Recapping a big recruiting run for Rutgers Wrestling

Rutgers wrestling head coach Scott Goodale — CREDIT: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

It’s been a significant few weeks for the Rutgers Wrestling program. Five new commits joined the fold since October 10th, with two more top ranked prospects announcing their decisions this past week.

The Scarlet Knights have added top ranked recruits from New Jersey, Pennsylvania and even added another prospect from California as well. With all that being said, let’s take a look at the newest future Scarlet Knights.

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2026 – Charlie Esposito – 113lbs (St. Joe’s Regional – NJ)

Esposito is all set for his senior season starting up over the next few weeks, as he currently boasts a record of 35-9 throughout his high school career.

He is a two-time NJSIAA state placer, while finishing in fifth place at 106-pounds as a sophomore and was the state’s runner up at 113-pounds last year as a junior.

2026 – CJ Huerta – 132lbs (Buchanan – CA)

Rutgers has decided to start to recruit more nationally recently and that means going all the way across the country for their latest recruit.

Huerta just recently finished in sixth place the Super 32 Tournament down in North Carolina, which has become one of the most prestigious high school wrestling tournaments in the country every year.

As far as rankings go, Huerta is currently ranked No. 13 in the nation at 132-pounds per Mat Scouts.

2027 Justin Farnsworth – 113lbs (Malvern Prep – PA)

Moving on to the 2027 recruiting class, Rutgers landed a big one recent in Justin Farnsworth out of Pennsylvania. The Malvern Prep product was a Prep National Finalist and also a double finalist at the Fargo National Wrestling Tournament.

Farnsworth is ranked No. 5 in the country at his weight per MatScouts.

2027 Ryan DeGeorge – 132lbs (Delbarton – NJ)

Another 2027 class addition, DeGeorge has been phenomenal in recent years as he’s posted an overall record of 33-9 so far in his high school career.

As a freshman in 2024, he was the New Jersey state champ at 126-pounds and followed that up finishing at the runner-up at 132-pounds last season.

He is currently ranked No. 11 overall in the country at 144-pounds.

2027 Lukas Zalota – 285lbs (Malvern Prep – PA)

Last, but not least, Rutgers also landed one of the top heavyweights in the country in the 2027 class, in Lukas Zalota who is also from Malvern Prep.

Zalota currently has a record of 59-18 throughout his high school career and was recently ranked the No. 9 overall heavyweight in the country, but has since received the injury designated per MatScouts.