On Thursday, Rutgers signed a Big Ten tender contract with Jon Bateky, a three-star defensive end from Poolesville, Maryland. He chose Rutgers despite other offers from Boston College, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Old Dominion and more colleges.
Not only does the tender restrict him from attending any other Big Ten school without losing two years of eligibility, it also ensures a scholarship for Bateky upon his enrollment.
“It feels great to know that I’m officially done and nothing can be taken back,” Bateky told NJ.com. “It’s just a great feeling and now I’m ready just to focus on what’s going on, right now.”
The Big ten tender is similar to the National Letter of Intent signed by prospective student-athletes on National Signing Day.
Rutgers has been courting Bateky since earlier this year, with defensive line coach Jim Panagos heading the sales pitch. The staff plans to utilize the 6’4″, 245 lb defensive end in multiple positions on the defensive front.
“They like my tenacity and my never quit attitude, the way I go in every play and go all out,” said Bateky. “I play the game with physicality. I never let anybody be more physical than me on the line.”
He is the 14th pledge to join the recruiting class of 2015, and plans to graduate early and enroll at Rutgers in January of next year.
