Poly Prep (Brooklyn, N.Y.) linebacker Elias Reynolds, a 6-3, 230-pound three-star recruit, has committed to Rutgers over offers from Pitt, Syracuse, Wake Forest, Maryland, UConn, Illinois, UMass, Buffalo and Illinois, as well as interest from Boston College and the University of Miami (Fla.).

Reynolds, the sixth player to commit to Rutgers' recruiting class of 2016, credited Rutgers' mantra as one of the main reasons why he chose to spend his college years in New Brunswick.

"Family," Reynolds said. "I mean, I've been to a few of the other schools, but I never was ever really among the players. I met a few of them and a few other coaching staffs and every school has it's perks. Every school's got their histories, but I just felt at home at Rutgers."

He then expanded further on his selection process, highlighting Rutgers' connections to the business world, among other things, as a plus.

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"Great education, I'm looking to major in business and they have great connections with New York and the economic world," he said. "Big Ten football. I'm looking forward to winning Big Ten championships. And family, thats the motto. It's something they not only preach. It's something that actually goes on. Since the first day I showed up to Rutgers, the staff has treated me with much love even before they offered me."

Reynolds, who projects to Sam linebacker, has been told he'll have an opportunity to earn early playing time if he can decipher the defense in a timely manner.

"They think I'm a perfect fit for their defense. They potentially see me playing pretty early," he said.

He and his support system had been contemplating him making his move over the past few weeks, but in the end, they felt it best to get it done prior to Rutgers camp.

"I've been thinking about it for a long time," he said. "I've been talking to my folks and been talking to my coaches and, you know, it seemed right — right before they get into camps and see other guys that they like."

Reynolds will not be on campus Friday for skills camp — where he first made his impression on the Rutgers staff in 2014 — as he will take his SATs this weekend.

But he's well aware that fellow Brooklyn standout Ahmed Bah, of Gand Street (Brooklyn, N.Y.), will be there, and is also set to commit to Rutgers, something he sees as a good thing.

"New York, for the most part, for a long time, has been a basketball state," he said. "But I like to think of it as kind of a football state now because there is a lot of talent on the rise, especially at Poly. And I'm pretty sure Grand Street has some good young players, too. New York, for me, in my eyes, is becoming a football state like Florida and Texas and all those states."

Reynolds' head coach Dino Mangiero, played at Rutgers (and later in the NFL), and his teammate Chris Parker will walk-on at Rutgers this summer.

Todderick Hunt may be reached at thunt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TodderickHunt. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.