The Scarlet Knights land one of the top safeties in the nation
Rutgers secured a significant addition to their Class of 2025 roster with the commitment of four-star safety Tariq Hayer, as announced on Instagram. Despite receiving offers from prominent programs like Notre Dame, Auburn, and Michigan State, among others, Hayer ultimately chose Rutgers.
Hailing from St. John’s High School in Washington, DC, he currently holds the 98th spot in ESPN’s 2025 ranking and is the second-highest ranked player in the state, standing as the ninth best safety nationally in his class.
Although Hayer attracted considerable attention from Big Ten schools like Michigan State and Maryland, he canceled scheduled visits following his commitment announcement. He had previously visited Cincinnati at the start of June.
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This commitment marks Rutgers’ first acquisition of a safety for the 2025 recruiting cycle. Considering their recent recruiting successes, particularly with previous commitments from players like Kaj Sanders and Antonio White in 2024, Hayer’s commitment underscores the program’s growing allure
The momentum continued for Rutgers over the weekend with the addition of four-star offensive lineman Joshua Blackston, marking the third commitment of the weekend and the 21st overall for the Class of 2025. This surge has propelled Rutgers’ recruiting class to 12th in the nation, tying them with Notre Dame for the most commitments.
