Jalen Chatman discusses Rutgers commitment

Rutgers pulled in a quarterback commit today when Narbone High School (Los Angeles, Calif.) Jalen Chatman committed at the end of a two-day visit. Chatman spoke with Scarlet Nation about what influenced his final decision.

“Visiting the campus and talking to all the coaches, it really seemed like the best decision for me. The one-on-one conversations with the offensive coaches really stood out and what they want to do with me when I get there.”

This was Chatman’s first trip to New Jersey and he claimed it was not a culture shock at all coming from the west coast.

“I really liked it. It was not that different. Everything was like LA.”

He also talked about the distance factor now that he will be spending his college years on the other side of the country.

“It was never really a factor at all. I just had to see the school for myself.”

Chatman admitted that he knew earlier in today that a commit could be coming before the day was over.

"I kind of knew, I just needed to see how they wanted to use me and whether they really wanted me or not,” Chatman said.

While on the two-day visit, Chatman had a jam-packed itinerary and felt as though the RU staff made him a major recruiting priority.

“They loved me,” he said of the RU staff. “And I have also already talked to some of the recruits who are already committed.”

Chatman was accompanied on the trip by his father, who also left with a high opinion of Rutgers.

And now that he is committed, Chatman already has a major in mind.

“Computer engineering,” he said. “I just have an interest in computer programming. I am really into stuff like that.”

Chatman also confirmed that he will be enrolling early and will be on campus next January for the start of the 2018 spring semester.