With signing day less than a month away, a number of N.J.'s top prospects are still left on the board. Take Irvington (N.J.) senior Jalen Scott, for instance, who's coming off a solid senior campaign, where the 6-1.5, 280-pound defensive tackle produced despite battling through a nagging turf toe injury.
He played in games where his team needed him most -- seven of them -- while resting against the more manageable teams on the schedule.
Still, he generated 38 tackles, 13 for a loss, a sack and fumble recovery, and at times proved to be unblock-able. And his selfless approach to the season has gotten the attention of a few teams down the stretch.
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Scott holds a handful of FBS opportunities of which Buffalo and UMass have been the most consistent. Old Dominion has also thrown its hat in the ring. UConn and Cincinnati have yet to offer, but appear close. And Rutgers, at one point, had issued a tentative offer that never came to fruition, but are still keeping tabs.
"Rutgers is in the loop," said Irvington head coach Ashley Pierre. "They hit me late saying coach Ash said Jalen was on his mind. I haven't heard anything else about it, though. That was like a week ago, a week and some change. I know they wanted some long dudes and know they got some commitments. I haven't heard anything else about it, so who knows."
Scott, who projects best to the one-technique, chimed in on his relationship with the hometown Scarlet Knights.
"Rutgers, I believe talked to coach Smoke (Ashley Pierre) the other day about me," said Scott. "I'm always open to staying home."
Scott was issued a tentative Rutgers offer during the summer, contingent upon the results of an in-person workout, which would ultimately occur. However, communication would soon stop.
"They told me I did good, they liked my quickness, everything I wanted to hear," Scott said. "And I haven't heard much about it since."
There's a chance the two parties could reconnect down the stretch. But where does Scott stand with the other schools in play, and will he take any official visits?
"Buffalo is supposed to be the 26th and UMass is bringing him in the last week, on the third (Feb. 3)," said Pierre. "But they are waiting for us to confirm. We are just trying to find the right fit. Cincinnati comes in tomorrow (Friday). I talked to coach (Luke) Fickell today. Jalen will probably take two visits, the best two, basically. We just want to make sure we consider all of his opportunities."
Members of the UConn staff visited Irvington prior to the dead period to watch Scott practice on the basketball court, where he also plays for his school and averages 13 points and nine rebounds per game.
The staff has plans to return to Irvington soon as Scott is a prospect being considered down the stretch.
Meanwhile, members of the Cincinnati staff are visiting Irvington Friday to potentially offer and set up an official visit.
And there are others more tentatively involved, as well.
"Maybe Kent State, and Central Michigan hit me up, too," Scott said. "We had a conversation and then it just stopped."
But Scott pegs two teams for putting the most effort into him up to this point.
"UMass and Buffalo," he said.
However, "everything is even, right now," said Scott, who transferred from Lincoln to Irvington prior to his senior year. "I'll decide after I go on my visits or maybe take it to signing day."
Although Scott was hoping to take all five official visits, it's more likely he'll take two due to time restraints, as Pierre explained. And the two he takes will help paint the picture of where he'll enroll.
But Scott's certain of what he's looking for in a school.
"First, building a relationship with the coaching staff. Two is making sure I pick the right place, feel at home and am comfortable. And three, I want to major in criminal justice so I want to make sure the place has a good criminal justice program," he said.
Academically, Scott appears on track to qualify. With a number of A's in classes down the stretch and projected a 2.7 grade point average, he's opened himself up to numerous late opportunities.
But where he ends up is a toss-up with signing day just four weeks away.
Todderick Hunt may be reached at thunt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TodderickHunt. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.