Ronnie James, the 5-11, 175-pound Glassboro (N.J.) defensive back/running back, was offered by the Scarlet Knights in February and in total has fielded offers from Army, Rhode Island, UMass, Rutgers, Pitt and Syracuse. When NJ.com caught up with the senior at Knight Skills Camp in June, he said he was likely closing in on a decision and that Rutgers was one of his top two schools. Find out what he has to say, now.
Regarding whether he will make his decision either before or after the 2014 high school football season, James had this to say:
"That is the decision I have to make, right there," said James, the New Jersey Group 1 400-meter state champion (48.72). "I didn't know when to decide. They (his coach and parents) feel that I should do it before the season, just in case something happens during the season, but I don't know. If a better offer comes through and I already chose my team, I wouldn't feel right trying to switch over.
"So, I'm not sure yet. I'm just narrowing it down. But hopefully (I decide) soon. I just want to do more research on the schools."
James now claims a top four list of schools, consisting of "Rutgers, Pitt, Army and Syracuse," in no particular order.
He recently visited the Scarlet Knights – as well as the Penn State Nittany Lions (who have yet to offer) – and provided his impressions of the two programs.
"Rutgers, I went up for the camp and I went up for the Penn State camp, too," said James. "With Rutgers, it was pretty fun. Coach (Darrell) Wilson (defensive secondary) coached me a lot throughout the day, and for Penn State, a lot of the coaches kept coming up and giving me advice, as well."
At Rutgers, James also got to catch up with head coach Kyle Flood, something that he has become accustomed to doing.
"It was like a short conversation just to catch up on things," said James. "We have a good relationship, though. We talk every time I go down there."
James says his older brother, Paul, starting running back for the Scarlet Knights, sells him on the Rutgers program, but doesn't put any real pressure on him to pick the school.
"He'll give me advice like what things to look at and what not to look at to keep me at a steady mind," said James. "He says, 'You definitely have to like it and have to get a good feel for it. And don't go to a place that you like just because of the college. Make sure you like the coach recruiting you, too.' And things like that.
"And he makes jokes about me going to Rutgers every now and then, but he doesn't put any pressure on me."
James stays in contact with members of the Rutgers staff more than any other school, he says.
"I talk to them like throughout the week, every other week," he mentioned. "I probably talk to Rutgers the most, but all the other schools are around the same. But Rutgers is pretty good. I definitely like Rutgers. They want me to come up there and take a visit, and we are working on that, now."
Follow me on Twitter @TodderickHunt
Tune in weekly to Verizon Fios1 Sports during the football season (check your local listings) as I am the color analyst for the Star-Ledger Game of the Week.