Kaymar Mimes commits to Rutgers, explains decision

Rutgers added another commit to its class of 2018 today when defensive end Kaymar Mimes of Long Branch High School (Long Branch, N.J.) ended his recruitment by offering his pledge to become a Scarlet Knight.

Mimes told Scarlet Nation why he selected Rutgers.

“I chose Rutgers University above all of the other colleges that have offered me because I truly felt at home there. I love New Jersey. It was easy for me to make my decision considering how similar Rutgers is to Long Branch."

Some credit also has to go to a pair of Rutgers coaches who were influential throughout the recruiting process.

“Coach [Chris] Ash and Coach [Shane] Burnham made me feel like a priority and not an option,” Mimes said. “Like Long Branch, Rutgers is developing into something special. We will become a championship contender and surely with the group of guys that we have, I know that we’ll be in a great position to make an impact in the Big Ten conference. We will win games and championships in the future.”

Mimes held other offers from UConn, Wake Forest, Old Dominion and Temple, along with a host of others from FCS programs.

“I would like to thank all of the schools who has had interest in myself, my ability, and my talent,” Mimes said. “However, Rutgers University is the place for me and I’m eager to create my legacy there.”

The 6-foot-5, 231-pounder may also go down as one of New Jersey’s more underrated recruits in the class of 2018.

“Rutgers is getting the hardest working athlete I’ve seen in my 14-year coaching career,” said Long Branch assistant coach Kris Parker. “He is always going to be in the position the team needs him to be in on every play; Kaymar will do what he is coached to do. He is the type of player great programs are built on. Kaymar is who parents want their kids to become.”