‘Who can I vibe with?’ A special connection on the defensive side of the ball for four-star running back Jason Patterson
Jason Patterson is done taking his official visits as the Florida running back is closing in on a decision date. In June, Patterson took an official visit to Rutgers football, part of a whirlwind month where he also checked out a total of five Power Five programs.
Ranked a four-star by ESPN.com, Patterson had 2,721 rushing yards last season with 35 touchdowns for Sneads High School (Sneads, FL). He is fast, with a 10.97 time in the 100 meters during spring track.
He has taken a visit to all five programs that made his final cutdown Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Rutgers, Cincinnati and Boston College.Patterson is done taking his official visits.
“I’m getting closer, I wouldn’t say I’ve wrapped it up,” Patterson told Rutgers Wire.
“I’m getting there. I’m just really evaluating right now. I’m keeping it at five.
“I don’t have a date, I’m trying to get it before the season. I don’t have a date. Probably early August.”
Patterson’s first official visit was to Rutgers in early June. The visit went along well and made a good impression out the gate for the recruit as he got to further know head coach Greg Schiano and running backs coach Damiere Shaw.
“The Rutgers visit, it was the first one. It set the bar high, it set the bar high,” Patterson said.
“Because of how they made me feel. The whole staff really and truly make you feel like you’re at home.”
He is looking for a program where he can grow on the field and be developed. But he is prioritizing relationships as a major part of what matters to him.
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When asked what he is looking for in a future school, Patterson laid out two priorities for the football side of things.
“Where I feel I can develop on and off the field and just continue the relationship I have,” Patterson said.
“In college, you’re around them all the time. Who can I vibe with all the time? Which the Rutgers staff, I can vibe with the whole staff. I’m very, very close with coach Harasymiak, and he coaches the defense.”
The connection with Rutgers is intriguing. Last year, defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak was at Sneads’ final game, a playoff loss at Blountstown. Patterson has no idea why Harasmyiak was there or who sent him his tape.
Had Sneads won the game, they would have played Hawthorne the next week, the program that Rutgers commit Mozell Williams was on. That’s the only connection that Patterson can make as to why Harasymiak could have been in the area.
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But it began a relationship that now sees the Scarlet Knights positioned in Patterson’s top five.
“Rutgers doesn’t have my area, I’m in the middle of nowhere. No one has my area. His area is three hours from me in Jacksonville. His area is three hours from me, but he is the closest one to me. He found out about me, and sent my tape to coach Shaw,” Patterson said.
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