Rutgers Football Adds 10 To 2021 Recruiting Class
Scarlet Knights previously signed 23 student-athletes in December
Credit Source: Rutgers University Athletics
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Feb. 3, 2020) – Rutgers head football coach Greg Schiano announced the addition of 10 Scarlet Knights to the previously signed 23-member recruiting class on Wednesday. The February recruits – Todd Bowles Jr., Sean Cooper, Kyle DeGraw, Ifeanyi Maijeh, David Nwaogwugwu, Michael O’Connor, Patrice Rene, Michael Robinson II, Gavin Rupp and Terrence Salami – include five from New Jersey, two from New York, two from Florida and one from Canada.
Maijeh, Nwaogwugwu and Rene combined for 82 career games and 45 collegiate starts prior to joining the Scarlet Knights.
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown | High School |
| Todd Bowles Jr. | LB | 6-1 | 190 | Tampa, Fla. | Jesuit |
| Sean Cooper | DL | 6-5 | 230 | Stanhope, N.J. | Lenape Valley |
| Kyle DeGraw | TE | 6-4 | 225 | Monroe Township, N.J. | Monroe |
| Ifeanyi Maijeh * | DL | 6-2 | 285 | Far Rockaway, N.Y. | Poly Prep |
| David Nwaogwugwu * | OL | 6-5 | 310 | Bronx, N.Y. | DeWitt Clinton |
| Michael O’Connor | PK | 6-3 | 190 | Middletown, N.J. | Red Bank Catholic |
| Patrice Rene * | DB | 6-3 | 205 | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | Episcopal [Va.] |
| Michael Robinson II | WR | 6-0 | 195 | Montclair, N.J. | Montclair |
| Gavin Rupp | QB | 6-3 | 200 | Tampa, Fla. | Berkeley Prep |
| Terrence Salami | OL | 6-3 | 285 | Willingboro, N.J. | Holy Cross Prep |
* – indicates mid-year enrollee
The group joins the previously announced 23 signees from December.
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown | High School |
| Zaire Angoy | DL | 6-3 | 310 | Irvington, N.J. | Irvington |
| Khayri Banton * | LB | 6-3 | 220 | East Orange, N.J. | West Side |
| Alijah Clark * | DB | 6-2 | 180 | Camden, N.J. | Camden |
| Carnell Davis * | WR | 6-2 | 170 | Galloway, N.J. | Eau Gallie |
| Austin Dean | LB | 6-2 | 215 | Tampa, Fla. | Berkeley Prep |
| Brayden Fox * | WR | 6-3 | 200 | Canton, Ohio | Archbishop Hoban |
| Zach Goodale | WR | 6-0 | 170 | Toms River, N.J. | Toms River North |
| Keshon Griffin * | DL | 6-4 | 245 | Sicklerville, N.J. | St. Joseph Academy |
| Kyonte Hamilton | TE | 6-4 | 230 | District Heights, Md. | Georgetown Prep |
| Henry Hughes Jr. * | DL | 6-5 | 230 | Tampa, Fla. | Tampa Bay Tech |
| Desmond Igbinosun | DB | 6-3 | 200 | Union, N.J. | Union |
| Ryan Keeler * | DL | 6-5 | 250 | Chicago, Ill. | Nazareth Academy |
| Shaquan Loyal * | DB | 6-0 | 180 | Newark, N.J. | West Side |
| Shawn Munnerlyn * | TE | 6-5 | 205 | Columbus, Ohio | Independence |
| Tyler Needham * | OL | 6-5 | 280 | Newton, Pa. | William Penn Charter |
| Max Patterson * | WR | 6-0 | 165 | Arlington, Va. | Yorktown |
| Al-Shadee Salaam | ATH | 5-9 | 175 | East Orange, N.J. | East Orange |
| Cam’Ron Stewart | DL | 6-4 | 225 | Shillington, Pa. | Governor Mifflin |
| Zack Taylor * | LS | 6-0 | 220 | Parsippany, N.J. | Parsippany Hills |
| Jordan Thompson * | DL | 6-3 | 225 | Parsippany, N.J. | Parsippany Hills |
| Kevin Toth Jr. | OL | 6-6 | 270 | Hudson, Ohio | Hudson |
| Joshua Youngblood * | WR | 5-10 | 180 | Tampa, Fla. | Berkeley Prep |
| Gus Zilinskas | OL | 6-3 | 265 | Englewood, Colo. | Cherry Creek |
* – indicates mid-year enrollee
Todd Bowles Jr.
LB • 6-1 • 190
Tampa, Fla./Jesuit
Prior to Rutgers: Played for coach Matthew Thompson at Jesuit … recorded 52 tackles with three interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery as a senior … helped team win region title with a 10-game winning streak as a junior … started high school career at Ridge High School in Basking Ridge, New Jersey … son of current Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator and former New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles Sr.
Sean Cooper
DL • 6-5 • 230
Stanhope, N.J./Lenape Valley
Prior to Rutgers: Played for coach Don Smolyn at Lenape Valley … appeared at defensive end and tight end for the Indians … named to the New Jersey Football Coaches Association 2020 Super 100 All-State football team … earned a spot as a 2020 New Jersey Mini Max Award winners for football performance, academics, and community service … selected First Team All-Group II by NJ.com as a senior … blocked three kicks as a junior … also played basketball and lacrosse in high school … father, Greg, played on the offensive line at Fordham.
Kyle DeGraw
TE • 6-4 • 225
Monroe Township, N.J./Monroe
Prior to Rutgers: Played for coach Daniel Lee at Monroe … helped the Falcons to a 5-1 record as a senior in 2020 … selected Big Central Football Conference Division 5C Player of the Year and First Team All-Group V at defensive line by NJ.com … named First Team Home News Tribune All-Middlesex County at tight end … earned a spot on the New Jersey Football Coaches Association Super 100 All-State football team … caught 14 passes for 360 yards … scored four touchdowns (four receiving, one rushing) … recorded 31 tackles with seven for loss and five sacks on defense.
Ifeanyi Maijeh
DL • 6-2 • 285
Far Rockaway, N.Y./Poly Prep
Career: Played in 27 collegiate games with 19 starts … named First Team All-American Athletic Conference and to the American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team … has totaled 74 tackles with 11.5 for loss and 6.5 sacks … forced two fumbles.
2020 (Senior at Temple): Started all seven games at defensive tackle … named to the Bednarik Award, Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy watch lists … totaled 15 tackles with a forced fumble … recorded a tackle-for-loss against East Carolina (11/21) … collected four stops and forced a fumble at Memphis … had four tackles in the season opener at Navy (10/10) … recognized preseason as a top-30 player in the American Athletic Conference (#13) by College Football News … earned preseason All-American Athletic Conference first team recognition (Athlon, College Football News, Phil Steele).
2019 (Junior at Temple): Started 12 games at defensive tackle … totaled 52 tackles with 10 for loss, 6.5 sacks and a forced fumble … earned First Team All-American Athletic Conference All-ECAC … ranked eighth in the conference for sacks per game (0.60) … named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll … recorded two tackles in the Military Bowl versus North Carolina (12/27) … notched a season-high nine tackles with an assisted sack at No. 19 Cincinnati (11/23) … added sack on five stops versus Memphis (10/12) … registered two tackles-for-loss to setback East Carolina (10/3) 20 yards … contributed two tackles-for-loss and a forced fumble against Georgia Tech (9/28) … had eight tackles at Buffalo (9/21) … posted 1.5 sacks on six stops to earn Chuck Bednarik National Defensive Player of the Week following game at No. 21 Maryland (9/14) … started the season with five stops, two for loss, with a sack versus Bucknell (8/31).
2018 (Sophomore at Temple): Played in eight games … recorded seven tackles with one for loss … named to the American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team and Athletic Director’s Honor Roll … contributed two stops in the Independence Bowl versus Duke (12/27) … had two stops at Cincinnati (10/20) … registered a tackle-for-loss against East Carolina (10/6) … made collegiate debut with a tackle at Boston College (9/29).
2017 (Freshman at Temple): Did not see game action … named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll.
Prior to College: Played defensive end and tight end for head coach Kevin Fountaine at Poly Prep High in Brooklyn, New York … helped lead Poly Prep to a 5-3 record overall … accolades include first-team all-city, top 100 New York and defensive MVP of Ivy League conference in 2016 … led Poly Prep as a senior with nine sacks and seven tackles-for-loss.
Personal: Born Ifeanyi Louis Maijeh (pronounced ee-FINE my-JAY) in Brooklyn, New York.
David Nwaogwugwu
OL • 6-5 • 310
Bronx, N.Y./DeWitt Clinton
Career: Played in 10 career games with action at tackle and guard … an American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team selection.
2020 (Junior at Temple): Appeared in four games with two starts at right tackle … made first career start at UCF (11/14) … made season debut at Tulane (10/31).
2019 (Sophomore at Temple): Appeared in six games … named to the American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team … played right guard in win over Tulane (11/16) … made collegiate debut in season opener against Bucknell (8/31) … added 65 pounds in the offseason.
2018 (Freshman at Temple): Did not see game action … twice named Team Offensive Player of the Week.
Prior to College: A four-year letterwinner as a defensive end and offensive tackle for head coach Howard Langley at Dewitt Clinton High in Bronx, New York … a three-star recruit and No. 17 prospect in New York by 247Sports … totaled 42 tackles, 28 tackles-for-loss and four sacks as a senior to earn first team all-city in 2017 … notched 48 tackles, 17 tackles-for-loss and two sacks as a junior … also lettered in basketball.
Personal: Born David Nwaogwugwu (pronounced NO-goo-goo) in Nigeria.
Michael O’Connor
PK • 6-3 • 190
Middletown, N.J./Red Bank Catholic
Prior to Rutgers: Played for coach Mike Lange at Red Bank Catholic … named first team all-division by NJ.com as a senior in 2020 … converted all four field goal attempts and all 15 extra points … produced a touchback on 18-of-22 kickoffs with three squib kick and one onside kick … rated 4.5 stars by Kohl’s Kicking.
Patrice Rene
DB • 6-3 • 205
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada/Episcopal [Va.]
Career: Owns 45 games of collegiate experience with 26 starts … has totaled 103 tackles with four for loss … recorded two interceptions and 12 pass breakups.
2020 (Fifth Year at North Carolina): Appeared in 10 games with six starts in the secondary … totaled 28 tackles with two for loss … broke up four passes and forced a fumble … saw action in the Orange Bowl versus No. 5 Texas A&M (1/2) … collected a season-high nine tackles with a forced fumble and pass breakup against Wake Forest (11/14) … had two tackles-for-loss on five stops with a pass breakup at Duke (11/7) … broke up a pass at Florida State (10/17) … registered five tackles with a pass breakup versus Virginia Tech (10/10).
2019 (Senior at North Carolina): Appeared in two games with one start at cornerback … suffered a season-ending injury after making five tackles against Miami (9/7) … assisted on a stop in the season opener versus South Carolina (8/31).
2018 (Junior at North Carolina): Started all 11 games at cornerback … tallied 31 tackles, two interceptions, five pass breakups and a fumble recovery … recorded five tackles with a pass breakup at Duke (11/10) … notched three solo stops versus Georgia Tech (11/3) … picked off a pass with four tackles at Syracuse (10/20) … broke up two passes and recorded an interception against Virginia Tech (10/13) … assisted on three stops versus Pittsburgh (9/22) … knocked away a pass and contributed five tackles at East Carolina (9/8) … had three tackles in the season opener at Cal (9/1).
2017 (Sophomore at North Carolina): Appeared in 11 games with three starts at cornerback … totaled 22 tackles with two for loss … collected a pass breakup and four tackles at NC State (11/25) … recorded a tackle-for-loss at Virginia Tech (10/21) … in on three stops versus Virginia (10/14) … notched nine tackles with one in the backfield in the season opener versus Cal (9/2).
2016 (Freshman at North Carolina): Appeared in 11 games and made five starts in the secondary … totaled 16 tackles and two pass breakups … posted five stops against Pittsburgh (9/24) … notched a season-high six tackles with a pass breakup versus James Madison (9/17) … knocked away a pass at Illinois (9/10) … made collegiate debut against Georgia (9/3).
Prior to College: Played for coach Panos Voulgaris at Episcopal High School in Virginia … considered a four-star prospect by Rivals and rated the No. 7 player in the state of Virginia and the No. 22 safety in the country …. also ranked the No. 9 player in Virginia and the No. 25 cornerback nationally by ESPN … the No. 2 safety in the East and the No. 31 safety in the country by Scout … named first-team VISAA Division I all-state as a senior … also played wide receiver … earned Team MVP and served as captain • garnered second-team All-Met honors from the Washington Post as a senior … a 2014 CBSSports All-America selection.
Personal: Originally from Ottawa, Canada … joins fellow Canadiens Wesley Bailey and René Konga on the Scarlet Knights’ roster.
Michael Robinson II
WR • 6-0 • 195
Montclair, N.J./Montclair
Prior to Rutgers: Played for coach John Fiore at Montclair … played wide receiver, quarterback and defensive back for the Mounties … as a senior, completed 28 passes for 466 yards and six touchdowns, rushed for 658 yards and eight scores and added five receptions for 68 yards … passed for 842 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior … joins fellow Montclair graduate Shawn Collins on the Scarlet Knights’ roster.
Gavin Rupp
QB • 6-3 • 200
Tampa, Fla./Berkeley Prep
Prior to Rutgers: Played for coach Dominick Ciao at Berkeley Prep … passed for 901 yards on 46 completions with 11 touchdown passes as a senior … helped team to Class 3A state semifinals in 2020 … also played high school baseball and basketball … joins fellow Berkeley Prep graduates Mayan Ahanotu and Josh Youngblood on the Scarlet Knights’ roster.
Terrence Salami
OL • 6-3 • 285
Willingboro, N.J./Holy Cross Prep
Prior to Rutgers: Played for coach TJ Maderia at Holy Cross Prep … saw action on both the offensive and defensive lines for the Lancers … served as a captain for both the football and wrestling teams … reached the NJSIAA Region 7 heavyweight quarterfinals on the mat as a junior.
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