Calabrese Earns First Offer

Carlo Calabrese helped lead Verona High School to the second round of the New Jersey state playoffs this season where they eventually lost to Cedar Grove High School and today the standout linebacker picked up his first written scholarship offer when he visited Rutgers for their junior day event.

Carlo Calabrese, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound middle linebacker from Verona, N.J., had spent hours this summer meeting privately with the Rutgers coaching staff, going over film at linebacker and learning about their system. On Saturday, that extra time spent with the linebackers coach paid off as he was offered his first scholarship by the Scarlet Knights.

“The visit went really well and I got to meet a lot of the coaching staff while I was there,” Calabrese said. “Head Coach Greg Schiano is a great guy. He took my mom, dad and I into his office and told me I had an offer to go there. I was excited and shocked at the same time when I heard him say it. He said he likes the way I play, my toughness, the type of person I am and the fact that I am a good student. He thinks I’ll fit in well at Rutgers. I also really like my recruiting coordinator Coach Joe Susan.”

“Rutgers is close to home, so that is something about them that I really think is cool,” Calabrese explained. “They have excellent facilities all around, are in the process of building a great program and the recent tradition of the school is really good. I also feel comfortable on campus.”

Virginia, Connecticut and Miami have all been to Verona High School to meet with his coaches and Boston College, Penn State, Notre Dame and Florida are also among the schools showing him the most interest.

“Right now Virginia, Notre Dame, Penn State and Boston College stand out from that group.”

As a junior, Calabrese notched 104 solo tackles and six sacks.