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By Todderick Hunt | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

It's not easy to come halfway across the country to compete to play a position that only one guy can play at a time, especially when in-state quarterback Artur Sitkowski -- a four-star -- and Zamar Wise -- N.J.'s top pro-style quarterback for 2019 -- are also slated to arrive.

However, that's what Narbonne (Harbor City, Ca.) quarterback Jalen Chatman will attempt to do as he's officially signed with Rutgers and will enroll in January.

“I just believe in my ability. I’ve had to work for everything I have, and I’m just gonna come in and compete,” Chatman told NJ.com Monday evening.

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Chatman helps team win 4th straight title

Chatman is coming off a productive high school career and California state championship in his final high school campaign. He's seen immense success, being apart of four state championships, but the latest one might just be the most special.

“It was a good season,” he said. “I accomplished my main goal which was to win states. That was my main goal and just having the best season with my teammates.”

Chatman says he’s improved his “leadership ability, footwork and accuracy,” and is ready to take those skills to the banks to compete against tough odds.

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Narbonne QB Jalen Chatman (Photo taken from Twitter)

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Open competition at QB for Rutgers

“Coach Ash came (Sunday) to my house and he just said everybody has a chance to come in and compete for the job,” said Chatman. “It’s open competition and that’s what I’m coming in there for.”

And he’ll have a chance to impact the quarterback room early as he’ll enroll in January.

“Just looking to come in and learn the offense early,” he said. “Get used to everything and get adjusted to college life.”

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Narbonne QB Jalen Chatman (Photo taken from Twitter)

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Chatman finds his way

Chatman comes from a “spread, no-huddle offense,” and is used to slinging the football around, which has led to some gaudy his high statistics.

He and his teammates started the 2017 season slow, but found their way en route to a 12-3 record and the CIF Division 1A state title.

“The turning point was week five against St. Louis (Honolulu, Hi.),” he said. “That was the turning point for the offense as a whole. Then we started doing good after that. After that, we never lost a game.”

The success he and his teammates experienced this year had a lot to do with the chemistry forged by the team’s talented signal caller.

“It was just chemistry with the receivers and the timing aspect,” he said. “And we spent a lot of time after practice every day working on it and it just worked out from there.”

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Chatman the recruiter

Although he didn’t put up quite the numbers he did as a junior – 3,926 passing yards and 52 passing TDs (9 INTs) on 69 percent passing to go along with 622 rushing yards and six rushing TDs compared to 3,229 passing yards on 56 percent passing and 32 TDs (13 INTs) with 327 rushing yards and five rushing TDs -- Chatman’s team was better for it, as they were more balanced and equipped to deal with the uniquely built teams they faced down the stretch of the season.

“We had some additions to the team,” he said. “Our running back Jermar Jefferson, who also has a Rutgers offer, had a great year, as well. And we were more balanced this year.”

Jefferson could also end up on the banks if all goes well on his Rutgers official visit scheduled for Jan. 19. In fact, Jefferson’s potential addition become even more of a reality when CBA (Syracuse N.Y.) running back Stevie Scott backed out of his pledge less than one week from signing day.

“I’ve known (Jefferson) since eighth grade,” Chatman said. “We played on the same team our eighth grade year. I’d been talking to him ever since our freshman year -- I told him to come to Narbonne (transferred from Redondo). And then he finally listened this past year and it turned out big for him. He had a great year.”

And that relationship has made Chatman Rutgers’ key recruiter of his star running back set to sign in February.

“I try to tell him all the time,” Chatman said. “He just tries to laugh it off but I am so serious with him. Hopefully he makes the right decision.”

Chatman will get to force the issue and truly make an impression on his former, and perhaps, future teammate, when he arrives on the banks.

“I’m gonna be his host,” Chatman said. “Just trying to show him a good time and show him more reasons why he should choose Rutgers, and just try to get that commitment, if possible.”

Chatman had a productive weekend during his own Rutgers official visit. So he feels prepared to help show Jefferson all that he needs to see.

“I got a real sense for the atmosphere, like game atmosphere since I went during the Ohio State game,” he said. “And how game preparation was and how game day felt.”

But will it work?

“I don’t know, to be honest,” Chatman said. “He has a lot of options and he’s gonna sign later in February so I don’t know for sure yet.”

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Narbonne QB Jalen Chatman (Photo taken from Twitter)

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It's almost go time

One thing is for sure: When Chatman arrives he must be ready to compete. And he will.

He dubs his “competitive spirit and leadership” as two things he’s improved as a senior which helped his team reach the highest of heights.

And those same traits must shine through in order for him to wrestle Rutgers’ quarterback job away from off-and-on starter Gio Resigno, the change-of-pace that is Johnathan Lewis, not to mention incoming four-star Artur Sitkowsi, and three-star junior Zamar Wise.

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Chatman Vs. Sitkowski

Chatman is most aware of Sitkowski and what he brings to the table as the two have signed to the same class.

“I think his arm strength is great,” Chatman said of the Old Bridge-turned-IMG Academy quarterback.

But that certainly won’t stop Chatman – whose father, Jermaine, played collegiately at Arizona and in the NFL for two years -- from working to realize his own dreams at High Point Solutions Stadium.

“I think it’s gonna be very good,” Chatman said. “We’re all gonna compete with each other. Good competition. Whoever gets the job gets the job.”

In fact, the two quarterbacks even interact at times, and embrace the future competition that will make the team better as a whole.

“We have (been talking) recently ever since he committed,” Chatman said. “We talked at the Michigan State game when I visited, too. It’s cool, it was nice meeting him -- he and Jalen (Jordan). But I haven’t really talked to him in detail.”

Despite the immense competition, Chatman hopes his intangibles will also help catapult him into a difference–maker on the squad.

“I think I make decisions quickly,” he said. “And I know I have a high football IQ that has helped my team pull out some tough games.”

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The Jerry Kill dilemma

Chatman’s package could be a bit different from that of his fellow position-members as his skill-set makes him unique to the rest.

“I’ll be running pretty much like RPO stuff,” he said. “Still scheme-wise with the players we have now and players we are gonna get in the future, trying to pass the ball more.”

But did the loss of former offensive coordinator Jerry Kill to retirement affect Chatman’s decision, and could it affect his role on the banks?

“I really like coach Kill a lot. He’s one of the reasons I chose Rutgers,” Chatman said. “But it doesn’t affect me at all because I know they won’t change really anything with the scheme of the offense or anything. So I’m sticking with Rutgers.”

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Touching down in Piscataway

January 11 marks the next time Chatman will touch down in Piscataway. But in the meantime, he’ll spend his days with those that mean most to him.

“I’m just trying to spend as much time with my family as possible before I leave,” he said. “Right now, I’m trying to take a break and just chill. It’s been a long year. We played 15 games with two byes.”

After winning a title in California’s second largest classification, Chatman deserves to do just that. But soon, the gloves will come off and competition will start.

Rutgers has recruited Chatman diligently despite some of the big names also joining the program. Coaches have visited him at his school, and he’s had two in-home visits from the staff – one from running backs coach Lester Erb, and another in which Ash made his presence felt.

Meanwhile, fellow signees have also kept Chatman in the fold as they have bonded over the past few months via modern technology.

“Jarret Paul, Avery Young, I talk to almost all of them. Deion Jennings,” he said. “I talk to a lot of them all the time. We’ve got a group chat.”

But now it’s time – time for action. No more talking. College football recruitment has come to an end for Chatman and the majority of Rutgers’ 2018 class which will soon get the opportunity to show just how much of a boost it can provide Rutgers in 2018 and beyond.

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Andy Mills | NJ Advance Media

Todderick Hunt may be reached at thunt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TodderickHunt. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.