The story of Jae’lyne Matthews recruitment is certainly an interesting saga with a result that not many were expecting. No matter how it happened, he is committed to play for the Scarlet Knights. With that being said, the story of his recruitment is a bizarre one and its worth a deep dive.
For the sake of clarity, it would be best to hear the story of his recruitment through a rough timeline. Setting the backdrop to the scene, Rutgers has struggled mightily to recruit from the home base (New Jersey) in recent years, especially in the area where Matthews lives down by the shore. In addition, Rutgers has also struggled to land top talent in New Jersey for awhile now. Matthews commitment breaks all of those trends because he is rated as the seventh best player in the state of his class and he is from Toms River.
He is flanked by another trend breaker in wide receiver commit Micheal Thomas III, who is rated as the third best player in the state and who also hails from Toms River
In 2023, Matthews initially committed to Penn State but later reopened his recruitment in early 2024. When he unveiled his list of final school choices, Rutgers wasn’t among them. However, his commitment ceremony took an unexpected turn, revealing Matthews’ flair for the dramatic.
During the ceremony, just as it seemed he might choose another school, a staged pizza delivery arrived, bringing with it two Rutgers and Toms River icons, Frankie Edgar and Todd Frazier. They presented Matthews with a Rutgers hat and showcased a pizza featuring an “R” shape made from pepperoni. This uniquely Jersey moment culminated in Matthews announcing his decision to his family and friends in attendance. His arrival at Rutgers in 2025 promises to bring a touch of Jersey style to the campus.
