'08 NJ OL Art Forst (Rutgers Verbal)

[osugrad21]

'08 NJ OL Art Forst



Offensive tackle
Manasquan (NJ) Manasquan

Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 288 lbs
Forty: 5.4 secs
Bench max: 300 pounds
Squat max: 455 pounds

Rivals - 05/09/07

Art's top three are Notre Dame, Florida, and Rutgers (all offered)

RP Discussion Links: Florida, Notre Dame, Michigan, Northwestern, Tennessee

[GoRU]

Courier News Online - RUTGERS: Schiano adds Manasquan's Forst to 2008 class

7/29

Originally Posted by Courier News

Art Forst wanted to wait before committing to the college football team of his choice. The original plan, the Manasquan High School rising senior lineman said, was to take five official campus visits before finalizing his decision. But a funny thing happened when he evaluated the decision this past weekend.

"Honestly, I didn't see myself at any school other than Rutgers," said Forst, who notified Scarlet Knights football coach Greg Schiano late Saturday evening of his decision to join the Scarlet Knights' 2008 recruiting class.

Forst, a 6-foot-8, 305-pound offensive tackle, chose Rutgers over more than a dozen scholarship offers. But ultimately, he said, he didn't want to string out the other schools that sought his service -- namely defending national champion Florida and Notre Dame.

"Basically I didn't want to waste the University of Florida's and Notre Dame's time anymore," said Forst, a four-star (out of five) prospect according to scout.com and rivals.com and a consensus top-five New Jersey recruit. "I thought the world of Notre Dame's coaches, especially (offensive line) Coach Latina. I just didn't see myself at Notre Dame."

Forst is believed to be one of Schiano's top targets in the '08 class. He's the seventh recruit to pledge, and he joins a group that's shaping up to be even better than Rutgers' consensus top-30 class of this year.

"I know they brought in a lot of quality linemen this past recruiting class," Forst said. "I think one trait I have is the desire to not let anyone outwork me. I'm not going to shy away from hard work."

Forst said he envisions the day when he's bookending Anthony Davis, the highly touted lineman from Piscataway who will join the Scarlet Knights when they report to camp this Thursday, on Rutgers' offensive line in the future.

"Coach Schiano, when he was recruiting me, said something interesting," Forst said. "He told me when he was at Miami, the most grueling day of the week wasn't Saturday. It was Tuesdays and Wednesdays because there was so much depth and the second and third teams were a lot times as good as the teams they were playing."

For now, Forst is looking forward to the start of Manasquan's camp Aug. 13.

"We're going to be very good this year," he said

[osugrad21]

Link

Rutgers gets verbal from Manasquan OT



Monday, July 30, 2007 BY ALEX DELANIAN

Star-Ledger Staff
The allure of Rutgers' breakout 2006 season continues to pay dividends on the recruiting front.
Art Forst, an offensive lineman out of Manasquan, verbally committed to the Scarlet Knights this past weekend, turning down dogged pursuits by Florida and Notre Dame in the process. The 6-foot-8, 288-pounder gives coach Greg Schiano some newfound bulk on the front line in the class of 2008.

Forst, who can't sign a national letter of intent until next February, is one of the most coveted offensive lineman in his class, ranking 15th on Scout.com's offensive tackle rankings and 20th on Rivals.com. As a junior, he helped lead Manasquan High School to a state championship, clearing the way for a 2,000-yard and 1,000-yard rusher from the left tackle position.
Rutgers' 2008 class now boasts two Rivals four-star recruits: Forst, and defensive tackle Scott Vallone from Central Islip, N.Y., another intimidating figure at 6-foot-3, 255 pounds. The commitment mirrors the decision of Class of 2007 recruit Anthony Davis from Piscataway High School, choosing to stay in state despite offers from Florida State, Miami, Ohio State and USC.
Now, the two might end up anchoring the Scarlet Knights' offensive line, boasting more than 600 pounds of combined power.
Both commitments represent a growing trend of staying in the state. Last year, Rutgers landed six of the top 15 recruits in the state, including Davis. Forst was also pursued by Boston College, Maryland and Virginia, but chose to stay close to home, bypassing the folklore of the Fighting Irish and the championship high of the Gators.
The official commitment was far from a snap decision. In March, he told USA Today that "if I had to sign today, I'd sign with Rutgers," noting that the 40-minute drive and excitement from the 2006 season made the school an exciting place to be.
Forst could not be reached for comment.

[GoRU]

Rivals $

11/16

Plans to enroll early.

[GoRU]

Rutgers getting early returns | APP.com | Asbury Park Press

"I can't tell you how many college coaches would come in, sit in my office and leave here saying, "I never met anyone like that,' " Manasquan High School coach Pete Cahill said. "Every coach that came in commented on what a unique individual he is."

Yet, Cahill concedes the coaches weren't there to take in Forst's gregarious personality.

"Their jaws would just drop the first time they saw Art," Cahill said. "I remember one coach from Michigan State left here saying, "That's what offensive linemen are supposed to look like.' "

If Forst looks the part of a mountainous lineman, he doesn't exactly act the part. Prior to an interview at the Rutgers' Hale Center last week, Forst shook hands with a reporter and quipped, "I'm an offensive lineman. People aren't supposed to know my name."

Then, for the next 20 minutes Forst held court.

"People overrate the recruiting process, like it's so bad," Forst said. " "Wow, people actually want you to get your college education and play for them.' Like come on, the recruiting process was a drain? How? If a coach calls and you're busy, you just respectfully say I'm occupied.

"Like my dad says, "Hey Art, you can tell your kids that people actually wanted you.' "

Forst's final four schools came down to Rutgers, Florida, Tennessee and Virginia.

"Really, could I have made a bad decision?" he asked rhetorically.

Yet, he chose to stick close to home not only because he was afforded the luxury of enrolling early, but for the likelihood of playing as a true freshman. With three of the five spots on Rutgers' line up for grabs, Forst has a realistic shot of making the two-deep at tackle with a quality spring camp.

Cahill believes Forst will gain plenty from being instructed by Rutgers' coaches on a daily basis.

"I know it's a cliche," Manasquan's coach said, "but Art really is a student of the game. He wants to learn about it, improve on his skills, and if he has a weakspot in his game, you better believe he'll ask the right questions to fix it."