Rutgers was busy doing some local recruiting yesterday as DePaul (Wayne, N.J.) class of 2019 offensive lineman Blerim Rustemi claimed his first offer from the Scarlet Knights.
“It was a big surprise,” Rustemi said. “I went to their junior day. It was pretty cool. They showed us around the facilities. It is beautiful there. They were just talking to us. Coach Blazek was talking to me in the positional meetings and was talking about everything he expects of an offensive lineman.”
Rustemi was the starting right tackle this past season for the state-champion Spartans.
“I play defensive end too, but that is not my primary position," Rustemi said. "Whatever it takes to help out a team, I will do it. If Coach Mac [John McKenna] needs me for a play, he will throw me in there to give some other guys a break."
This past season, the 6-foot-4, 270-pound Rustemi played opposite three-star senior Khris Banks, who lined up at left tackle.
“I can play anywhere across the line. I study every position, it’s what I do,” Rustemi said. “I played the whole season at right tackle, but I would take some reps on the left side, just in case I needed the experience.”
Rustemi will also be at Temple this month for the Owls’ junior day and continues to talk with coaches from a host of other schools.
“A lot of schools have started to come in and show a lot of interested,” Rustemi said. “Boston College, Syracuse and North Carolina are probably showing the most interest right now, along with Rutgers.”
Rustemi grew up playing basketball in addition to some other sports, but has been zeroed in on one sport since starting his high school career at DePaul.
“ I don’t play for teams anymore because I am really focused on football now. Rutgers has offered me and I am getting a lot of interest from these other schools. I don’t want to get myself in a position where I can get hurt in another sport. So I would rather focus on football and get stronger in the offseason.”
Here is more on Rustemi on Scarlet Nation's premium message board, The Round Table.
