Tuesday, Rutgers extended an offer to DePaul Catholic (Wayne, N.J.) defensive end, Justin Nelson. The standout defensive star had been awaiting his first FBS offer for a long time now, not due to lack of ability, but because of academic concerns from his freshman year of high school. However, after a ton of hard work and much perseverance, Nelson is in the position he always dreamed he would be.

"It's crazy, it's like a dream come true," said Nelson. "Coach Cohen came to my school, today. He told my coach they had an offer for me. When my coach told me, I was at a loss for words. I couldn't even talk at the time."

The Rutgers staff had always been high on Nelson, but needed to ensure that he would make a continued effort, academically. Once that was confirmed, offering Nelson was a no-brainer.

"My coach told me I'm one of the top defensive ends on their board in the class of 2014," said Nelson. "He said he loved my film, loved my high motor.

"He also said a lot of colleges would come in and tell me to switch positions because of my height," continued the 6-1, 240-pounder. "But he knows how I play with aggressiveness and heart and the way I handle business on the field. They love the way I play so they offered me."

Nelson has a high opinion of Rutgers but what stands out most is the school's proximity to his home.

"There are a lot of things I like about Rutgers, but the No. 1 thing is that it's a big-time school yet it's close to home," he said. "And I can stay close to my mom and my dad during the season and see them whenever I want, if I choose to go there."

Boston College, Maryland and UCF are also hot on the trail of Nelson. Coaches from each institution have visited DePaul Catholic over the past week to inquire about him. Miami is also showing strong interest.