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UNION CITY -- Not even one of the greatest players in Ohio State history accepts as fact that his alma mater will be at the top and Rutgers will be at the bottom of the Big Ten East Division from now until eternity.

In fact, 1995 Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George -- an analyst for SiriusXM College Sports Today -- sees Rutgers as a potential long-term threat beyond just the Big Ten landscape.

"I think they can compete on a national level," George said. "They have. When they played in the Big East, they were ranked in the top (10) at one point in time. They are not foreign to having those experiences. It's nothing new to this program.

"They are just in the middle of redefining who they are and finding the right leadership to get it done. You have to be able to win (recruiting battles) in-state. You have to be able to show these kids the pride you are trying to build at Rutgers."

George was exposed to New Jersey football Thursday at Union City High School as he was on hand to promote Russell Athletic's new "Team On" brand. He demonstrated football drills to players and media members alike.

The Russell Athletic campaign's marketing slogan is "Settle Your Score" and is built around the 101 high school football teams in the nation that lost a state championship game by seven points or fewer in 2015.

George spoke of rebounding from the agony of his Tennessee Titans falling one yard short on the final play of Super Bowl XXXIV. Rutgers has a score to settle after posting a 4-8 record last season and being picked to finish last in the East in 2016.

"They've had the Ray Rices, the Kenny Britts come through," George said. "They've had NFL-caliber athletes. The question is: Can you be consistent? I don't believe that (mentality of), 'We are the Sisters of the Poor and can't compete against the Ohio States and so forth.' You just have to build a winning program and they will come."

George's opinion carries some extra weight because Ohio State is the program that first-year Rutgers coach Chris Ash is modeling in his every move. Ash previously was defensive coordinator for two seasons under coach Urban Meyer, who suggested his protege take the Rutgers job.

"He's been given a blueprint of success -- and that's not just recruiting," George said. "It's a culture you create, a certain expectation that you have when you walk into a facility.

"I think Chris has done an amazing job through his career -- at Wisconsin, went to Arkansas, at Ohio State learning under Urban -- and now he can take all those learning experiences and build Rutgers the way he wants to from the inside out."

One of Ash's mantras is that Rutgers will be a competitive developmental program, and it is a pet peeve of his when people assume that Ohio State's five-star recruits do not need much work.

"You have to keep those kids in-state that are considered three- and four-star guys," George said. "I think the key is going to be developing and not expecting a finished product. I think Chris understands the challenges behind that.

"Ohio State stands with its brand and automatically attracts the greatest athletes, but you have to create a program in which you can develop these kids into what you want them to be. Much like (Mark) Dantonio did at Michigan State."

While Rutgers can't copy Ohio State's illustrious history, it can copy one of the things that makes it stand out, George said.

"You have to understand who you are: Not necessarily adapt to the way the Big Ten is, but have them adapt to who you are going to be," George said. "How you play football, your offensive and defensive styles, all of that is just window dressing.

"The belief is that we have a strong program -- we're a mentally tough program inside and out -- and you build around that identity. It's establishing the identity, and then recruiting the necessary guys to build out the character."

Ryan Dunleavy may be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.