Four-star LB Tyshon Fogg breaks down Rutgers commitment
Rutgers landed a huge commitment today when four-star linebacker Tyshon Fogg of Calvert Hall (Md.) joined the incoming class of 2017. Fogg is the Rivals.com’s 20th-ranked outside linebacker in the 2017 class and held a long list of offers from a variety of schools in every Power Five conference.
Fogg mentioned what led to his decision to join the Scarlet Knights.
“I have been up to the campus numerous times and I am comfortable there with the campus and everything. So today I was like, hey, I have been up there enough times and I am comfortable enough with the program. My family likes it. So I said I should pull the trigger right now.”
Fogg was on campus yesterday and when he made the decision today, he wanted to deliver the news in person.
So Fogg made a return trip to Piscataway to tell the RU coaching staff the news in person.
“They were beyond happy,” Fogg said. “[Head] Coach [Chris] Ash didn’t even seem like he knew what was going on. It was crazy. But I could tell I was a really important commitment for them.”
Fogg's recruitment was a group effort among the RU coaching staff, although defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Jay Niemann made a strong impression.
“We are really close,” Fogg said of Niemann. “Every time I come up there, he is showing me around the campus and he is always right there next to my family talking. We talk or text every day.”
Fogg’s area recruiter is offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer, who also made an impact.
“That’s my guy,” Fogg said of Mehringer. “He is a young guy and very enthusiastic. He knows what I am going through in the recruiting process and he is a really good guy.”
Growing up in Asbury Park, N.J., Fogg always had Rutgers on his mind.
“It was very important to play at home in New Jersey,” Fogg said. “My family can come to all my games. They live 40 minutes away. That was really important to me. That’s my home team.”
Fogg was no stranger to the Rutgers as he has been on campus close to 20 times. He was recruited by the previous staff and that continued with the recent coaching change.
“I definitely see the changes in the new staff,” Fogg said. “The old staff were good guys but the new staff is definitely bringing different energy to the table.”
Fogg is a versatile linebacker, who can do a little bit of everything and he mentioned where the staff sees him fitting in.
“They might be looking me at the MIKE [middle linebacker] or they could put me outside. Coach Niemann said it depends on how my body develops when I get there. He said I could play any linebacker position when I get there.
Fogg is also an academic standout, pulling in offers from other high academic colleges, such as Stanford. And during his many trips to Rutgers, education was a major point of emphasis.
“They definitely told me about the education they have to offer. They sold me on the different buildings they are developing and the things I want to do, they offer it there. They sold me on it."