Rutgers Miles Shuler.JPG

Receiver Miles Shuler will transfer from Rutgers.

(David Manning for the Star Ledger)

UPDATED: 12:55 PM AFTER SPEAKING WITH SHULER

Miles Shuler will transfer from Rutgers, head coach Kyle Flood announced today. Shuler, a four-star recruit out of Long Branch, will leave the school after two nondescript years in the program.

"I just feel like I have a better future at a different school," Shuler told The Star-Ledger when reached by phone. "Don't get me wrong, I love Rutgers, I love the University, I love the team, I went through training camp and they're going to do really well against Fresno State and have a great season this year."

Shuler has already been contacted by several schools, saying his phone has been buzzing all day. At this point he is looking at "a lot of schools" and has his eyes on moving west to California -- his mother's side of the family resides in San Diego.

He seems assured in not dropping a level.

"I'm 100 percent going to another BCS school," Shuler said.

At Rutgers, Shuler struggled. He failed to catch any passes his freshman season despite playing in seven games. As a sophomore last season, Shuler caught five passes for 71 yards and ran the ball once for 25 yards.

He entered training camp caught in the depth chart amid a slew of receivers. With the presence of Brandon Coleman, Quron Pratt and the expected emergence of Leonte Carroo, Shuler's role was uncertain.

"For us there was no uncertainty about he would have fit in," Flood said. "He would have had a fairly significant role here. That role would have been a combination of kickoff return, it would have been a combination of punt block. It would have been a flyer on punt and kickoff coverage. A role on offense.

"In the end, for Miles, it wasn't really the role he was looking for. We discussed a couple different options. But he felt this was something he needed to do. I respect that and I wish him well."

Shuler would not elaborate on what Flood meant when he said he offered the junior different opportunities, only saying "I feel like I have an opportunity at a different school."

Flood said that Ruhann Peele and Janarion Grant will have an opportunity to fill Shuler's spot.



Shuler came to Rutgers with some acclaim, having earned high marks from scouting services and coming with superlative speed. He won state titles in the 100-meter and 55-meter dashes as a high school sprinter.

He came into college without a clear cut position, after playing quarterback and defensive back at Long Branch. Still, at 5-foot-10, Shuler was seen as the 10th best athlete in the country coming out of high school, according to CBS Sports.

"I was brought in here for a reason,"Shuler said during training camp entering his freshman year. "They already have the big, tall, freaky receivers. They need that speedster guy, not just in the slot but at all the wide receiver positions. That's what I can bring."