Lambert Decides to Stay Close to Home

Quanzell Lambert chose New Jersey over the Midwest.

He chose the Big East over the Big Ten.

On Thursday afternoon, inside a packed library at Timber Creek Regional High School, Lambert announced he will continue his education and football career at Rutgers University.

It came down to Rutgers, Nebraska and Iowa for the 6-foot-2, 245-pound Lambert, who is widely considered the top linebacker in New Jersey's Class of 2012.

The fact that time on the gridiron won't interfere with his academics—Rutgers practices in the early morning, while the laboratory sessions for the engineering classes he plans to take throughout his collegiate career are held in the afternoon—was key in his decision-making process.

"My father is a strong believer in academics. Every moment you're in class, you learn something. That's what he believes," Lambert said. "He didn't want me to miss class to go to football. You don't put football over education."

Lambert believes he can help coach Greg Schiano build a South Jersey pipeline to Rutgers, and he plans to try to convince some Timber Creek players to follow him to New Brunswick.

"Some people look up to other players. If they see you be successful, that's what they'll want to do," Lambert said. "I'm a firm believer in following, because in order to lead, you must follow sometimes."

For Herbert Lambert, it's a relief to know his son has finally announced his college decision.

"He can move on, and continue what he needs to do. Enjoy the remaining time he has left at Timber Creek," he said.

As the father of a highly recruited athlete, Herbert Lambert learned early on in the process that he and his son would have to look past the various pitches from coaches about what made their school the best option. It took research. It took careful evaluation.

Academics "is the key. That's where the success is going to come from," he said.

Lambert certainly has been successful on the football field.

Scout.com has the 6-foot-2, 245-pound Lambert ranked as the No. 12 middle linebacker in the national Class of 2012. The scouting service has Lambert ranked as the top-rated middle linebacker from New Jersey.

Timber Creek head coach Rob Hinson believes Lambert made the right choice.

The Big East "is a BCS conference and one where Rutgers has a chance each year pretty much to go to BCS game, especially with recruiting classes like they're possibly anticipating this year," he said. "If you want to come home and work in the Northeast or New Jersey, the alumni network is around, and the facilities are insane. ... If you really take a look at it, it's like, 'Wow, this is everything a kid could want.'"

Hinson also believes Rutgers just won the star of its 2012 recruiting class.

"They're getting, in my opinion, the top linebacker in the country," he said.

Lambert cannot sign a letter of intent to officially commit to Rutgers until Feb. 1, the NCAA's national signing day.

It has been quite a week for the standout Timber Creek linebacker, who led his Chargers teammates to a South Jersey Group 3 title in early December. He competed in the JuniorRank Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl, in Phoenix, Tuesday before making his college choice public Thursday afternoon.