A look at the 2012 Rutgers football recruiting class, the best in school history.

Added by Gregg Snyder on February 2, 2012.

When head coach Greg Schiano decided to leave his position at Rutgers University for an NFL job just a week before National Signing Day, many around Rutgers, including it’s fans feared the worst. They feared losing what was rumored to be a tremendous recruiting class.

Luckily, Rutgers had a guy in the background that everyone around here seems to respect and trust. Interim head coach Kyle Flood had the interim tag removed just two days before signing day. Even while having the interim tag, Flood and the rest of the recruiting staff worked tirelessly to keep this special class together.

Give them credit. It paid off in a big way yesterday, the first day recruits were able to sign their national letters of intent.

This 2012 recruiting class has been called by many the best class in the programs history. It’s hard to argue against that. In fact, sites such as ESPN and Rivals have ranked Rutgers’ class in the Top 25 nationally. There was a local focus to this years class. Of the 19 incoming freshman, 11 are from Rutgers home state of New Jersey. Five more will be coming from neighboring Pennsylvania. They will also bring in one from Washington DC, one from Florida, and one from Maryland (not counting R.J. Dill who has transferred to Rutgers).

For the second straight year, Rutgers was able to bring in the states No. 1 recruit. Last year it was running back Savon Huggins. This year it is defensive lineman Darius Hamilton. The 6-4, 245 lb. Hamilton is the son of former New York Giants defensive lineman Keith Hamilton. Hamilton comes from Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, NJ. After being recruited by just about every major program in the country, Hamilton chose Rutgers on national television over his other finalist, Miami and Florida. Hamilton will come in and immediately push for playing time as a freshman. He was the #6 ranked defensive end in the country but could very well be moved to tackle in college. He was named Rivals’ national defensive player of the year.

Darius Hamilton was the top recruit in NJ. For the second straight year, Rutgers was able to sign the state's No. 1 recruit.

A huge emphasis was put on the offensive line in this years recruiting class. The Scarlet Knights will be adding five top offensive lineman to its roster. Rivals.com ranks the offensive line class for Rutgers as the 10th best in the country, right behind the likes of Florida, Ohios State, and Oklahoma.

J.J. Denman is the top guy according to many rankings. Denman had previously committed and decommitted from Penn State and Wisconsin before finally signing with Rutgers. Denman is a 6-6, 310 lb tackle out of PA that could immediately push for playing time.

Joining Denman on the offensive line are center Brandon Arcidiacono, tackles Ryan Brodie and Chris Muller, as well as guard Derrick Nelson. Every one of these players are expected to push for playing time and provide Rutgers with improved talent and depth along the much maligned offensive line. Flood called both Brodie and Muller, “prototypical NFL-type left tackles.”

Rutgers did well at the linebacker position also. It came down to the finals days but ultimately both Quanzell Lambert and Steve Longa signed with Rutgers. Both players seemed to take the news of Schiano leaving harder than the others. Despite just two linebackers in the class, Rivals.com ranks Rutgers as the 22nd best linebacker class in the country. Lambert could be the teams starting middle linebacker as early as 2013. Longa is an outside linebacker who’s skills are compared to current Rutgers star linebacker Khaseem Greene.

Julian Pinnix-Odrick joins Hamilton on the defensive line. Pinnix-Odrick is a 6-5, 250 lb lineman that Flood called, “an extremely disruptive defensive lineman.” He comes from Montclair, NJ.

Rutgers once again brought in some play makers on the offensive side of the ball. Blake Rankin is the lone quarterback in this class. Rutgers loves this 6-4, 190 lb signal caller because he is a do it all type. Rankin has the smarts, arm, and legs to run an offense.

Rankin and the current Rutgers QB’s will have plenty of talent to throw to. Wide receiver is already a deep position for Rutgers and they’ve added even more with this class. The Scarlet Knights are bringing in four more wide receivers.

Leonte Carroo is a four-star receiver and high school teammate of Hamilton at Don Bosco Prep. At 6-1, 190, Carroo was called “lightning fast” by coach Flood and has great hands. He is a big play waiting to happen. Ruhann Peele and Carlton Agudosi are two more receivers from New Jersey. Agudosi is 6-6, 200 lb from Franklin High School in Somerset, NJ. According to coach Flood, Agudosi is “cut from the same mold as Brandon Coleman.” This is a guy Rutgers feels can get down field and get the deep ball. Peele is a pure athlete that has a knack for finding the football. As a senior, he rushed for 707 yards and had 459 receiving yards for Linden High School.

Rutgers got a surprise signee on signing day as WR Ian Thomas faxed in his letter of intent. Thomas has been compared to former Rutgers star Mohamed Sanu. He is a three-star recruit from Maryland. Some feel he will be moved to the defensive side of the ball due to his versatility and the depth at receiver.

Another extremely versatile player is Delon Stephenson from Sayreville, NJ. Stephenson will be joining his brother Daryl Stephenson on the Scarlet Knights roster. Delon was a top New Jersey athlete that can play many positions in college.

Desmon Peoples is the lone running back in this years class. Coach Flood called this 5-8, 175 lb back from PA “the quickest running back in the country, bar none.” If he is indeed that quick, you can expect Rutgers to find a way to utilize him.

The “Von’s” make up this years defensive back class. Davon Jacobs and Jevon Tyree come in as cornerbacks. Jacobs, a lock-down corner, was actually the first to send in his letter of intent. Tyree was another one of those signing day surprises. He is another versatile athlete with speed and smarts. He is very close to Sanu who also came from South Brunswick High School.

Kyle Federico enrolled at Rutgers in January but is still considered a member of this years recruiting class. The placekicker from Florida is coming in to immediately compete for the placekicking job which is currently vacant.

So there, you have it, the 2012 Rutgers recruiting class. The best class in school history. Obviously, recruiting rankings mean nothing once the players hit the field. It’s now up to the coaches and players themselves to put their potential to work and bring Rutgers that coveted championship.

There does seem to be something special about this class. Despite the turmoil and coaching changes, this class stuck together and showed just how much then wanted to stay home and bring a championship to New Jersey.