Hayden Rettig.jpg

Hayden Rettig

(Photo courtesy of 247Sports.com, used with permission)

Hayden Rettig, a former U.S. Army All-American quarterback, has committed to Rutgers, after taking an official visit to the school this week.

The 6-3, 205-pound pro-style quarterback signed to LSU out of Cathedral high school (Los Angeles, Ca.) in 2013. He was a consensus four-star prospect by all of the major recruiting networks and played in the 2013 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

He has since been cleared to transfer from LSU, and will suit up for Rutgers in 2015. Find out more about Rutgers' newest Scarlet Knight in this Q & A.

TH: Hayden, Why did you leave LSU?

HR:To be honest, I really liked the place. They had great coaches and staff, but they were just going in a different direction with the offense. And I want to be somewhere I'm needed, not just wanted. I want to be needed, I want to be used. I don't just want to be wanted, you know.

TH: What made you select the Scarlet Knights?

HR:I was in coach (Kyle) Flood's office, yesterday. And I told coach Flood the school is special. It's got great people, a great fan base, a great school, a great education and I'm gonna graduate with a great degree. And you have an opportunity to play for a Big Ten championship every year. And I'm happy I can transfer in. It's a great opportunity, and this is just kind of the beginning.

TH: How did you get in touch with the Rutgers staff when you decided to transfer from LSU?

HR:Well, I sent out an email to the compliance office at Rutgers, saying I got my full release from LSU. Rutgers recruited me in high school, but I was committed at the time. But I always really liked the school, a lot. And I was just happy I could get the opportunity to visit. They allowed me to do that, and from there, seeing campus, seeing everything just made my decision an easy one.

TH: When do you report to Rutgers, and will you have to sit out the year due to NCAA transfer rules?

HR:June 22nd. And yes, I have to sit out this year, but I kind of see it as a new beginning, a new start, and just me getting better at mastering my craft this year and having the opportunity to learn under a great offensive coordinator and a great head coach.

TH: What do you feel are your greatest strengths as a quarterback?

HR:I feel like my strength, honestly, is just being a good leader. You know, everyone talks about the big arm, my feet and my vision, but I feel like if you're not a good leader, no one is really gonna follow you. And I feel like me doing the best I can to inspire others to keep playing, keep going and keep striving towards what they want to become, that's what's most important. That's one of my greatest strengths, I feel like.

TH: Have you played mostly out of the shotgun or under center?

HR:It was a lot out of the gun in high school, but I'm really used to playing under center now from being at LSU for this past year-and-a-half. And I'm starting to like it, a lot.

TH: Are you the type to really drive the ball down the field or are you more poised and take what the defense gives you?

HR:I can drive the ball down the field, but I like being methodical with the drive. That's just the way I like to do it. You can't always go deep. It depends on down and distance situation. But at the same time, if it's open, I'm gonna drive the ball and I can also put it into those tight spots.

TH: When did you actually commit, Hayden?

HR:I committed to coach Flood yesterday in-person at the end of my visit. I kind of kept it low key. I just wanted to keep everything on the low until coach wanted to spill it out. So I was just waiting.

Notes

Besides a visit to Boston, New Jersey is as far as Rettig has even been on the East Coast.

Rettig played for the West squad in the 2013 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, held in San Antonio, Texas.

Rettig will have three years to play three after sitting out a year.

Rettig passed for 3,424 yards and 40 TDs (18 INTs), completing 261-of-485 (54%) passes as a senior at Cathedral high school.

Hayden's older brother, Chase, is an NFL quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. He started three years at Boston College.

Chase played for Dave Brock -- former Rutgers co-offensive coordinator with Kyle Flood in 2012 -- at Boston College, which is where Hayden's connection to Rutgers began. Brock, now head coach of the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens, was on-campus last week coaching at Friday Knight Skills Camp.



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