The expected transfer to Rutgers by South Carolina defensive back Sheldon Royster -- a four-star recruit at St. Peter's Prep in Jersey City -- became official today when the 6-1, 200-pounder was a non-contact participant at the Scarlet Knights' practice.

Royster, who will sit out this year per transfer rules, will have three seasons of eligibility.

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"We're excited to add Sheldon Royster to our team and get him out here practicing with us," Rutgers coach Kyle Flood said following today's practice, held in the school's indoor facility. "Sheldon is somebody we spent a lot of time with during the recruiting process and we're glad to welcome him back to New Jersey."

Flood said he was unsure whether Royster, a Woodbridge native, would play safety or corner.

"We always felt he was a dynamic player and somebody who could play corner or safety," Flood said. "We don't know which one he will ultimately become, but we thought he would be an excellent player for us."

Royster, who had a helmet on during practice but was held out of drills, is "going through an acclimatization period for us right now," Flood said.

"He's not even on the scout team yet," he added. "Today he just had a helmet on and he'll do the same tomorrow. By next week we'll progress him into pads. I don't want to put him out there the first day. He needs to learn a little bit how we practice and how we do things or I don't know if it would work the way we want it to."

Royster joins a St. Peter's Prep heavy Rutgers roster that includes running back Savon Huggins and offensive tackle Keith Lumpkin, both classmates.

Though Royster was rated the nation's No. 7 safety nationally by Scout.com and No. 12 by Rivals.com as a high school senior, Flood isn't sure yet whether he will be tried at corner or safety.

"It could be one or the other," said Flood. "I don't know that yet. Until you get a player live in your program it's hard to tell which one. We thought on film in high school that he could do either."

-- Defensive lineman Max Issaka, who missed the entire preseason while attending a funeral in Ghana, returned to practice today. The redshirt freshman was in pads for the first time.

"He looked good," Flood said.

A decision on whether Issaka will see any time in Saturday's home opener against Howard will probably be made Wednesday, Flood said.

-- Mixed news on the injury front.

Starting tight end Paul Carrezola (high ankle sprain) "ran around pretty good" at practice, Flood said. Carrezola missed the opener because of the injury.

"We don't have him doing any football stuff, just what we call 'metabolics,'" Flood said. "But we're encouraged. We'll see how he kind of recuperates from that and we'll check him out tomorrow."

WR/DB/KR Jeremy deering "turned his ankle," and left practice early, but Flood said the injury did not appear to be serious.

Nose tackle Al Page (ankle and leg injury) and DE Marvin Booker (lower leg) remain out.

Flood termed Page "questionable for this week for sure," and said Booker remains "day to day."

Tom Luicci: tluiici@starledger.com; twitter.com/tomluicci