Well, it’s now official: Tom Savage will be playing in the Army All-American Game this January. He was the first player named to the Eastern squad. It was common knowledge that Savage had been selected for the prestigious all star game (he was chosen for the squad the day he committed to Rutgers in April, I believe), but it was made official at a press conference yesterday when Tom was presented with his game jersey. The trip to San Antonio will be Tom’s second in as many years; he won the MVP award at the junior combine last year.

Also, Sports Illustrated published an article today profiling Tom and his family. In it, he essentially re-affirms his commitment to the program and the university. Gerald Hodges also has something to say about where he stands with the Knights. Here’s an excerpt that I think all should read:

The family has not blinked since choosing Rutgers. A newspaper report saying that the coach’s contract contains a clause allowing him to leave without financial penalty if the stadium expansion, which will add 14,000 seats, is not finished by the 2009 season, does not faze them. (Rutgers A.D. Robert Mulcahy has since denied the deal exists.) They are similarly unaffected by suggestions that Schiano, who spent seven seasons in Happy Valley as a graduate assistant and assistant coach, would consider the Penn State job if and when Joe Paterno retires. Savage’s father, who hunts with six Penn State season ticket holders, dismisses such talk as speculative. Having turned down the Miami and Michigan head coaching positions in successive winters, Schiano has collected his best class or commitments to date. “I’m going there based on what this recruiting class can do” says Gerald Hodges, a four-star safety from Paulsboro, N.J., who committed to Rutgers last summer. “Nothing else concerns us.”

The recruiting gains have not masked the on-field losses, though. Last month, during another Thursday night game, Schiano’s team was routed by unranked North Carolina, 44-12, dropping their record to 10-9 since the 2006 Louisville win. Already uneasy following a season-opening home loss to Fresno State, fans booed the middling Scarlet Knights before halftime and departed early in the third quarter. Savage, who attended the opener, says he’s unfazed by the jeers. Last spring, he played golf for the first time with his grandfather at the Avalon Golf Club in Cape May Court House, N.J. After hitting a shot onto another fairway, Savage, devoid of Rutgers gear, alerted the players on the hole that he was coming through. As he approached his ball, one told the 18-year-old that he “better not throw the ball at Rutgers the way he hit that one.”

Less than 24 hours after the boos cascaded down from all over Rutgers Stadium during the North Carolina debacle, Schiano drove south through stormy weather to Savage’s game at The Haverford (Pa.) School. On a night when Savage did little throwing, Schiano stood by a fence in the end zone wearing a scarlet-red rain coat. Only a few fans away from the coach, Savage’s father understood the coach’s reticence as the NCAA bars coaches from talking with recruits or their parents at games. “I wanted to say hang in there,” the senior Savage says. “I’m sure he heard that a bunch already, too.”

Unwavering in their commitment, the Savages say Schiano, whose team is 1-3 going into Saturday’s game at West Virginia, need not worry. Though a Tennessee assistant congratulated the quarterback on his commitment, he also gave him his card and told him to keep the Volunteers in mind if anything happens. Likewise, Hodges, who committed to Rutgers over Tennessee and Penn State, says coaches from both schools still contact him. “I guess they have to maintain relationships,” the younger Savage says.

Still blowing in the autumn wind outside the Savage house, the Rutgers ‘R’ is prominent on their leafy suburban street. Over the side entrance is a blue, white and yellow flag for Hofstra. The Wisconsin one is long gone. For some recruiters, the black flag means hunting season is prematurely over. For others, even the committed players are fair game, especially this time of year when the colors start to change. “I’m committed to the program,” Savage says. “Not a stadium plan or a coach.”

Remember how I said the stars of this year’s class won’t waiver in their commitment in my Bunche update yesterday? Well, there’s your proof. The two top players in the class are solid, and they will be here next summer. And as I said yesterday, if they’re here, then Bunche will be joining them.

This could be the class that puts us over the top. It’s definitely a special group of young men.