 2022 in Piscataway, N.J.

Rutgers’ football staff got the recruits that it needed on campus this spring. The staff has since hit the road, so Rutgers isn’t pushing weekday visits this month. Meanwhile, Greg Schiano is in Arizona this week for the Big Ten coaches conference. However, Rutgers will host one-off visitors in May, mostly over the weekends, but will fit in tours for targets who want to see campus throughout the weeks.

© Andrew Mills/nj.com/TNS Ned Zilinskas from Cherry Creek HS (CO) on the sideline as Rutgers hosts more than 100 recruits before the annual Scarlet-White Game on Friday, April 20, 2022 in Piscataway, N.J.

Rutgers began scheduling official visits over the last few weeks as coaches visit high schools for the spring evaluation period. Rutgers will host official visits on June 10, and another group, midweek, one week and a half later.

© Andrew Mills/nj.com/TNS Rutgers recruit DJ Allen (right) during the annual Scarlet-White Game on Friday, April 20, 2022 in Piscataway, N.J.

Georgia Tech third-year tight end Dylan Deveney spent the weekend at Rutgers with his parents and is the first player to officially visit this year. Deveney will officially visit Missouri and is talking to Maryland some but Rutgers is one of the favorites at this stage.

© Andrew Mills/nj.com/TNS Rutgers recruit Shakur Merritt (left) of Dwight Morrow High School shakes hands with head coach Greg Schiano before the annual Scarlet-White Game on Friday, April 20, 2022 in Piscataway, N.J.

A one-time Rutgers pledge who flipped to Georgia Tech in December of 2018, Deveney is a massive tight end with three years of eligibility, who Rutgers can develop if he returns. Rutgers plays four tight ends, so he will have the space he needs to carve out a role in the offense. However, Deveney won’t enroll anywhere until the summer, so his recruitment has some playing out to do.

© Andrew Mills/nj.com/TNS Timmy Hinspeter of Don Bosco, Joe De Croce and Marco De Croc of Northern Valley Demarest High School join about 100 recruits on the sideline before the annual Scarlet-White Game on Friday, April 20, 2022 in Piscataway, N.J.

Originally from South Jersey, Deveney spent his final high school year at the Hun School in Princeton, just 34 minutes from Rutgers, which hopes his local ties help bring him home.

© Andrew Mills/nj.com/TNS Rutgers quarterback Gavin Wimsatt (9) shakes hands with Scarlet Knights recruits after the annual Scarlet-White Game on Friday, April 20, 2022 in Piscataway, N.J.

Players like Deveney, who hope to transfer with eligibility to play at a new school next fall, had up until Sunday to enter the transfer portal per NCAA rules. Hence, the traffic in the portal should simmer down soon.

© Andrew Mills/nj.com/TNS Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano (center) speaks with Scarlet Knights recruit Charlie LaMorte of Don Bosco Prep during the annual Scarlet-White Game on Friday, April 20, 2022 in Piscataway, N.J.

One of Rutgers’ latest high school targets to schedule his official visit is Dylan Gooden, a 6-4, 204-pound four-star edge from Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) with 20 offers. The son of famed Mets and Yankees ace pitcher Doc Gooden, Dylan visited Rutgers on April 3 and hit it off with first-year defensive line coach Marquise Watson, one of the more dynamic personalities on staff. Gooden will return officially on June 10 with other top targets who will grace campus that weekend.

© Andrew Mills/nj.com/TNS Rutgers recruit Keyah German of Millville (center) on the sideline as the Scarlet Knights host more than 100 recruits before the annual Scarlet-White Game on Friday, April 20, 2022 in Piscataway, N.J.

Greg Schiano has a good relationship with four-star DT Sydir Mitchell Jr., who visited Rutgers for the Scarlet and White game. Rutgers’ connections locally and to New York City should keep the Knights in contention for the 6-6, 330-pound run stuffer until the end, he tells NJ Advance Media.

© Andrew Mills/nj.com/TNS The scene on the sideline as Rutgers hosts more than 100 recruits before the annual Scarlet-White Game on Friday, April 20, 2022 in Piscataway, N.J.

Meanwhile, Georgia cornerback R.J. Johnson, who will pick a school in August and enroll in January, visited Rutgers over the weekend. The 6-3, 180-pound lockdown corner (out of Eagles’ Landing Christian high) is ranked three-stars, yet has 27 offers, including Rutgers and heavy hitters like LSU, Florida, Nebraska, South Carolina and Ole Miss. Kentucky, which he visited the times, has started fast.

© Andrew Mills/nj.com/TNS Ja'elyne Matthews (left), AJ Grant and other recruits on the sideline before Rutgers annual Scarlet-White Game on Friday, April 20, 2022 in Piscataway, N.J.

The number of SEC schools in his offer list show how highly-regarded Johnson is in the Southeast, but Rutgers has planted its flag after hosting Johnson and his family on campus.

© Andrew Mills/nj.com/TNS Rutgers wide receiver Nasir Montgomery (13) makes his way down the sideline on crutches as Rutgers hosts more than 100 recruits before the annual Scarlet-White Game on Friday, April 20, 2022 in Piscataway, N.J.

Stick with NJ.com as will bring you a feature on Mitchell, one of New Jersey’s most sought-after rising seniors, and Rutgers’ upcoming official visitors who will migrate to Rutgers this summer.

© Andrew Mills/nj.com/TNS Bailey Thacker from Ashland Blazer High School (KY) during the annual Scarlet-White Game on Friday, April 20, 2022 in Piscataway, N.J.

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© Andrew Mills/nj.com/TNS Rutgers recruits (l to r) Donte Smith, Keyan German and Acear Cornish on the sideline during the annual Scarlet-White Game on Friday, April 20, 2022 in Piscataway, N.J.

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© Andrew Mills/nj.com/TNS The scene on the sideline as Rutgers hosts more than 100 recruits before the annual Scarlet-White Game on Friday, April 20, 2022 in Piscataway, N.J.

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© Andrew Mills/nj.com/TNS Middletown, Delaware’s Maikah Jenkins-Cheek (l to r) Anwar O'Neal and Tristen Graham during the annual Scarlet-White Game on Friday, April 20, 2022 in Piscataway, N.J.

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© Andrew Mills/nj.com/TNS Recruit Matt Maietti (center) of Don Bosco Prep during the annual Scarlet-White Game on Friday, April 20, 2022 in Piscataway, N.J.

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© Andrew Mills/nj.com/TNS The scene on the sideline as Rutgers hosts more than 100 recruits before the annual Scarlet-White Game on Friday, April 20, 2022 in Piscataway, N.J.

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© Andrew Mills/nj.com/TNS The scene on the sideline as Rutgers hosts more than 100 recruits before the annual Scarlet-White Game on Friday, April 20, 2022 in Piscataway, N.J.

Todderick Hunt may be reached at thunt@njadvancemedia.com.

© Andrew Mills/nj.com/TNS The scene on the sideline as Rutgers hosts more than 100 recruits before the annual Scarlet-White Game on Friday, April 20, 2022 in Piscataway, N.J.

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© Andrew Mills/nj.com/TNS Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano (left) speaks with Sue Ciaffoni (center) as he greets family members of his recruits before the annual Scarlet-White Game on Friday, April 20, 2022 in Piscataway, N.J.