There was a mystery surrounding Penn State's controversial hiring of E.J. Barthel.

Now, the only mystery may be whether the former Rutgers recruiting coordinator will be welcomed back to New Jersey.

Barthel, who was hired by Penn State coach James Franklin last spring as the program's recruiting coordinator, rankled the Rutgers fan base by apparently trolling the Scarlet Knights with a tweet.

So much love for Jersey around here! We might be more Jersey than you! — EJ Barthel (@CoachEJbarthel) November 9, 2017

While Franklin has avoided the headline-grabbing quotes that tend to become bulletin-board material leading up to Saturday's 12 p.m. showdown with Rutgers in State College, Pa., Barthel hasn't been shy about trolling his former program.

Only thing that matters right now!

1-0 this week! #ChopRutgers pic.twitter.com/IdYGu7EzgS — EJ Barthel (@CoachEJbarthel) November 7, 2017

"Chop'' was Rutgers' long-time mantra under former Rutgers coaches Greg Schiano and Kyle Flood, but was shelved by current Scarlet Knights coach Chris Ash, who fired Barthel as recruiting coordinator not long after his arrival in December 2015.

A former Rutgers fullback in the early 2000s, Barthel spent the 2015 season as the Scarlet Knights' recruiting coordinator, but his tenure was marred by his involvement with a recruiting office that was cited in a series of NCAA rules violations.

Two of Rutgers' hosts in the football student-ambassador program had "impermissible recruiting contact" with several potential recruits at an off-campus restaurant and in a university dorm, according to the NCAA allegations.

While Barthel was not named in the NCAA report, his title is. The report alleged "a then football director of recruiting commented publicly ... and publicized visits to the institution's campus of at least 19 then football prospective student-athletes on social media.''

During his Rutgers tenure, it was against the rules for any member of a football staff to publicize a recruit before signing. Barthel was cleared of wrongdoing by the NCAA, according to a letter obtained by NJ Advance Media last spring.

Here is the letter from NCAA that says @CoachEJbarthel is "not at-risk for individual penalties'' in Rutgers case https://t.co/MZydhs09ST pic.twitter.com/KKUZd9Tyj1 — Keith Sargeant (@KSargeantNJ) March 29, 2017

In September, Rutgers received minor sanctions from the NCAA as part of a wide-ranging series of infractions, including a probation on contacting recruits via social media for a one-week period during the 2017-18 academic year.

Barthel's "more Jersey than you'' tweet created a firestorm of responses from Rutgers fans.

I get that you recruit for the school in PA, and you have job to do, I 100% understand that. But I don't understand being a sale out and trolling the school you played for and coached. — Lance Bolden (@biglb3234) November 9, 2017

Um, that place will never be more Jersey than anywhere. — David Paich (@DavidDPaich) November 9, 2017

You're an adult aren't you? You come across as pretty bitter. If it wasn't for "jersey" you wouldn't be where you are. — RuFan09 (@RuFan09) November 9, 2017

Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KSargeantNJ. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.