Rutgers just landed its first commitment in the 2027 recruiting class - and it’s a homegrown talent with serious upside.
Sydney Padilla, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound tight end out of West Orange High School, announced his commitment to the Scarlet Knights on Friday night. The in-state product brings both size and versatility to the table, and he’s the kind of early commit that gives Rutgers fans a reason to start paying attention to the next wave of talent.
According to the 247Sports Composite, Padilla is ranked as the 30th-best tight end in the 2027 class and carries a three-star rating. That may not jump off the page just yet, but his on-field production and physical traits paint a picture of a player with a high ceiling. He’s already been recognized as one of the top players in New Jersey - NJ.com slotted him at No. 24 in the state earlier this fall - and his impact on both sides of the ball for West Orange makes it easy to see why.
This past season, Padilla was a two-way force. On offense, he hauled in two touchdown passes, showing flashes of what he can do as a pass-catching tight end.
But it was his work on defense that really stood out. He racked up 36 tackles - 10 of them for loss - along with six sacks, helping lead the Mountaineers to a strong 9-3 finish and a trip to the North 1, Group 5 state sectional final.
That kind of production earned him second-team all-state honors as a defensive end. His length and athleticism made him a nightmare off the edge, consistently disrupting opposing backfields.
But it’s that same frame and athletic profile that makes him such an intriguing tight end prospect at the next level. He’s already shown he can win on fade routes and create mismatches - traits that translate well to the college game.
Padilla held offers from Boston College, Liberty, Syracuse, and West Virginia, but ultimately chose to stay in New Jersey and join Greg Schiano’s program. For Rutgers, it’s a win on multiple fronts: they keep a top in-state prospect home, add a versatile athlete to the mix, and get an early building block for the 2027 class.
There’s still a long way to go before Padilla suits up in scarlet, but the foundation is there. He’s got the frame, the motor, and the skill set to develop into a real weapon at the college level - and Rutgers just got a head start on shaping its future.