A family affair? 2 in-state Rutgers football targets to announce their college picks this week

Greg Schiano and his football staff are hoping for good news this week as two of their top targets are set to announce their college intentions. Both hail from the Garden State and have the chance to stay home and add reinforcements to New Jersey’s Sole Power Five program, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

The staff will be back at the Hale Center on July 25, have Big Ten media Day on July 27, and there will be recruits on campus two Mondays from now as the dead period ends on July 24.

Although coaches are prevented from having in-person contact with recruits until then, coaches can still call and text prospects showing them just how much they mean to the Rutgers cause.

But will it be enough?

Irvington (NJ) 3 star WR Famah Toure: This should come down to Rutgers and Illinois, the two schools Toure officially visited, and he is scheduled to announce his pick on July 22. Rutgers family ties have the Scarlet Knights at the forefront of his options as the day nears.

Famah he was accompanied by his parents, brothers and a cousin, and was hosted by Veteran Rutgers WR Shameen Jones on his official visit. Illinois made a strong impression on his visit there, but coming off his Rutgers trek, Famah said, Rutgers could be home.

I love the way Rutgers is recruiting me, said Famah, who is handled primarily by wide receivers Coach Damiere Shaw and defensive line Coach Marquise Watson (they will begin their first stints as on-the-field assistants this fall). They are like family. My brother tells me about the locker room and how they are all brothers. They hang out with each other all the time like a family.

His older brother, Mohamed, a junior edge at Rutgers, could also play a role in Famah’s pick.

Mo always says Not only would I join you your first year, but you are going to like it here because the coaches will take care of you, especially being that you are my little brother, Famah said, mimicking his older brother.

Hudson Catholic (Jersey City, NJ) 3-star DE Ted Gregoire: A 6-6, 260-pound versatile athlete with elite tools, Gregoire will announce his college intentions on his birthday, July 23, with Rutgers positioned well. However, Vanderbilt offered on July 6, which could change things.

But, the fact that he is set to announce before the dead period ends, seems good for Rutgers. Gregoire was hosted on his official visit by sophomore defensive lineman CamRon Stewart, and highlighted the beach and playing volleyball as some of the perks of his local trip, which he took flanked by his parents and sisters.

Gregoire also bonded with freshman Offensive lineman Taj White, who also played at Hudson Catholic in Jersey City, and has a cousin who graduated from the Piscataway-based school.

One thing is clear: Rutgers is positioned well down the stretch with both prospects and its family ties will have played a part in adding them to the roster if they choose Rutgers.

The Rutgers 2023 class includes 15 prospects and is ranked 39th in the Nation by 247Sports, while its ranked 44th nationally by Rivals.com.

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Todderick Hunt may be reached at [email protected].