Rutgers Football has secured its first running back commitment for the 2027 recruiting class, and it's a big get from the Palmetto State. Three-star prospect Trenton Lynch, a standout from Spartanburg High School in South Carolina, announced his pledge to the Scarlet Knights following an official visit in April, as first reported by The Knight Report.

At 5-foot-9 and 195 pounds, Lynch is a compact, powerful back who put up impressive numbers during his junior season. He rushed 130 times for 1,204 yards and 17 touchdowns, while also proving to be a reliable weapon out of the backfield with 37 receptions for 356 yards and two more scores through the air. His versatility makes him a perfect fit for a modern offense that values dual-threat running backs.

Lynch's recruitment was heating up fast. He held offers from several Power Four programs, including Boston College, Cincinnati, Maryland, Syracuse, and Wake Forest. While he still has an official visit scheduled to Cincinnati this summer, the expectation is that he'll shut down his recruitment soon. His official visit to Rutgers is set for Friday, June 5th, which should solidify his commitment.

This is a huge win for Rutgers running backs coach Damiere Shaw, who has quickly built a reputation as one of the top developers of talent in the Big Ten. Shaw helped mold Kyle Monangai into one of the conference's elite backs, then seamlessly transitioned that success to Antwan Raymond. With Lynch now in the fold, Shaw has another talented, hard-working prospect to add to the pipeline—a player who could very well follow in those footsteps and become the next great Scarlet Knight in the backfield.