Some things are destined to be. Take the recruitment of Colonia linebacker Eric LeGrand for instance. Long before the 6-foot-3, 240 pound linebacker was making newspaper headlines, the Rutgers staff was talking to head coach Ben LaSala about his young star.

The interest was reciprocal.

"Rutgers has always been Eric's top choice," said LaSala. "And Rutgers has been there since his freshman year. They let him know during his freshman year that he was their man. Eric only played in three varsity games his freshman year, but it was enough. Coach Susan came down and told him that he'd have an offer to him by the end of his junior year."

Susan wasn't kidding. The offer arrived as expected, and LeGrand rewarded the team's commitment by making a commitment of his own last week.

LeGrand, who chose the Scarlet Knights over Virginia and Maryland, was also being courted by such schools as Notre Dame and Florida. One of the key factors in his decision was his strong feelings for Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano.

"Coach Schiano came out and said Rutgers can win a national a championship," said LaSala. "Never once did he steer off the course of a national championship. Eric believes in Schiano the same way he believes he can play professional football. Eric never gets off that course. He believes he can make it to the NFL, and playing at a top ten power like Rutgers will help get him there."

Only sixteen years young, LeGrand has already improved his bench press to 430 lbs. Coach LaSala believes that power will skyrocket when he arrives at Rutgers.

"When Jay Butler gets ahold of him, it's going to be downright scary," LaSala attested.

LeGrand has carried quite a load for the Colonia football team. He remains on the field at all times playing running back, linebacker and even special teams.

"One game last year, Eric carried the ball 40 times and made 20 tackles," said LaSala. "He never comes off the field and will never ask to either. When he gets to college and only has to play on one side of the ball, he's going to be something."

Now that LeGrand's decision is official, LaSala feels as though there won't be any pressure on him going into his senior year.

"I think it's going to make it easier for everyone," said LaSala. "Everyone got caught up in where Eric was going to go to school. It started to become a distraction. Now, Eric knows where's going, and he can concentrate on football and academics."

At 6-foot-4, 250 pounds LeGrand already has the size to play middle linebacker. Although he has one more of year of high school football to play, LaSala believes it won't be long before LeGrand is making an impact at the college level.

"Eric could come in and contribute right away. He's one of the best players in the state and the best player I've ever coached," said Lasala.

LeGrand will be joining a team that finished in the #12 spot of the national polls in 2006.

"I give Coach Susan and Coach Schiano a world of credit. They've had an amazing turnaround. And now, they'll have at least 100 Colonia supporters in the stands at every home game," LaSala declared.

The Scarlet Nation will have to wait one more season before they see LeGrand don a Rutgers uniform. But they have already caught a glimpse of the talent that hopes to run rampant through the 2008 recruiting class.