Brendan Bordner already making gains as Rutgers early enrollee

College life has started in a hurry for Rutgers freshman defensive end Brendan Bordner, who enrolled in January while his 2017 high school class is still finishing out their final semester. Now, he is preparing to grab a spot in Rutgers’ defensive end rotation during the upcoming season.

Bordner, a native of Hilliard, Ohio, talked about the possibility of playing as a true freshman.

“It is definitely a very realistic possibility, but it is going to be on me. It is not going to be handed to me. The depth chart is what it is and right now, I would probably say I am on the bottom. But I have to work myself up and compete every day. I am going to have to go out there and earn it myself.”

Bordner also mentioned what could be key to early playing time.

“I think it is going to come down to how I perform in the weight room more than anything. I have to get strength. That is my biggest issue right away. If I am strong enough, I will be able to gradually work myself in.”

And how has the weight room workouts been thus far?

“They have been brutal, they push you and they do a good job,” Bordner said. “It is different than anything I have ever done. More intense than I expected.”

Early enrollment has been productive as Bordner has already made his share of gains in the weight room.

“[Strength] Coach [Kenny] Parker wants to get me to 265 [pounds]. It’s eye-opening when you get in the weight room here," Bordner said. "I have already put on some pounds, I am about 257 pounds right now.”

And as signing day passed, Bordner had a very different routine from the rest of his future teammates in the class of 2017. Instead of an early morning signing day ceremony, he was participating in 6 a.m. workout in the Rutgers weight room.

“That was definitely different. Growing up, you watch signing day and it is a thing,” Bordner said. “This signing day just kind of happened and that was it.”