Rutgers lands Rivals100 quarterback

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Philadelphia (Pa.) Cardinal O'Hara quarterback Tom Savage wanted to delay the recruiting process until around June or July after narrowing down his choices to five schools and choosing from them. However, after visiting Rutgers on Tuesday night, the 6-foot-3, 231-pounder decided that the Scarlet Knights were the team for him.

"It just came down to a good relationship with coach (Greg Schiano and his staff," said Savage, who also had offers from Miami, Michigan, Florida State, Georgia, Tennessee, Penn State and many others. "Playing time is the same everywhere, you always have to compete so that's not a big deal. I just liked the feeling at Rutgers after being there so many times, seeing games and the campus."

Savage said his list came down to Rutgers, Georgia, Miami, Tennessee and Louisville in the end.

"I visited so many schools, I saw Miami, NC State, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia and others so I feel I've seen a lot of places," he said. "I liked the quarterbacks coach, coach (John McNulty, and the wide receivers coach, coach (Kirk) Ciarrocca, and I like the pro-style offense. It doesn't matter where you play these days for the pros, they'll find you or notice you if you're at a huge program or not. I know coach Schiano isn't going anywhere and I like that and the campus is only 1 ½ hours away from home so my family can see me play. It all fit."

Savage credits his head coach, Dan Algeo and coach Rich Gortian as well as his family for helping him with this decision. Now he hopes to help Rutgers recruit others he's come to know through the process.

"I'm going to the Spring Game this weekend with Eric Shrive (Rivals100 offensive lineman) and I know Aaron Hayward a bit. And my teammate Corey Brown (2010 running back) is also coming with us. I'm hoping to talk to linebackers Carlo Calabrese and Glenn Carson as well. I'm not the kind of guy who begs other kids to go to the same school as me, but I'll tell them what I see and like and hopefully they'll see the same."

Savage is ranked as the No. 24 player overall in the country. He threw for 803 yards and eight touchdowns in limited action as a junior and was one of the top performers at the U.S. Army All-American junior combine in San Antonio, Texas in January.

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