OL Roche setting visits

Ramsey (N.J.) Don Bosco Prep offensive tackle Brian Roche has set his first official visit and will be setting a few more before the week is done. Who will be trying to lure the soft Rutgers commitment out of the state of New Jersey?

"I am heading to Louisville on Dec. 17 for an official with some other Jersey guys (Darrius Mann, Brian Cushing, Corey Wooten) and after that I'm not sure," said the 6-foot-4, 275-pounder. "I have a ton of coaches coming in this week -- North Carolina, NC State, Michigan State, Purdue and Georgia are a few. I know I'll take an official to NC State as well, probably in January."

One school that was high on Roche's list was Notre Dame, before the firing of Ty Willingham.

"That stunned me," he said. "I heard it from an MSG reporter who was covering our practice. He asked me about it on camera and my jaw just dropped. I don't know what they're going to do as far as a coach, so I'll just wait and see."

So what is Roche's commitment status to Rutgers?

"I won't de-commit until I know for sure I'm going someplace else," he said. "I want to show Rutgers the respect they deserve because I really like the coaches. I don't think I'll take an official to Rutgers though, it's so close I can go any time."

Reading between the lines, is Roche certain he won't be a Scarlet Knight?

"No, not at all," he said. "I consider myself open to the process again. I need to do what's best for me and Rutgers might still be that place."