DE Johnny Bogle returns to his home state for Rutgers junior day

Rutgers welcomed a faraway visitor to Saturday’s junior day, although Florida defensive end Johnny Bogle has plenty of New Jersey ties. The Nease High School (Ponte Vedra, Fla.) junior grew up in the Garden State and this weekend served as a sort of homecoming.

“My whole family is pretty much from New Jersey,” Bogle said. “I think that plays a huge part in my recruitment. I grew up here almost my whole life. All I would hear about is Rutgers for college football. It plays a huge factor in my recruitment. I am still open to other schools and just feeling things out right now."

Bogle was born in Princeton and later moved to Lambertville. Then, few years ago, it was off to Ponte Vedra, Fla.

“My mom got a big job opportunity in Florida, so we moved,” Bogle explained. “The adjustment went smoothly. The coaches were all over you with lifting and everything. It was a huge change. In my experience, football was a lot better down there. I picked up a lot of new things, new techniques and a great work ethic from coaches.”

Yesterday, it was the Rutgers coaches who showered Bogle with attention during his visit to campus.

"It went great. I loved it,” Bogle said of the Rutgers junior day. “The presentation was great. My mom loved it, my grandmother loved it. I just need to get up there and see a game for myself. I was impressed with [Head Coach] Chris Ash and his whole thing. I think Rutgers is going to be very successful in the future. It is nothing but good there. I think it is a really good thing they have going on.”

Bogle came into the junior day event already holding a Rutgers offer as he was identified as an early target by the RU coaching staff.

“They are very excited with the way I play, the way I am as a player,” Bogle said. “I was with coaches the whole day and it was nothing but positivity and how I can help their program. It was very exciting to hear.”

Bogle also holds offers from Coastal Carolina and Samford while Boston College, Georgia State and Appalachian State have all been in steady contact.

“I am kind of playing my recruitment out now, feeling the waters, seeing what my family thinks. My decision could be when the time is right. But I would like it to be before or during the summer so that I can focus on my senior year. We are going to have a good run as a team this season.”