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What a Rutgers football recruiting win says about relationships in NIL era
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- What a Rutgers football recruiting win says about relationships in NIL era
Jamar Taylor 's relationship with Rutgers football began a little more than a year ago when wide receivers coach Dave Brock visited Taylor at Salesianum High School in Delaware .
Taylor soon talked to head coach Greg Schiano. He visited Rutgers. It felt like home.
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And ever since then, that relationship strengthened.
It culminated with Taylor verbally committing to the Scarlet Knights on May 13, as the 6-foot-4, 205-pound wide receiver became the seventh member of Rutgers football 's 2027 recruiting class.
Salesianum junior Jamar Taylor (6) picks up yards against Smyrna during the DIAA Class 3A football playoff semifinal at Smyrna High in Smyrna on Nov. 21, 2025. Salesianum won 43-20.
Taylor will be joining a wide receiver room that's been on a strong trajectory under Brock – that includes KJ Duff's ascension to becoming one of the top wideouts in the Big Ten and a potential first-round draft pick.
"Right now, it's more about development now that I'm committed," Taylor said. "It's more of them getting me ready to come into the building and try to work for a spot to play."
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Taylor, rated the No. 2 prospect in Delaware and the No. 71 wide receiver recruit in his class according to the 247Sports Composite, had a strong list of offers that included Michigan , Michigan State, Minnesota , Nebraska and Georgia, which made a late push to land him before Taylor picked Rutgers.
Relationships can still work in the NIL era
Taylor's commitment was a major win for Schiano and the Scarlet Knights – not just for Taylor's potential, but it proved that even in the NIL era, relationships and the way Schiano and his staff recruit still works.
"Especially for me, relationships really do matter," Taylor said. "My dad and my mom, that's how they are, they value good relationships. We've had a good relationship with Coach Brock and Coach Schiano and the coaching staff from the first time we stepped on campus. It's definitely been good all-around getting to learn about everything. Just feeling like it was the best fit overall culturally."
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Taylor said Brock immediately began showing him clips that highlighted his natural ability. He explained how he could help take Taylor's game to the next level and develop him at Rutgers.
While other schools were talking to Taylor about potentially moving to tight end, the Scarlet Knights coveted his skillset as a bigger receiver – the success of 6-foot-6 Duff helped show how Brock can develop a receiver with a similar body type.
"He's coached different me's just with different names," said Taylor, who plans to attend Rutgers' business school after being influenced by a personal finance class at his high school. "It's comforting because he knows what he's doing, he knows what he's talking about especially with my body type and my skillset."
So much of modern recruiting has become transactional – throughout the country dollar signs and contracts have replaced the value of relationships. College football recruiting has transformed.
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And while the Scarlet Knights and Schiano have evolved to adapt to modern times, they haven't thrown out what's worked in the past.
Schiano frequently talks about the work his staff puts in to find the right recruits, not just with their ability but how they fit into the program's culture.
Taylor's decision to commit shows relationships still matter.
"A thing I like about Coach Brock and Coach Schiano is they're very straightforward," Taylor said. "You know they mean what they say."
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Rutgers football recruitment of Jamar Taylor shows relationships still matter
