Playing football for Rutgers University has long been a dream for Jerome Washington ’12, and it appears to be goal that is within reach.

He grew up in Elizabeth, New Jersey, just a half hour north of the school, and after a stand-out career for the Bears he spent a post-graduate year at The Gunnery, a prep school in Connecticut. This season he has been playing for Gattaca Football, an independent program outside of the jurisdiction of the NCAA, but his highlight reel has been turning some heads.

Since last March, Rutgers, a Divison I program in one of America’s most powerful conferences, has been actively recruiting Washington, but his success with Gattaca has made him all the more alluring for the Scarlet Knights’ staff. By his count, he is in contact with Rutgers coaches two to three times each week and will be invited to a Rutgers home game for the third time this season when they take on Wisconsin on Nov. 1. All this attention has been deserved when you look at Washington’s statistics so far this season: 24 receptions, 510 receiving yards, 8 touchdowns.

But it’s not just his statistics that have made him attractive to the Knights. His 6′ 5″, 255-pound frame would make him an ideal target in an offense that relies heavily on its tight ends. “They just said I’d be a great fit because they use their tight ends a lot,” Washington said. “I can catch, I can block, and I play hard, so that’s really what I see in their players now that they would like about me.”

His play has also attracted the attention of Temple University in Philadelphia, but his loyalty remains with his hometown team. “I’ve always wanted to play there. It’s just a matter of getting the scholarship offer.”

Read more about Washington’s recruiting journey at NJ.com.

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