Matawan’s Larry Alston Getting Late Interest from Rutgers/More College Commitments

Matawan senior running back/safety Larry Alston III was close to committing to Old Dominion after visiting there this weekend, but Rutgers called former Matawan coach Joe Martucci on Monday morning with some late interest in Alston. Martucci said that Alston will sign his National Letter of Intent Wednesday with either Old Dominion or Rutgers, but either way he will make his decision by Wednesday. The schools project the 6-2, 225-pound senior as either a safety or an outside linebacker.

Several other Shore Conference stars have made their decisions, as Neptune quarterback Jaheem Woods is headed to Stony Brook, Asbury Park defensive tackle Ra’Zahn Howard is bound for Towson, and Red Bank Regional quarterback Terence Scanlon joined a Shore-heavy recruiting class at Monmouth University. Click here for the full story.

Dimitrius Smith to Monmouth, Brodie Staying at Rutgers and More College Commitments

Monmouth University continues to add Shore Conference standouts to its roster as Manalapan star running back/linebacker John Sieczkowski, who led the Shore in rushing this fall, verbally committed on Saturday. Click here for the full story.

Also, former Jackson Memorial defensive tackle Dimitrius Smith, who played a post-grad season at Milford Academy in the fall, said he has transferred to Monmouth to play for the Hawks. Smith, the youngest brother of NBA shooting guard J.R. Smith, was an All Shore Media second-team All-Shore pick in 2010.

Ocean senior offensive lineman Ryan Breen also verbally committed on Saturday, choosing Sacred Heart. He was an ASM third-team All-Shore selection and an All-Class B North pick by the coaches this fall.

Finally, Long Branch senior offensive lineman Ryan Brodie re-affirmed his commitment to sign with Rutgers on Sunday night despite head coach Greg Schiano leaving to take the head job with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Click here for more on that.

Winters Commits to Monmouth, Villapiano to Brown.

Brick senior linebacker Tom Winters committed to Monmouth University Friday. Click here for more.

Former Rumson-Fair Haven quarterback Mike Villapiano committed to Brown after playing a post-grad season at Cheshire (Conn.) Academy. Click here for more.

Ryan Brodie to Re-Open Recruiting Process

Long Branch senior offensive lineman Ryan Brodie, the top offensive line recruit in New Jersey, will re-open the recruiting process one day after verbally committing to Rutgers following the news Thursday that Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano has left to take the head coaching job with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to his father.

“Ryan will most likely re-open his recruiting and will want to take his final two official visits,” Bryan Brodie said.

The 6-5, 310-pound tackle chose Rutgers over his other finalist, UConn, which contacted Long Branch head coach Dan George Thursday. Bryan Brodie said a UConn assistant was actually the first to inform him that Schiano may be leaving when he sent Brodie a text message early Thursday.

Where Ryan may take his final two visits is undetermined and should be finalized by Monday if he decides to take them, according to his father. Pittsburgh, UConn and several other schools contacted George and Brodie Thursday after the news broke. Brodie initially had a visit set up to Miami this weekend but cancelled it because he was set on his decision to commit to Rutgers Wednesday.

“We’re just going to look at all the options,” Bryan Brodie said.

Long Branch’s Ryan Brodie Commits to Rutgers/Jazzmar Clax Update

Long Branch senior offensive lineman Ryan Brodie announced Wednesday that he is signing with Rutgers. Click here for the full story.

Neptune senior fullback/linebacker Jazzmar Clax said Wednesday that he may announce his college choice next week on National Signing Day or may way until after. During the fall, he had narrowed his choices to Maryland, Arizona State and Minnesota, but said Wednesday that Rutgers and UConn are now at the front. He plans on taking a visit to either Rutgers or UConn this weekend.

Long Branch’s Ryan Brodie to Announce Decision Wednesday

Had this on Twitter yesterday, but didn’t have time to get a quick blog post. Long Branch senior offensive lineman, one of the state’s top uncommitted recruits, will announce his college decision at 2 p.m. Wednesday in a press conference at Long Branch High School.

Brodie had narrowed his list to four between UConn, Rutgers, Miami and West Virginia, but decided not to take a visit to Miami. His main two schools are UConn and Rutgers, with Rutgers being the front-runner. Brodie has a visit set up to Rutgers this weekend and it would not be surprising if he verballed during that trip. Brodie is very close with Rutgers freshman wide receiver Miles Shuler, another Long Branch product, so the Scarlet Knights look like the front-runner to land him.

Lacey’s Jordan Powell Commits to New Hampshire

Lacey senior tight end/linebacker Jordan Powell, who was an ASM third-team All-Shore selection this fall, said Wednesday that he has verbally committed to the University of New Hampshire after taking a visit there over the weekend.

The All-Class B South pick had 52 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, an interception and also blocked one punt and one field goal for a defense that gave up 16 points per game for a Lions team that made the state playoffs. Also a tight end, Powell had 6 catches for 131 yards and a touchdown. He also overcame a potentially fatal bout of MRSA that caused him to miss the season opener against Wall.

Despite his strong career at Lacey, Powell did not have any offers until after New Year’s Day when Wagner became his initial offer. He also added a scholarship offers from Maine and New Hampshire before settling on his decision. The Wildcats compete in the Colonial Athletic Association, one of the top conferences at the Football Championship Series (Division I-AA) level.

“I fell in love with New Hampshire,” he said. “It’s a great college, and the players are amazing. I was getting pretty nervous when I didn’t have any offers, but after all the colleges were done with the (FCS) playoffs, they started calling me and it worked out. It feels great to finally be done with it.”

Powell said he has been projected as a tight end or defensive end at New Hampshire, whose roster currently includes freshman wide receiver Jared Allison (Matawan); freshman wide receiver Mike DeTroia (Barnegat); and redshirt freshman running back Nico Steriti (Toms River East). The Wildcats are also heavily recruiting uncommitted Wall senior quarterback Steve Cluley.

Email: stump@allshoremedia.com

Rumson’s Clapp Gets 2 Offers, Recruiting Heating up for Sickels, Smith

Coaches from some of the top programs in the nation have been making the trip to Little Silver in recent weeks, including reigning BCS champion Alabama, in the race for the services of Red Bank Regional junior linebacker/tight end Garrett Sickels, one of the Northeast’s top 2013 recruits. In just over the past week, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Alabama have sent coached to visit in person for a player who has double-digit offers after finishing with 72 tackles, 9 sacks and 7 tackles for a loss in the Bucs’ 5-5 season.

Just up Ridge Road from Red Bank Regional, Rumson-Fair Haven senior defensive end/tight end Jake Clapp was offered by Marist and Sacred Heart on Monday, according to Rumson coach Shane Fallon. Clapp was part of a standout defensive line of all seniors that also included Jack Eisenstadt, an ASM first-teamer who has committed to Monmouth University, Mike Alonzo, who has committed to Susquehanna, and Jack Miles. Clapp had 11 sacks and 18 tackles for a loss for the 10-win Bulldogs this season.

Also, Lacey senior offensive lineman Tyrell Smith, who has offers from Tulane, UMass and Marshall, took a visit to Nevada this past weekend along with Matawan standout safety/running back Larry Alston III.

Matawan’s Larry Alston III Taking Upcoming Visits

Matawan senior running back/wide receiver/safety Larry Alston III, an ASM first-team defensive back from the fall, will visit the University of Nevada, Temple and Old Dominion before National Signing Day on Feb. 1, according to former Matawan coach Joe Martucci, who announced his resignation this week to take an assistant coaching job at Kean University.

This was Alston’s only varsity season, as he sat out as a junior after transferring from a high school in Georgia. A 6-foot-3, 220-pounder with good speed, Alston helped the Huskies win their second Central Jersey Group II title in three seasons after having grown up in Matawan before moving to Georgia. He entered his senior season with an offer from Temple and has garnered recent interest from Nevada and Old Dominion. He is mainly being recruited as a safety, but also as an all-around athlete.

Alston also has had interest, but no offers, from Rutgers and Boston College, according to Martucci. He could snag a late offer depending on whether either of those schools get commitments from their targeted players at his position.

Long Branch’s Ryan Brodie in Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl Tonight

Long Branch senior offensive lineman Ryan Brodie, one of the top uncommitted prospects in New Jersey, will play offensive guard for the East squad in tonight’s Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl featuring some of the top talent in the nation. The game is in Phoenix and will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network starting at 6 p.m.

The 6-5, 270-pound Brodie has double-digit Division I-A offers and plans to announce his destination on National Signing Day. He is taking an official visit to Rutgers later this month to wrap up his visits.