[GoRU]

Rivals $

6/25

Rutgers verbal.

Surprise: Woodbury's star WR chooses Rutgers - Rutgers Football - News, training camp updates, blogs, schedule, columns and more - NJ.com

Rutgers football commitment fever is apparently contagious now.

Wide receiver Shawney Kersey, who told Allen Wallace of SuperPrep Magazine two days ago that West Virginia was solidly entrenched as his leading college choice, abruptly changed his mind and gave Rutgers a verbal commitment last night, becoming the 18th player in the Scarlet Knights' class of 2009, according to Scout.com.

The 6-2, 185-pound Kersey, who also stars in track at Woodbury High School, told Scout.com that he had a change of heart after meeting Rutgers coach Greg Schiano. Kersey is rated a three-star recruit by both Rivals.com and Scout.com and is the 49th ranked wide receiver in the country according to both.

"I like Greg Schiano and everything about him," Kersey said. "He is a real person and he is looking to help me succeed. When I talked to him it seemed like he wanted me as a person as much as a player."

Kersey is the fourth player from South Jersey in the class and said RB/WR Aaron Hayward of Penns Grove High, who committed to Rutgers last week, convinced him to join the fold.

"It's a shock," said Donald Forbes of Scout.com, who thought Kersey was West Virginia-bound.

Kersey told Scout.com he feels he fits better into Rutgers' offense than the Mountaineers' spread.

Somehow, I don't quite believe that we're only taking 20.