Rutgers-bound wide receiver Ruhann Peele of Linden (left) shakes hands with his proud high school head coach Deon Candia on National Signing Day Feb. 1 after the Tigers' standout senior made it official that he will become a Scarlet Knight by signing necessary papers. (Photo by Christine Hudak)

The Linden High School library was the venue as senior Ruhann Peele signed his national letter of intent to accept a full scholarship to play football at Rutgers University this coming fall. Pictured, from left, are: Dr. Danny Robertozzi, the Linden HS principal; Peele; his mom, Diane Rollins, and Linden Schools Superintendent Dr. Rocco Tomazic. Peele will play wide receiver for Scarlet Knights. (Photo by Christine Hudak)

Linden's Ruhann Peele signs the necessary papers on National Letter of Intent Day to finalize his commitment to play at Rutgers University. The Tigers senior will play wide receiver. (Photo by Christine Hudak)

The athletic and very elusive Ruhann Peele of Linden (2) is seen in action during a game against Westfield. (Dominick Paoli Photography)

Linden’s Peele Rutgers-Bound
While WR Coach Exits Staff
By JR Parachini
For sidelinechatter.com

The main reason why Linden senior Ruhann Peele decided to honor his verbal commitment and sign with Rutgers Wednesday was because he thought wide receivers coach P.J. Fleck was going to remain on staff.

Two days after Rutgers promoted offensive line coach Kyle Flood Monday as its next head coach to replace Greg Schiano, Fleck left the staff to become the offensive coordinator at his alma mater, Northern Illinois.

Despite Fleck’s departure, Peele (6-1, 170) is sticking with Rutgers, similar to the way many footballs stuck to his body once he caught a pass.

"P.J. was real cool and the reason why I committed so early," said Peele, who gave Rutgers a verbal commitment last spring. "I know it's all part of the business. Had he stayed I would have enjoyed being coached by him."

Peele is just as enthusiastic and ready to go with whomever the new wide receivers coach will be.

"It will be an opportunity for a coach to come in from scratch and I'm going to work just as hard so I can get on the field," Peele said.

“I found out Wednesday night when P.J. sent me a text,” Linden head coach Deon Candia said of Fleck leaving Rutgers. “He has ambitions of being the head coach there (Northern Illinois) and this was the time for him to make a move.

“He was waiting for Ruhann to get settled at Rutgers. I sent him a text back thanking him.”

Fleck recruited Peele, attending a Linden home game on the sidelines in November of 2010.

“He contacted Ruhann about leaving,” Candia said. “We really wanted him to coach Ruhann because we felt he was one of the best wide receiver coaches in the country by far and also a great recruiter.

“P.J. assisted Ruhann and myself through the process and became a good friend.

“I talked to Ruhann today (Thursday) and Rutgers itself is where he wants to be. Had Fleck stayed that would have been icing on the cake.

“Ruhann still believes Rutgers is his school and he will move on from here.”

Peele’s surname is quite appropriate for the style of football he plays. Get Ruhann the ball and – whether it’s thrown over the middle or to either sideline – he will almost assuredly catch it and then peel away from opposing defensive backs.

“He’s a very competitive kid,” Candia said. “It’s what he does without the ball that draws attention from him being active. What he does after the catch is amazing.

“He has moves, but will run through you. He’s not the fastest, but he’s elusive enough to run right past you.”

Candia said Peele’s 40 dash time is 4.5 seconds.

“He doesn’t have tremendous speed, but I think he’ll become more explosive,” Candia said.

"I want to get my weight up," said Peele, who is interested in studying criminal justice. "I want to get situated in school and get on the field however I can."

A big part of Peele being a senior captain this past fall was him accepting a role as a running back at times.

"Sacrificing for the team made me a better leader," Peele said.

“He had already committed to Rutgers and did not need to impress any scouts,” Candia said. “He was so competitive and the younger players picked up on that.”

Peele, who moved to Linden from New York when he was in middle school, is the first big-time Rutgers recruit sent by the Tigers since 2006 graduate and standout defensive lineman Ray Wegrzynek, who finished with a solid collegiate career at Kean.

Peele has aspirations of taking his game to the NFL and joining the ranks of former Linden stars that made it professionally, including Troy Stradford, Craig Taylor, Michael Pringley and present New York Jets defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson.

Look for Peele to be a member of the North squad for the 34th annual North-South All-Star Game, which is scheduled for June 25 at Kean.

A few of the other 18 players that signed with Rutgers Wednesday may join Peele in what is now once again the state’s premier all-star football game.

"It feels good to be part of this recruiting class," Peele said. "We've got some good guys coming in to replace the seniors that are leaving."

Believe it or not, Peele disclosed that he never watched a college football game until last year.

"I watch the NFL and the NBA," Peele said. "I like Rams."

Peele's connection to the St. Louis Rams started when they won the Super Bowl 12 years ago following the 1999 season.

Ten years later, during his first game as a sophomore, Peele made a play that got him out of the dog house and into the spotlight.

"We opened with Rahway and I was having a bad game," Peele said of Linden's 2009 season-opener at Cooper Field. "I made a couple of bad plays, but coach Candia told me to relax and he said that I was going to make a big play."

Linden came back in the fourth quarter to defeat Rahway 21-12. Following Rahway's second and final touchdown, Peele made up for some earlier miscues by returning the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown.

Although Linden did not make the playoffs during Peele's time with the program, the Tigers did fashion a 7-3 mark in 2010, failing to garner enough power points to qualify in North 2, Group 4 with a 6-2 record at the cutoff date. Linden closed out its season with a sectional consolation home win over Perth Amboy and a loss at Union on Thanksgiving.

"That was tough," Peele said. "We had a good team that year and it was tough not being able to go to the playoffs."

Playing in a big-time bowl game - perhaps the first BCS bowl game that Rutgers will qualify for - could surely make up for that.

Dr. Rocco Tomazic, superintendent of schools in Linden, commends senior Ruhann Peele (seated left) on National Signing Day, Feb. 1, as the Tigers head football coach Deon Candia (seated right) also listens in. Peele will be wide receiver at Rutgers. (Photo by Christine Hudak)

As he did so many times in high school, Linden's Ruhann Peele (2) made life difficult for defenders to bring him down. (Dominick Paoli Photography)

copyright 2005 Sideline Chatter - comments - contact the webmaster