Rutgers Football

Rutgers football can't stay out of the headlines—for all the wrong reasons.

Four days after a late home loss to Washington State, the university fined and suspended head coach Kyle Flood for three games after an investigation into possible rules violations, according to Keith Sargeant of NJ.com.

Last month, NJ.com reported Rutgers was investigating an alleged email Flood sent from a personal account to a faculty member about the academic status of cornerback Nadir Barnwell.

The result of the investigation could have led to suspension or termination, per the details of Flood's contract with Rutgers.

According to a report released Wednesday by university president Robert Barchi (via NJ.com's Mark Mueller), Flood had an in-person meeting with the faculty member after "a member of the athletics advising staff reported that she reminded [Flood] that he [was] not to have any contact with any faculty member regarding a student's academic standing."

Kyle Flood outchea #scheminonthelow pic.twitter.com/tsYm3XlIdt

— Morgan Moriarty (@Morgan_Moriarty) September 16, 2015

Ok then. #Rutgers pic.twitter.com/5uBVF73rfh

— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) September 16, 2015

Flood was also found to have "provided grammatical and minor editorial suggestions" to a paper that the faculty member agreed to review after the in-person meeting.

Barchi and university officials decided to suspend Flood, but the released details of the investigation had many across the country saying termination would've been the better choice:

This is twice now where Rutgers’ has had an inability to fire its coaches when faced with overwhelming evidence they should be fired.

— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) September 16, 2015

How broke is Rutgers that Kyle Flood is still employed?

— Luke Zimmermann (@lukezim) September 16, 2015

I think Flood is fortunate to have not been fired. And considering the way this season could go from here _ it's not looking great longterm,

— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoATH) September 16, 2015

But Flood's controversial suspension is far from the only issue currently affecting the Rutgers football program.

Just within the past two weeks, Rutgers dismissed six players—including Barnwell—shortly after their arrests for a variety of crimes related to home invasions and an assault. 

A week after their arrest, fullback Lloyd Terry was arrested and charged with participating in an armed home invasion. Terry was also dismissed from the team.

And earlier this week, star wide receiver Leonte Carroo was charged with assault for allegedly slamming a woman into the concrete outside of the team's football training center after the loss to Washington State, per the Record's Patricia Alex.

Flood announced Sunday that Carroo was suspended indefinitely.

So, since the first week of the 2015 season, Rutgers has dismissed six players for crimes related to home invasion or assault, suspended another player because of another separate assault and has suspended its head coach for violating a university policy.

Conclusion from the outside investigation. #Rutgers pic.twitter.com/xDJKPlRpne

— FootballScoop (@FootballScoop) September 16, 2015

Right now, it's hard to find a college football program more dysfunctional than the one at Rutgers.

On the field, the Scarlet Knights now have to overcome a loss in which it blew two fourth-quarter leads—including one with less than two minutes left in the game—and will head into the start of the Big Ten schedule without its head coach.

Off the field, serious issues are plaguing the team at every turn.

The fact that Rutgers chose to simply suspend Flood for three games after finding what appears to be a blatant violation of academic policy might be the university's biggest sign of dysfunction.

What a spectacular disaster #Rutgers athletics has become. #leadership

— Matt Hayes (@MattHayesCFB) September 16, 2015

On Monday, athletic director Julie Hermann—herself no stranger to controversy—showed up to the Scarlet Knights' practice and later released a statement on her "unwavering support" for Flood's program.

According to John Rowe of the Record, Hermann said:

As the leader of the athletic department, I felt it was important to meet with the players to express my profound disappointment over recent issues involving the program, but at the same time make the team fully aware that they have my unwavering support. The program has historically represented this university to the highest standards, both on and off the field. 

I can tell you from my personal interactions that this locker room is filled with the type of leaders and quality young men that will continue to serve as exemplary ambassadors for the university. The expectation is that they will continue to do so.

Two days later, the head coach of that team was fined and suspended.

Matt Hayes of Sporting News recently took Hermann, Barchi and Flood to task for their roles in the current mess at Rutgers:

Look, I don’t want to put 2 and 2 together, but it sure looks like Flood was allegedly sending an email to inquire about the academic status of a player who was being investigated by police for his alleged role in a handful of felonies. Folks, players aren't investigated for crimes without a coach knowing about it.

Meanwhile, athletic director Julie Hermann, who allegedly runs the athletic department, has refused to comment and sent all questions to university president Robert Barchi, who allegedly has his finger on the pulse of all things Scarlet but has said nothing while the university continues its investigation.

Rock on, Rutgers.

With Flood's academic fiasco, the arrests of five former players and the assault charge against the team's best offensive playmaker, the Rutgers football program needs to see some changes.

Whether or not you believe Flood should have been immediately fired in light of the investigation's details, it's clear the current status of the program—one that had an 11-win season less than a decade ago—is in bad shape.

Dysfunction defines Rutgers football right now.

Even if it doesn't come before the Scarlet Knights' final game on Nov. 28, a fresh restart would be the best call for this program.

Justin Ferguson is a college football writer at Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JFergusonBR.

Rutgers head football coach Kyle Flood has been fined $50,000 and suspended for the Scarlet Knights' next three games, according to a Wednesday report by NJ Advance Media's Keith Sargeant. Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports reported Norries Wilson, who previously served as Columbia's head coach, will be the interim head coach at Rutgers while Flood is suspended.

Flood's suspension is the disciplinary action handed down by Rutgers' Board of Governors, which met last Friday to discuss the institutional policy Flood violated in reaching out to a professor about the eligibility status of a player.

Ralph D. Russo of the Associated Press provided a statement from Flood: 

Kyle Flood statement. pic.twitter.com/E2HNWHI0Wx

— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoATH) September 16, 2015

Junior Scarlet Knights cornerback Nadir Barnwell had allegedly been struggling in the classroom and was in danger of becoming academically ineligible since May, per Sargeant's report. Barnwell played in 10 games, making six starts, last season and is a criminal justice major.

Rutgers posted a finalized report of the university's internal investigation on the matter. An email exchange between Flood and the professor showed Flood requesting a grade change for his player.

Colin Becht of SI.com posted a copy of the email in question:     

Well that worked out well pic.twitter.com/HdkDXhrrUL

— Colin Becht (@colinbecht) September 16, 2015

Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports weighed in on Wednesday's news:

https://twitter.com/DanWetzel/status/644241557642567680

Nicole Auerbach of USA Today provided details from a conversation between Flood and an adviser:

https://twitter.com/NicoleAuerbach/status/644246459647287296

It's been a tough 2015 campaign already for the Rutgers program through just two games. Leading wide receiver Leonte Carroo was charged with assault in an alleged domestic violence incident following this past Saturday's 37-34 loss to Washington State.

Carroo has been suspended indefinitely, and Flood has already had to dismiss five players from the team for various legal troubles.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has even addressed the negative attention Rutgers has received, albeit in a rather dismissive tone.

"I certainly have a lot more important things to do than worry about what wide receiver was suspended for a few games recently. Being governor of New Jersey and running for president is a little more important than that," said Christie, per the Record's Melissa Hayes.

Flood will be absent as Rutgers' Big Ten slate begins, starting with Penn State on the road followed by home matchups against Kansas and the AP's fourth-ranked Michigan State Spartans.

Having yielded 559 total yards to Washington State in its last contest, Rutgers will have its work cut out in getting off on the right foot in conference play. Quarterback Chris Laviano being without his most explosive target in Carroo will only exacerbate the Scarlet Knights' problems on top of their coach's ban.

Rutgers sophomore fullback Lloyd Terry was arrested and faces charges for armed robbery, armed burglary and conspiracy to commit armed robbery after he allegedly participated in a home invasion, per Anthony G. Attrino of NJ Advance Media.

Terry, along with two others, is believed to have stolen marijuana and cash at gunpoint from five fellow students. The incident occurred in New Brunswick, New Jersey, on April 26.

As a result of the arrest, Rutgers has dismissed Terry from the team.

CBSSports.com's Jon Solomon alluded to the off-field issues plaguing the Scarlet Knights program at the moment:      

It never ends at Rutgers https://t.co/yZGvnVXzFb

— Jon Solomon (@JonSolomon35) September 10, 2015

Terry is the sixth player kicked off the football team in less than a week. Last Saturday, Rutgers dismissed Dre Boggs, Razohnn Gross, Delon Stephenson, Nadir Barnwell and Ruhann Peele. Prosecutors charged Boggs for two separate home invasions, while Gross, Stephenson, Barnwell and Peele were all charged after an alleged assault.

Before that, Scarlet Knights head coach Kyle Flood became the key figure in an internal investigation after he was alleged to have used his personal email to contact one of Barnwell's professors, which could constitute impermissible contact, an NCAA infraction.

Terry remains in custody at the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center in North Brunswick.

Two former Rutgers football players, defensive back Dre Boggs and wide receiver Tejay Johnson, pleaded not guilty to home invasion charges in New Brunswick, New Jersey, on Wednesday.

The Associated Press reported the news on 20-year-old Boggs, 23-year-old Johnson and another student, Jianan Chen, 19, who allegedly planned the robberies. Jim Donohue, Boggs' attorney, stated that the alleged victims were drug dealers, and he is also seeking to reduce his client's current $600,000 bail.

Assistant Middlesex County prosecutor Christopher Kuberiet claimed that knives, a hammer, a baseball bat and a revolver were used by the ex-football players to carry out the robberies. One of the victim's cellphones allegedly had Johnson's fingerprints on it.

"These were brutal, violent and aggressive home invasions where people should be sacrosanct," said Kuberiet.

In all there were allegedly three home invasions and an attack on a 19-year-old student that left him with a broken jaw, per myCentralNewJersey.com's Ryan Dunleavy. Johnson is thought to be involved in all three home invasions, while Boggs is suspected in two of them.

According to the prosecution, per the AP, the players are also said to have taken photos of the crimes they committed and sent incriminating text messages.      

Boggs and Johnson are being charged with weapons offenses in addition to robbery and conspiracy. The Scarlet Knights dismissed those two along with three other players last week, all of whom were previously suspended.

Johnson's career was already cut short by injuries, but Boggs is a rising sophomore who made one start and appeared in 10 games last season.

Five Rutgers Scarlet Knights football players were charged Sept. 3 with a variety of crimes related to the alleged assault of multiple individuals in April. On Saturday, Nicole Auerbach of USA Today revealed the players were "dismissed from the football program."

According to documents obtained by Keith Sargeant of NJ Advance Media, the five players—Nadir Barnwell, Ruhann Peele, Andre Boggs, Delon Stephenson and Razohnn Gross—were among 10 people charged in multiple violent crimes that vary from robbery to the breaking of another student's jaw.

Nine of the 10 defendants were arrested Thursday, but Daryl Stephenson—brother of Delon and former Rutgers student—remains at large. Rutgers initially suspended the students, pending the investigation, but ultimately decided to dismiss the players. 

"The students involved are currently suspended from our program," athletics director Julie Hermann originally said in a statement, per Sargeant. "We continue to monitor the situation. We will have no further comment as this is a pending legal matter."

The arrests come as part of an ongoing investigation into multiple crimes committed this spring. The Rutgers players have been indicted on charges relating to an April brawl, in which they allegedly jumped other individuals unprovoked following an altercation. The man, a 19-year-old student, suffered a broken jaw. 

News of the arrests comes in the same week that it was revealed Rutgers coach Kyle Flood is under investigation for academic impropriety. Sargeant reported Flood contacted a university professor in an attempt to help Barnwell gain eligibility. The head coach allegedly went behind the university's back and emailed a professor from his private account, perhaps in hopes of changing the grade.

"Any correspondence that I had with a professor in regard to a student-athlete would really be of this nature: One, to be in support of whatever decision that faculty member made, and two, to inquire as to whether or not there would be an opportunity to earn a better grade," Flood said.

Barnwell was a projected starter at cornerback, while Peele was expected to be an integral backup. Delon Stephenson was the team's projected starting free safety. 

Even if Flood is found not guilty of attempting to coerce a professor, his program appears to be going up in flames just days before the 2015 season opens against Norfolk State. Flood was already facing pressure after an up-and-down first three seasons as head coach, and these controversies are only going to make his seat hotter. 

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter

Rutgers University is investigating head football coach Kyle Flood for allegedly having impermissible contact with a school faculty member regarding the status of a player on the team. On Sept. 16, Keith Sargeant of NJ.com reported Flood will be suspended three games for his actions.

Continue for updates.

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Flood Comments on Future, University's Handling of Investigation; Coach Reportedly Defied Academic Staff

Thursday, Sept. 3

"I will be coaching the game on Saturday," Flood responded when asked about his status at the university, per Sam Hellman of ScarletReport.com.  

Flood's comments on his status came a day after he openly criticized the university for its comments in the media regarding the investigation.

“Let me ask this question before I respond: What you're saying to me is, that a process that I've been told from the university not to comment on was commented on by people from the university?" Flood said, per Sargeant. “I’m going to continue to respect the process, and I won’t have any further comment until the end of the process.”

Flood's comments came after Sargeant reported comments from university officials who said Flood contacted a professor despite being told not to do so:

The university's office of ethics and compliance, with help from outside counsel, is investigating an email Flood allegedly sent from a private account to a Mason Gross faculty member regarding the status of Nadir Barnwell.

The two officials, who requested anonymity because the investigation into whether Flood violated university policy is ongoing, said the inquiry isn't simply about an email sent from Flood's private account.

"It's about Kyle trying to circumvent the process and trying to get the kid eligible," one of the university officials told NJ Advance Media.

Sargeant had more comments from the school officials regarding what Flood knew and his behavior:

"The communication with him was clear as to the status of Nadir's grade and he still decided he could fight it,'' said one official, who claimed Flood "had a long paper trail of information'' and still contacted the professor.

Another official said: "It was already done and everybody in the program knew it. Kyle was told, 'It's done, leave it alone.' ''

---

Flood Under Investigation for Violation of School Policy

Saturday, Aug. 25

Sergeant reported Flood could be facing a fine or a suspension for the incident:

The university's office of general counsel is investigating the severity of the alleged violation, which, the sources said, is focused on an email Flood allegedly sent from a personal account to a faculty member at the university's Mason Gross School of Arts regarding the status of Nadir Barnwell. The junior cornerback is reportedly in danger of being deemed academically ineligible.

On Aug. 26, Sargeant revealed that Flood may be in violation of a university policy prohibiting contact with a faculty member. According to Sargeant, Flood admits to having "a lot of communication" with faculty members, which would violate the policy, which states:

Coach-initiated contact of any type (e.g., oral, written, etc.) is not permitted between any member of the coaching staff and any Rutgers faculty member or associated instructional staff (teaching assistant, co-adjutant, part-time lecturer, etc.) with respect to any student-athlete.

Sargeant's initial report states if Flood is found to not be in compliance with school rules by trying to provide illegal benefits to a student-athlete, the discipline can range from a public reprimand to his contract being terminated. 

The report does note it's unclear if Flood is in violation of an NCAA or Big Ten rule for having contact with a player's professor, though a Rutgers official added "the university's athletics compliance department prohibits coaches from communicating with instructors."

Flood released a statement on the report, per Dan Duggan of NJ.com:

Let me start by saying I'm disappointed at the tone of the article that (associate athletic director for media relations) Hasim (Phillips) showed me this morning. I've been the head coach now, this is going into my fourth season, and I've had a lot of interaction with the teachers on our campus. I think that that article not only insults my integrity, but insults the integrity of our faculty. I've come to realize that our faculty here at Rutgers is beyond reproach and I have a tremendous amount of respect for them.

[...]

Our faculty are part of our program. Just as recently as the other day, we had two faculty members at our practice. Now, any correspondence that I had with a professor in regard to a student-athlete would really be of this nature: One, to be in support of whatever decision that faculty member made, and two, to inquire as to whether or not there would be an opportunity to earn a better grade. Now, this practice is not unusual at Rutgers. Many students all over campus receive what are called 'T grades' (temporary grades) doing work outside of when the class ends that semester to earn a better grade.

Nadir Barnwell's status has been uncertain, as the junior told Sargeant on August 16 that he couldn't discuss his eligibility: "Right now I really can't comment on that. Right now I'm just focusing on myself, just getting my body right to be honest with you, taking it day-by-day just trying to win every day.''

Barnwell has appeared in 17 games over the past two seasons, recording 64 total tackles and seven passes defended. 

Flood took over as head football coach at Rutgers in 2012 after Greg Schiano moved to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has kept the program at a steady level in his three seasons, winning at least eight games two times and playing in three bowl games. 

Rutgers will open the 2015 season on September 5 with a home game against Norfolk State. 

Rutgers football enters the 2015 season with a gaping hole at quarterback following the graduation of four-year starter Gary Nova. While his career was riddled by inconsistency, Nova's experience played a crucial role in the Scarlet Knights' four bowl trips during his time on campus.

Unfortunately, his retention of the position throughout his peaks and valleys has also left Rutgers with almost zero experience behind him.

Simply put, the QB competition is shaping into one of the most important in recent memory in Piscataway, New Jersey.

Last season's backup, redshirt sophomore Chris Laviano, represents the most game-ready option on head coach Kyle Flood's roster after taking the field in five games in 2014. While Laviano took snaps against some of the Knights' stiffest opponents—Nebraska, Ohio State, Michigan State and Wisconsin—all of that action came in blowout losses.

His biggest competition, fellow redshirt sophomore Hayden Rettig, was forced to sit out last season after transferring from LSU and hasn't played in a game since high school.

However, there is reason to believe that he can win the starting job. A former U.S. Army All-American, Rettig was one of the top pro-style QB recruits in the class of 2013 and possesses the natural gifts needed to win in the Big Ten.

"It's the other things," Flood said of Rettig, via Tom Luicci of ScarletKnights.com. "It's how hard he works. It's his passion to be a great football player. He's a high intangible guy. Those are ultimately the things that separate the players when you get to this level."

The final candidate, redshirt freshman Giovanni Rescigno, will push Laviano and Rettig, but with just one season as a starter in high school under his belt, he likely needs another year on the sidelines to develop.

While this will certainly be a program-defining decision, as NJ.com's Keith Sargeant notes, Flood held things together just fine after presiding over open QB competitions in 2012 and 2014. This time, however, the Knights will be under a lot of pressure to get off to a hot start.

Rutgers opens its season with Norfolk State but faces some challenging games in Weeks 2 through 4 against Washington State, Penn State and Kansas.

Considering how formidable the Big Ten East is expected to be next season, the Scarlet Knights will need to pick up wins against nonconference foes like the Cougars and Jayhawks if they want to keep their four-year bowl streak alive.

With that in mind, Rettig's big arm and huge upside will likely be too much for Rutgers to ignore. While 247Sports' Michael Foti notes that Laviano currently has a leg up due to his experience, the gap between the two should be narrowed as Rettig gets more reps with the starters.

Unfortunately, this means that the duel could drag on deep into the summer—so gear up Rutgers fans, this is going to be one long battle.

Two-a-days are the best and worst of times.

By the time you finish that second practice, you feel like you’ve been beaten with a sack full of Pog slammers.

The upshot, however, is you’re too tired to care. Exhaustion to the point of giddiness sets in, and if you’re on the Rutgers football team, you might find yourself waist-deep in ice water and fist-pumping to house music.

This is the strange and spectacular scene that played out after a recent double session held by the Scarlet Knights.

The team uploaded video of an absolute rager it had after a long day on the practice fields. Rutgers dubs the party “#ClubIce,” which is another way of saying Ultra with freezing water.

What you are watching is not an impromptu event. Someone set up a tent and rented out laser lights and smoke machines for this. Air horns and a disco ball were involved.

Best of all, Rutgers head coach Kyle Flood partook in #ClubIce.

Rutgers posted a picture to Instagram with a caption claiming the ice-bath party had been a surprise organized by Flood.

“Surprise at the end of the first double session, @CoachKyleFlood introduced #RFootball to #ClubIce!” read the caption.

Let it be known: Greg Schiano would never allow this.

Schiano men sit quietly in their ice baths, contemplating their shortcomings as the Dear Leader stews beans on an open fire and recounts his great grandfather’s violent run-in with a pair of rutting bison on the Tallgrass Prairie.

Flood is not a Schiano man, and that is a great thing.

So if you're looking to rage, it's going down at #ClubIce. It’s like partying at the Moontower, but you can’t feel your groin.

Follow me on Twitter for more sports news.

Follow @Dr_Carson_

Hayden Rettig didn't sign with Rutgers out of high school, but he's the highest-rated quarterback "commit" for the Scarlet Knights since Tom Savage.

Which, if anyone followed Savage's career path from Rutgers to Arizona to Pitt, may not be a ringing endorsement. Still, Rettig and the Scarlet Knights could be a nice marriage, especially in light of Minnesota transfer Philip Nelson's dismissal from the team.

The former 4-star prospect from Los Angeles announced he was leaving LSU late last month after being buried on the depth chart. 

Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports was the first to report that Rettig was heading to Rutgers, with Jim Kleinpeter of The Times-Picayune confirming as much. 

"Great place, great people, great education, going after a Big 10 championship," Rettig wrote in a text to The Times-Picayune.

Rettig already has his eyes on a title, which raises the question: Is Rettig the missing piece to elevate Rutgers to that level?

First and foremost, Rutgers needs stability in its quarterback situation. Gary Nova, who battled off and on with Chas Dodd for two seasons, will be a senior in 2014. Rettig will sit this season to satisfy NCAA transfer rules, putting him in a good position to compete for the starting job in '15. 

As Bleacher Report's Tyler Donohue tweeted, Rettig had an impressive senior season and came into college with a lot of hype:

Rettig just couldn't break through, though. That happens when there's stiff competition. No one was dethroning Zach Mettenberger last season, and early enrollee Brandon Harris and Anthony Jennings were also 4-star prospects who signed within a year of each other. 

That's a lot of talent at a position where there's not a lot of room for playing time. The Tigers haven't announced a starting quarterback yet, but Harris seems primed to take the reins of Cam Cameron's offense. 

Rutgers just hasn't had that level of talent at quarterback lately. That doesn't automatically mean Rettig is the guy, but transfers like these aren't as likely to materialize if there isn't a good chance for playing time. 

Rettig had choices, after all. Feldman reported that Rettig picked the Scarlet Knights over Boston College, Cal, Tennessee and Louisville.

But nobody really knows how Rettig is going to do at the college level. Not even Rutgers. Sure, head coach Kyle Flood has a good feeling about Rettig, otherwise he wouldn't have brought him on the team. 

What Rutgers is hoping is that Rettig is the missing piece for a championship-caliber team. The problem is Rutgers isn't a championship-caliber team in the Big Ten. At least, not with the way recruiting has gone the past couple of years.  

The Scarlet Knights are in a stacked division, the Big Ten East, which features Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Penn State. Within the next few years, Rutgers has to surpass all of those teams for Rettig's Big Ten championship hopes to come to fruition. 

Recruiting Rutgers has been a challenge since Flood took over the program. The Knights hauled in top-30 classes in 2011 and '12, but have failed to rank higher than 50th the past two seasons. 

(For context, Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and Michigan State, in that order, hauled in the top four classes in the Big Ten this past signing period.) 

Soon, those sophomores and juniors from '11 and '12 are going to depart. Flood and his coaching staff have to crush it on the recruiting trail, and the start to the 2015 class hasn't been promising (11th in the Big Ten, 57th nationally). 

This isn't to say Rutgers will never win a Big Ten game or pull an upset, but recruiting does need to pick up. Rettig appears to be a solid addition, but he can't be the bright spot on an otherwise so-so team. 

B/R's Michael Felder wrote in February that there's no such thing as an average recruiting class. There's a lot of truth to that, since schools recruit for different needs/goals on a year-to-year basis. Recruiting is also an inexact science.

If Big Ten titles are on the agenda, though, it's an uphill climb if a program ranks at or near the bottom of a conference in recruiting on a consistent basis. 

With Rettig's career on a to-be-determined path and Rutgers' lackluster recruiting efforts, it's just hard to see the Scarlet Knights as a Big Ten title contender at the moment. 

Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football at Bleacher Report. All quotes cited unless obtained firsthand. All recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports. 

In the modern era of college football recruiting, it's imperative for coaches to build a sense of familiarity early during a prospect's process. NCAA restrictions and "dead periods" can impede that progress, but technological developments have opened new lines of communication and information, including Twitter and Facebook.

Rutgers is getting into the app game.

The Scarlet Knights unveiled a prospect-oriented program that runs on Apple mobile devices. It should have significant appeal to fans, but future recruits are the primary target.

"I can’t send a pre-(high school) junior a video. I can’t mail them a video. Really, before their junior year we can’t even email them links," Rutgers' director of branding and social media Drew Robinson told Star-Ledger reporter Tom Luicci. "So this is a way to get information out about the football program in a video content format."

It may not be an in-home visit, but the app provides a way for high school underclassmen to develop a personal understanding of the program by simply exploring on their phone. Interactive elements, video and multimedia content are literally at their fingertips.

The app will also feature promotional information, specifically camp brochures, according to Luicci. Expect Rutgers to produce a steady stream of video packages to keep users engaged and content fresh.

Head coach Kyle Flood and the Scarlet Knights transition into the Big Ten in 2014, representing a significant leap in competition and national exposure. The program aims to set itself apart as the first team to use this technology directly as a recruiting tool.

"Statistics and studies show kids want content in the palm of their hands, through their iPad, iPhone, whatever," Robinson said. "This is a way to deliver that and to promote Rutgers football."

It's hard to argue with the logic.

High school students are more actively engaged on social media than ever. If you've been to a shopping mall lately, you may have noticed a significant portion of the teenagers staring straight down at their phones while walking aimlessly.

As a society, we're rather attached to our mobile devices, and that's never been truer than with this latest generation. That extends into the way receive college football information.

The recruiting trail has trickled into a variety of platforms that feature fans, coaches and prospects communicating under the same technological umbrella. It's a constant exchange of opinions and insight, some more refined than others.

The recruiting scene is a copycat environment. If one tactic proves successful for a program, others are inclined to quickly replicate.

Based on the extensive expenses and exhaustive hours teams dedicate to recruiting, developing an iPhone app would seem like a relatively simple task to take on. Universities across the country already use mobile technology in a variety of functions so it makes sense to direct some of those efforts toward a lucrative department like high-profile athletics.

Sure, prospects could do their own research on a team through Google and various websites, but an app presents a different asset. It provides low-effort, instantaneous results and fits right in with how teenagers are used to operating.

Perhaps more importantly, it allows programs to control the narrative. Rutgers, and those that follow, will cast the spotlight on successes surrounding the program, while offering an opportunity for players to familiarize themselves with the team.

Unlike Twitter, the transfer of information is a one-way street.

Sometimes prospects are turned off by a coaching staff when they feel overly pressured at an early stage. Now, those players can decide how deep they want to dig into a team by simply tapping an app icon.

It's a low-risk avenue to get into the living room of young recruits without bending NCAA rules. Rutgers is the first program to enter this foray, but expect others to follow suit soon.