Rutgers will bring on a new punter in walk-on transfer Marquiso Jean, a product of Orange, N.J. Jean is also a former punter at Alcorn State where he spent three years and then had plans to transfer into Rutgers.

“My intentions were to get a release from my old school and sit out a season and then play for coach Flood. But he got fired and plan was not going so well,” Jean said. “I went to Alcorn State originally because it was my only full offer. So I gave it a chance. I always wanted to transfer over to Rutgers.”

Last season will satisfy Jean’s requirement of sitting out a year per NCAA transfer rules.

Through the last fall and winter, Jean continued to work out while waiting for his chance to punt at Rutgers. But he needed to convince the new coaching staff once Flood was shown the door.

“My One on One kicking coach, Luke Gaddis, is in contact with special teams coach [Vince] Okruch," Jean said. "He kept in contact and told me when Rutgers was having their spring tryout that I should come out for the team."

Jean then participated in a walk-on tryout session.

“I was nervous at first. But my mindset was to get these coaches to realize how good I can get this ball out,” Jean said. “But it was like a football game, I just focused on what I had to do and hit the ball well.”

And the reality that he is now a Scarlet Knight is still very new to Jean.

“It still has not hit me yet. I am the only guy they chose so they really want me to have a chance to compete on their football team,” Jean said. “It is still overwhelming”

The 6-foot, 208-pounder will not assume any kicking duties outside of punting and is looking ahead to his final season on the gridiron as a Scarlet Knight.

“My relationship with the coaches is great, but it’s not just the coaches. It’s the training staff, the compliance, they get stuff done at a speed I was not expecting. They are getting stuff done every day; whether it is the trainers calling me, compliance telling me to finish this paper and coaches telling me what I need to do before spring practice. Now, I will be ready to go for spring practice.”