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 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Alonzo was a three-year starter and part of a senior-laden defensive line that was one of the best in the Shore Conference. Jewett was an ASM first-team All-Shore selection on the offensive line.

The winners were Red Bank Catholic offensive lineman Jim Portela, Howell quarterback Ryan Davies, Manalapan running back John Sieczkowski, Mater Dei Prep lineman Brad Rauen, Monmouth Regional lineman Max Neis, Southern wide receiver/defensive back Alec Morris and Toms River North quarterback/defensive back Scott Buxbaum.

The Maxwell Football Club will select one player from the group as the winner of the New Jersey High School Player of the Year. Information on the Maxwell Football Club can be found on its website at www.maxwellfootballclub.org.

The club will host a New Jersey Mini Max Awards Dinner on Sunday, Jan. 15 at The Heldrich in New Brunswick, which is open to the public. Tickets can be bought on the organization’s website.  The winner of the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Players of the Year will be the candidates for the 27th Jim Henry Award as the Outstanding Player in the region.