Rutgers signee Johnathan Lewis (1) will join the competition to be the starting quarterback in 2017. Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
PISCATAWAY — Johnathan Lewis isn’t the highest-rated prospect in the Rutgers recruiting class, but the St. Peter’s Prep quarterback almost certainly is the most important.
Just look at Rutgers coach Chris Ash’s first remarks about Lewis.
“Quarterback is everything,” Ash said. “I don’t care what level of football you’re a part of — whether it’s the NFL, college, high school — if you don’t have a quarterback, you really don’t have a chance. And to be able to get a quarterback with the characteristics Johnathan Lewis has means everything to us.”
Under NCAA rules, coaches are prohibited from commenting on specific recruits until a national letter of intent is signed. It seemed as if Ash was just waiting for the opportunity to gush over Lewis, who verbally committed to Rutgers in April and never wavered.
“I’m so excited about him and his family, and the commitment they made and the loyalty they showed,” Ash said. “Their willingness to recruit others, it’s just been unbelievable, and I’m excited to have him part of our program.”
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Rated as a three-star prospect and the top quarterback in New Jersey, the 6-foot-3, 225-pound Lewis is an ideal fit for the Rutgers offense because of his run-pass ability.
The Scarlet Knights inked three four-stars — offensive lineman Micah Clark, wide receiver Bo Melton and linebacker Tyshon Fogg — but Lewis will face the greatest scrutiny from hereon.
“He’s big, he’s got a strong arm and he makes great decisions,” Ash said. “He can run. He possesses leadership ability.”
Johnathan Lewis of St. Peter’s Prep talks Rutgers, National Signing Day
“Now, is he going to walk in the door and start? There’s no guarantees or promises of that. But he’s going to come in and have a chance to compete, just like the quarterbacks on our roster. And he’s going to hopefully increase the level of play of everyone in that room.”
Rutgers returns five-game starter and dual-threat Giovanni Rescigno, who was No. 4 on the quarterback depth chart as recently as last June. Redshirt senior second-year graduate transfer Zach Allen and rising true sophomore Tylin Oden also have game experience.
That trio will have the benefit of spring practice with new offensive coordinator Jerry Kill whereas Lewis will arrive on campus in June. But Oden appeared in six games off the bench last season — despite needing development as a passer — as a true freshman who arrived in June 2016.
“Quarterback and offensive line are two of the toughest positions for freshmen to have a chance to play, let alone start,” Ash said. “A lot will depend on the amount of time and effort (Lewis) puts in. We talk about (how) the recruiting process goes up to signing day, and after signing day it’s preparation time.”
One factor working in Lewis’ favor is that his personal quarterbacks coach is Madei Williams, who played in Kill’s offensive system at Southern Illinois in 2001.
“Johnathan’s ability to come in and have a chance to compete or possibly start,” Ash said, “is going to depend on what he does between now and then to learn the offense, learn football, work on his skills, develop his skills, so when he gets on campus, he’s ready to go.”
Ryan Dunleavy may be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.
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