Rutgers commit Matt Rosso just starting to emerge as an O-Lineman

Rutgers recent commit Matt Rosso of Pennsbury High School (Fairless Hills, Pa.) saw a quick rise through the recruiting ranks over the past couple of months. He is now a three-star prospect, who is still relatively new to the offensive tackle position.

Rosso has been playing football since his youth, although he did not start playing offensive line until his junior year of high school.

“When I was younger, I played fullback and D-End,” Rosso said. “Then, in middle school, they put me at tight end.”

When high school rolled around, Rosso was tried out at offensive tackle, but then took to the defensive tackle position. However, he started to play offensive tackle again last year as college coaches started to project him to play on that side of the football, and part of that is based off his athleticism.

“I played basketball and baseball most of life,” Rosso said. “[Rutgers offensive line] Coach [AJ] Blazek said he likes kids who have played basketball and kids who have played defensive line. It helps because it gets your feet quicker than it would for kids who have just played O-line their whole lives.”

The offers started to come in a hurry for Rosso as he hit the camping circuit and schools like Virginia, Temple, UMass, Buffalo and Rutgers were among his offers.

“It was hard to understand the recruiting process in the beginning, but once I understood it, everything was fine,” Rosso said. “But it was a relaxed time. Rutgers did not really pressure me at all to commit. It was pretty easy at the end because I saw all the schools I wanted to see and that is the one I wanted to go to.”

Rosso is just beginning to scratch the surface of his potential and he could be in store for a major upgrade in his play this fall.

“I am just focused on the season. I have been putting on weight since the end of last season. I am up to 270 [pounds] now and I will probably be like 275 by the season.”

Rutgers has plans to eventually use Rosso at left tackle, although he will play right tackle again this season, protecting the blind side of his left-handed quarterback.

Form more on Russo, check out our latest Scarlet Slant.