College choice final hurdle for Irmo's Greene

Mustafa Greene has whittled down his picks to Rutgers or N.C. State

This is a day and age when football recruiting is a sport within itself. High school stars are whisked around the country on unofficial and official visits and given rock star status before they set foot on a college campus.

Irmo running back Mustafa Greene's recruitment went a little bit different than most. After not getting much interest from the two instate BCS conference schools, the Yellow Jackets' standout took visits to North Carolina State and Rutgers, and those two schools are vying for his services.

Greene thought he had everything figured out until getting visits last week from Rutgers coach Greg Schiano on Wednesday and N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien on Thursday. Now he expects to make a decision sometime before National Signing Day next Wednesday.

"I just found out some things and have to do some more research," Greene said Friday. "It's something I should have already done. I need a couple of more days now."

The tale of Greene's recruitment is a surprise to some in recruiting circles. He only got a sniff from South Carolina and Clemson, and many felt that the Gamecocks put all their emphasis on Marcus Lattimore, the highly touted running back from Brynes.

"I heard from (USC) early on with letters and stuff but really no personal contact with them," Greene said. "If USC had come after me stronger, it probably would have made a difference."

Greene also was recruited by Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina but never took visits to those schools. N.C. State and Rutgers were the only visits, and he has been set on those two for some time now.

Greene is currently torn by what he is being told by the two programs. Rutgers has said he would come in and start even though the Scarlet Knights already have eight running backs on the roster and commitments from two others.

The Wolfpack have four players listed at Greene's position, and they have told him he could come in and compete for the starting job next year after the departure of their two leading rushers.

"Both schools have a good depth chart of backs right now, but one has a little shorter list" Greene said. "I have to think about some things."

A four-star prospect by Rivals.com, Greene missed nearly all of six games his senior season but rushed for 1,367 yards and 18 touchdowns in eight games. He averaged over 8 yards per carry and could turn into a high-carry back at the next level.

While he didn't take all five of his official visits, the final decision between the two schools has been pressured-packed.

Greene said the decision will ultimately be his, but he is a native New Yorker and signing with Rutgers could help his family move back north.

"I like the schools I've visited," Greene said. "It's just really going to come down to where I will feel most comfortable the next four years. Maybe I should have taken more visits, but picking between two has been hard enough."