Exclusive: Brendan Bordner commits to Rutgers

Rutgers landed a big commitment tonight when Ohio three-star defensive end Brendan Bordner of Hilliard Bradley High School offered up his verbal pledge to the Scarlet Knights. Bordner spoke exclusively with Scarlet Nation before officially announcing his decision and revealed why he chose Rutgers.

"I just felt at home there and could envision myself being there a little more so than the others. I think it was just the gut feeling. I had built a bunch of really good relationships there and it just felt like a home."

Bordner chose Rutgers over other finalist West Virginia. It has also been a team effort recruiting Bordner as he has gotten to know quite a few RU coaches.

"I've gotten the closest with Coach [Vince] Okruch and Coach [Shane] Burnham, but also fairly close with Coach [Chris] Ash and Coach [Jay] Niemann," Bordner said. "I think I just related well with them and have become very close with them."

Bordner has also gotten close with some prospects who are already committed to Rutgers as well.

"I've gotten close with Micah Clark, Jamaal Beaty, Samuel Vretman, and Mike Tverdov,"Bordner said. "They were all on their officials the same time as me, and I met them before on a visit. They're all good guys and I enjoyed hanging out with them."

His official visit to Rutgers took place on the first weekend of December and that helped sway Bordner's decision, particularly since he took a final official visit to West Virginia this past weekend.

"It went really well obviously, I had a good time over there," Bordner said of his RU official visit. "It honestly was just being around the guys that I found to be the best part."

The future will start very soon for Bordner as he is planning on enrolling at Rutgers this January for the spring semester.

"I'm looking forward to getting in there with the other mid year guys and getting to work for next season," Bordner said.