4-star SAF Tariq Hayer commits to Rutgers
Greg Schiano’s staff at Rutgers landed its highest-rated player of the 2025 recruiting cycle Sunday evening.
Upper Marlboro (Md.) St. John’s four-star safety Tariq Hayer announced his commitment to the Scarlet Knights on social media.
Hayer took his official visit to Rutgers ahead of his announcement this weekend. He previously took an official visit to Cincinnati last week and has trips set to Michigan State and Maryland going forward.
Hayer told On3 in April that he was looking to commit around July 4, but that depended on the feel of his official visits.
The 5-foot-11.5, 181-pound Hayer is the nation’s No. 204 overall prospect, No. 18 safety and No. 2 recruit from Washington D.C. in the 2025 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
He’s the nation’s No. 156 overall recruit and No. 17 safety in the 2025 On300.
Hayer is the top-rated prospect now in Rutgers’ 2025 recruiting class. He joins Muskegon (Mich.) four-star offensive tackle N’Kye Wynn as the second On300 blue-chip recruit to pledge to the Scarlet Knights.
Warner Robins (Ga.) Northside three-star cornerback Michael Clayton and Hillside (N.J.) three-star linebacker Talibi Kaba also rank as top-500 prospects.