Sports
Manalapan Wide Receiver Saeed Blacknall Chooses Rutgers
He previously narrowed his choices to Louisiana State, Alabama, Ohio State and Notre Dame.
As the Manalapan High School football team prepares for the beginning of practice this week, its star player announced his college choice over the weekend.
Saeed Blacknall is staying close to home after all.
The high school senior announced his intent to attend Rutgers University while visiting the campus for the team’s first scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 10, according to scarletreport.com.
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According to the report, it was Blacknall’s second straight weekend on Rutgers’ campus, where he had the opportunity to speak with Scarlet Knights junior wide receiver Brandon Coleman.
Coleman missed most of the summer with the team following surgery, but tied the school record with 10 touchdown catches last season.
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Blacknall previously narrowed his choices to Alabama, Louisiana State, Ohio State and Notre Dame before making his commitment on Saturday. Rutgers was previously mentioned by many sources as a possibility for Blacknall.
“Rutgers is like home to me,” Blacknall told scarletreport.com. “The coaching staff is loving and it’s just a warm feeling there. You can’t go wrong on Rutgers. They were never not in the mix. I don’t know why people would think, ‘Oh, I don’t know why he’s not looking at Rutgers?’”
At 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, Blacknall is the highest ranked recruit in Rutgers’ Class of 2014. He is No. 13, according to scarletreport.com.
He will join the Scarlet Knights in time for their inaugural season in the Big 10. Rutgers joins the conference on July 1, 2014.
Blacknall made 40 catches for 743 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2012. On special teams, he averaged over 40 yards on kickoff and punt returns, and was responsible for a total of 16 touchdowns, according to Athlon Sports. He helped Manalapan to the Central Jersey Group V final in 2012. It was its second sectional finals appearance in as many years.
Manalapan is set to begin football practice this week.
Blacknall is pegged as the preseason Offensive Player of the Year in Athlon Sports’ inaugural National High School Football Preview.
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