NEW BRUNSWICK -- Nick Suriano changed schools, not his goals nor his trademark intensity.

Wearing a Rutgers shirt over his new black singlet and standing outside of the wrestling team's practice room in the College Avenue Gym basement, one of New Jersey's all-time great wrestlers gave off a vibe that he wanted to run through a brick wall or chop through a cement block.

"This is my home. These are my people," Suriano said Friday as Rutgers officially introduced its newest star. "I trust everybody on the support staff here, my coaches, my (training) partners.

"I have everything I need right here. I don't have to run. There is no magic answer or pill or potion. It's hard work. It comes down to heart and mind and wanting. That's what I've got."

Suriano enrolled at Rutgers this week as a transfer from Penn State, where he was a national title contender as a true freshman until a season-ending ankle injury. The Big Ten approved a waiver Sunday allowing Suriano to be immediately eligible with three years of eligibility remaining.

"I wasn't happy there," Suriano said. "I found through a tragic time with my injury and the way my season ended, I wasn't happy with how things were dealt with.

"I'm not going to get into it. For the critics, it's none of their business. I'm here at Rutgers. I'm here in New Jersey. Everyone here is supportive of me. This is my choice and I'm going to run with it. I'm here for one thing only, and that's to make history."

Rutgers coach Scott Goodale said that Suriano's work ethic will instantly impact the training room that is home to at least five All-American hopefuls.

"He doesn't have to prove himself," Goodale said. "He's one of the best kids in the country. He will lead by example and the way he works. It's business. When he goes through those doors, it's tunnel vision. That's how the best ones are."

The 125-pounder, who started off 17-1 last season before forfeiting out of the Big Ten and NCAA Championships, was ranked as high as No. 2 nationally and beat eventual NCAA champion Darian Cruz of Lehigh during the regular season.

Rutgers wrestling has never had a national finalist, but has posted Top 20 finishes at the NCAA Championships and two All-Americans in back-to-back seasons for the first time, and has improved its Big Ten dual record in each of its first three years in the conference.

"NCAA champion this season. That's the main goal," Suriano said. "I want to build this program. I want to bring Rutgers up the ranks, not just me."

In order to make history, Suriano will need a fully healthy ankle. He spent the summer training with the independently operated Scarlet Knights Wrestling Club before pursuing a transfer.

"I'm 100 percent," Suriano said. "The best thing I ever did was get no surgery. Didn't need it. I feel better than I did before I got injured. I've got a clear mind. I learned a lot last season."

At Bergen Catholic High School, Suriano became only the second undefeated four-time NJSIAA champion. He is joining the only other (redshirt senior Anthony Ashnault) and reuniting with high school teammates Jordan Pagano, Kevin Mulligan, Joseph Grello and Peter Lipari at Rutgers.

"I think nothing changes," Suriano said. "The goals don't change. The approach is a little more -- little harder, little faster, little more explosive, little more physical.

"I'm coming back with a vengeance. I had a title stripped from me, an opportunity stripped from me. That's life. I took it on the chin and had to sit it out. I'm back this year to win a title. Nothing shy of that."

Suriano described his anticipated Rutgers debut Nov. 4 in an outdoor match against Maryland at Yankee Stadium as a "life-changing experience." He was politically correct on the Jan. 28 matchup against Penn State -- which declined a closed-doors request to support his immediately eligibility waiver -- by calling it "just another match."

"Out of high school, I thought I needed to be at the best place, a Penn State-kind of place," Suriano said. "It served me well. I learned from it. But I found out who I really am. That's not who I was. I'm a Jersey guy. I had to make a change."

For the casual Rutgers fan suddenly interested in Rutgers -- season tickets have climbed over 1,500, according to athletics -- why did USA TODAY put Suriano in the same conversation as Lebron James as far as high school dominance? Technique and athleticism.

"He is stingy," Goodale said. "He doesn't want to give up a position, he doesn't want to give up a point. He's very difficult to score on. And he's added offense. He's one of the best athletes I've coached."

Suriano leaves behind college wrestling's premier program, with six of the last seven NCAA team titles and five returning individual national champions. He sounded set on transferring to Rutgers regardless of the waiver outcome.

"I knew this is where I wanted to be," Suriano said. "It just so happened that the Big Ten thankfully decided on this (waiver). I think I deserved to compete this season. It's only fair, especially with the circumstances I had to go through. We'll be competing this season. That's all that matters. This season at Yankee Stadium I'll be wrestling a Rutgers singlet."

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