January 23, 2011
UC's Matias picks Rutgers
Union City's Josue Matias made a verbal commitment to play at Rutgers next year.
By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director
Union City offensive tackle Josue Matias announced this afternoon that he has committed to play at Rutgers University.
“He called me and told me that he’s made his decision and that he’s comfortable and happy with it and so were his parents” said Union City head coach Wilbur Valdez, confirming the news. “The kid put in all the hard work and this was his decision to make. He decided Rutgers was where he wanted to play college football.”
Matias chose Rutgers over Florida State, Miami, South Carolina and more than a dozen other school which offered him a scholarship.
The 6-foot-5, 290-pound Matias, is considered one of the state’s premier players and one of the most sought-after offensive line prospects in the country. Matias was ranked as the 245th best prospect in the country and given a four-star rating by rivals.com. The site also ranked him the seventh best prospect in New Jersey and the country’s No. 25 offensive tackle.
The rankings are all the more impressive considering he missed all of last season due to a right knee injury suffered during a preseason scrimmage.
“to watch him overcome all the odds and now watching him rehab and how he’s already running and lifting weights and getting it done, it says a lot about the kid,” Valdez said. “Rutgers should be ecstatic because they definitely got themselves a good one. He’s one I wish I would have had throughout the season because he gives us at least two more wins on our record.”
Valdez said that while Matias is not yet 100-percent recovered from the injury, he is already running and lifting weights and should be completely healthy in time for summer practice.
While the injury might have slowed Matias’ on-field development, Valdez believes the potential is there for him to be a true difference maker for Rutgers.
“So far from just talking to him, we might think the best situation is to red shirt (as a freshman),” he said. “With a year of strength and conditioning plus some more rehabbing, I project that he’s a four-year starter at Rutgers.”
Matias is the third player from Union City to commit to Rutgers in recent years. Former Union Hill standout Manny Abreu is a starting linebacker at Rutgers and just completed his junior season. Another former Union Hill standout, Pedro Sosa, was a two-time Second-Team All-Big East selection at Rutgers in 2006 and 2007.
Matias, is the second Hudson County prospect to commit to Rutgers this season. St. Peter’s Prep offensive tackle Keith Lumpkin announced his decision to join the Scarlet Knights in September.