Micah Clark to Rutgers: Scarlet Knights Land 4-Star OT Prospect

Micah Clark, considered the top-ranked player in New Jersey, committed to Rutgers on Tuesday. The 4-star offensive tackle gave his verbal pledge to the Scarlet Knights, choosing the university over schools like Penn State and Michigan. 

He made the announcement via Twitter:

A breakout performer at St. John Vianney Regional High School in Holmdel, Clark had his recruitment centered on Penn State and Ohio State early on. 247Sports' "crystal ball" predictions initially gave the Nittany Lions and the Buckeyes the best chance of landing the lineman. Clark himself named Ohio State his front-runner in December.

"The visit from Urban Meyer put them No. 1," Clark said, per Brian Dohn of Scout.com. "I was like, 'Wow, the head coach actually came down to see me.' I know he goes to see other players, but I know for a fact he only goes to see players he is really interested in. It was cool he came to my school."

Clark was also complimentary of the pitch the Penn State coaches gave him that pushed the school's academic programs.

"The message to me is even if football doesn’t work out, if the next level doesn’t work out, your education is still there," Clark said, per Dohn. "I know that. I look at Penn State and their business school, and I know if I don’t make it in the NFL, I still have the education. I like that about Penn State, and how the alumni base backs up every player."

For now, there are few reasons to expect football not to work out. Clark is already a physical specimen at 6'5" and 283 pounds, and he's equipped with the length and power to become an elite offensive tackle at the next level. He's also a two-way player who understands what it takes to be effective on the defensive line, putting him a step ahead of some one-sided players from an IQ perspective.

Once he begins fully filling out his frame, Clark is going to be a force. He'll be a foundational piece of Rutgers' offensive line and is already going to boost its class-of-2017 stock quite a bit. 

At Rutgers, he may have the chance to earn a starting spot immediately at left tackle. The school finished 65th in the nation in rush yards per game (169.9) last year and gave up 25 sacks, 56th in the country.

But Rutgers does return 14 offensive linemen from a year ago, including four starters, per Keith Sargeant of NJ Advance Media. Three-year starter and left tackle Keith Lumpkin is the one starter no longer with the team, opening the door for Clark.

So while Clark will certainly have a fight on his hands to earn a starting gig in his freshman campaign, he looks like the early front-runner to play left tackle in Rutgers' new fast-paced offense.

All recruiting and star rankings courtesy of 247Sports' composite rankings unless otherwise noted.