Ad Disclosure
A goal for Chris Ash is to keep Michigan from landing New Jersey’s top talent.
Ash has a long way to go to truly accomplish that, but he took his first step on Tuesday.
Four-star offensive tackle Micah Clark announced his commitment to Rutgers over the likes of Michigan, Michigan State, Tennessee and UNC:
I would like to Announce My commitment to Rutgers University ⚫️🔴@jamaal_beaty @wombough70 @CoachBlaz #AshEra pic.twitter.com/MNA9TltXJ5
— Micah Clark (@MicahClark17) April 19, 2016
Even better, Rutgers got a commitment from his brother, offensive guard Jamaal Beaty, in the same video:
We going to Rutgers ?⚫️?⚫️ #AshEra @CoachBlaz pic.twitter.com/xSr8hDJRWr
— jamaal beaty (@jamaal_beaty) April 19, 2016
Clark is the No. 1-rated player in New Jersey and is rated No. 70 overall in the 2017 class, according to the 247sports composite.
The Holmdel, NJ native named Rutgers his favorite after taking an unofficial visit to Piscataway last week, and listed Michigan at No. 2. Clark had offers from seemingly everywhere. Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Penn State were just a few of the schools that offered the 6-5, 283-pound offensive tackle.
The commitment is the first Ash got from a four-star recruit since he took over in December. It’s a major boost for a Rutgers class that only had three 2017 commitments, none of whom are offensive linemen.
It’s early, but Ash might be changing the narrative slowly with a commitment from a recruit as highly touted as Clark.
Connor O'Gara is the senior national columnist for Saturday Tradition. He's a member of the Football Writers Association of America. After spending his entire life living in B1G country, he moved to the South in 2015.