Gratz commits to UConn
Piscataway (N.J.) cornerback Dwayne Gratz did not have any offers when he worked out at the Elite College Combine this spring. Soon after, UConn offered. Others followed. But Gratz wanted to end his recruitment and Saturday afternoon he verbally committed to the Huskies.
"Before I got ranked and before I was really getting noticed, coach (Scott) Lakatos was on me," Gratz said. "I got a good chance to get to know him first. I really like the program and the whole staff. I decided UConn was the best school for me."
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Gratz, a 5-foot-11, 176-pound prospect, finished with 75 tackles and five pass deflections last season. After a quality performance at the Elite Combine, he picked up offers from Cincinnati, Maryland, Michigan State and Temple. Other schools were showing
a good deal of interest.
"Coach (Randy) Edsall said that he saw me and that I could be a great player at UConn and that they were willing to give me an offer," Gratz said. "That was my first offer at the time. I really respected them for that.
"UConn's facilities are really high tech. When I went to visit I liked it a lot. It was better than Rutgers and other schools that are rated higher than them. I want to be a part of their program. I'm done with everything. I'm sure UConn is the school for me."
Gratz is rated as the 27th best cornerback nationally and the No. 15 prospect in the New Jersey top 30 of 2008. He not only had a solid showing at the Elite but won the defensive back award at this spring's Piscataway (N.J.) Nike Camp.
Gratz becomes the seventh commitment in UConn's 2008 recruiting class. He joins
defensive ends Jerome Williams and Trevardo Williams, linebackers Sio Moore and Jerome Junior, wide receiver Matt Edwards and offensive lineman Eric Kuraczea. Gratz and Kuraczea are three-star prospects.
"It's really nice to know I'm done with recruiting and now I can just relax and worry about playing football," Gratz said. "I don't have to worry about what school I'm going to go to and what offers I have. It's a good feeling."