First offer for 2014 ATH

2014 athlete Thaddius Smith of Springfield (Pa.) Cardinal O'Hara took a recent visit to Rutgers to get a closer look at the program, and went home with his first offer.

"Honestly I didn't even know that Rutgers was interested in me until my coach told me that they wanted me to come up to their practice last Saturday," said Smith, who is 5-foot-10 and 170-pounds. "It was a very good experience and it was my first time seeing a campus that big."

When the offer came his way, it definitely caught him by surprise.

"When I got offered it was unexpected because I thought I was just going there to just watch them practice, but they ended up offering me," said Smith. "I was so excited."

While the offer is new, Smith is already fond of the Rutgers program.

"The school is nice," said Smith, who is 5-foot-10 and 170-pounds. "I like how the coaches keep the kids on track with their school work and they all have mandatory study hall to make sure they maintain the right grades. I like the football program a lot. The players are so big and fast. Everything to them is family. That's what I like about Rutgers and the coaching staff."

Rutgers is the first school to express serious interest in Smith and he will return during the summer for the summer camp. He will also camp at Temple this summer.

Smith finished his junior season with 13 receptions for 241 yards and 20 carries for 108 yards. He added two interceptions from his defensive back position.