Category: Reference & Education::Legal

Purdue’s Darrell Hazell once was in those shoes at Rutgers

CHICAGO If anyone understands what it’s like for the new Rutgers coaches to try to convince typically skeptical South Jersey recruits that times are changing at the state university, it’s Darrell Hazell.

The fourth year Purdue head coach was a Rutgers assistant responsible for recruiting South Jersey during the first three seasons (2001 03) of Greg Schiano’s tenure.

“That’s a small state, but there are a lot of players down in South Jersey, right outside of Philadelphia,” Hazell told NJ Advance Media at Big Ten media day. “A lot of good skill players when you think of Irving Fryar, Franco Harris, Mike Rozier. That’s a hotbed for talented athletes.”

As a Cinnaminson native, the 52 year old Hazell ought to know.

He also should know that Rutgers historically has kept fewer top players at home in South Jersey than it has at the perennial North Jersey powers.

“It’s like a Civil War between the north and the south of Jersey,” said Hazell, who went on to Ohio State before becoming head coach at Kent State on his way up the ladder. “Those guys don’t get along very well.”

Ten of the 14 New Jerseyans among the 20 recruits committed to Rutgers in the class of 2017 are from towns located south of New Brunswick. The class is ranked No.

So how has Rutgers attacked a recruiting territory that typically is up for grabs?

“Just like we’ve attacked every other area,” first year coach Chris Ash said. “We don’t sit around and say, ‘We have to go and attack this area or that area differently.’ At the end of the day, it’s about relationships.

“I keep talking about the culture that we have in our building that players want to be a part of. Whether you are from North Jersey, South Jersey or California, they all want the same thing. They want coaches they have a relationship with and a program that is going to develop them the right way.”

Why Urban Meyer told Chris Ash to go to RU

One of the popular fan concerns is that Rutgers’ recruiting class might disintegrate if the team struggles in the fall. The fear is rooted in watching former coach Kyle Flood’s highly regarded 2014 recruiting class crumble amid controversy and losing.

But Hazell was part of the Schiano staffs that out recruited its 8 27 record over three seasons.

“You have to go out and Billig Nike Zoom Winflo 4 Männer Blau Weiß Grün Kaufen Wien work at it and show them that you have a product that’s worth being there for,” Hazell said. “If you can do that it’s a lot of work it will all pay off in the end.

“You saw what happened (at Rutgers). After about three or four years there, it all got flipped and was on a roll for a while. We just tried to identify everybody.”

Ironically, the only Rutgers assistant coach with South Jersey ties during Ash’s first season is Philadelphia native Jafar Williams, Adidas Nmd S31503 R1 Unisex Weiß Grau Günstig Wien who returned home after three seasons as the running backs coach for Hazell at Purdue.

“Jafar is a good coach,” Hazell said. “He’ll do a good job with the wide receivers at Rutgers, and he’ll work hard to make sure those guys are prepared each and every week.”

Ash said the reception to recruiting pitches in South Jersey is no different than anywhere else that he visits. It’s why he didn’t waste any time reviewing Rutgers’ recruiting history.

“I don’t personally see it,” Ash said. “We didn’t look back on anything of where there’s been success, where there’s been failures. It’s, ‘Hey, we have a plan and let’s go execute that plan.’ We feel confident that it will work.”

Look no further than the start of the century for Adidas Yeezy 350 V2 By9612 Unisex Schwarz Rot Wien proof that it can work.

“I think slowly the people in New Jersey are seeing that and the players the more they come around they feel it,” Ash said. “It’s not just something that we are saying, it’s something that they are seeing and they want to be a part of it.”