Don Bosco Prep coach Dan Sabella has had no doubt Kyle Monangai has the type of talent to be a Power 5 running back.

Now the dynamic Don Bosco back will have the chance to prove it in the Big Ten.

Monangai, under-recruited for much of high school career despite putting up as good of numbers as any in the SFC United Red, verbally committed to Rutgers on Tuesday, just days after the Scarlet Knights made their offer.

Monangai, who made the announcement on Twitter, will sign on to play for new coach Greg Schiano on Wednesday as part of early National Signing Day.

“The recruiting process with Kyle... there’s been a lot of uncertainty,” Sabella said. “We felt like he’s been under-recruited through the whole thing. But it was great timing with how things worked out and we think he’s going into a great situation with Schiano back. There’s a lot of energy and excitement in the program now and we think it’s going to be a great situation for both Kyle and Rutgers football.”

Shortly after Schiano's return to Rutgers was made official, the new coach headed north to visit Monangai's teammate, Jalen Berger, the No. 1 overall recruit in New Jersey who remains uncommitted.

There was some digging into the type of player Monangai was, too, according to Sabella, who held just one Power 5 offer (California) until Rutgers recently came calling. Monangai did receive more than two dozen Division I offers - including Villanova, Navy and Army - and much attention from Ivy League programs, such as Harvard, Yale and Princeton.

In the end, though, Monangai chose to go B1G.

"Coach Nunz[io Campanile] and Coach Schiano both shared with us that they heard from so many other people around New Jersey about the type of player he is," Sabella said. "Not just from us here at Bosco, where we're biased. We coach him and this is his program. But there was a lot of buzz about him from the outside and hearing that was something we appreciated. That definitely sparked more interest and made them take a harder look at him."

ollowing a similar path as his brother, Kevin, who was another under-recruited star at Seton Hall Prep before enjoying a highly successful career at Villanova, it's been Kyle trying to erase the notion that he doesn't have the size to be a Big Ten running back.

Watch him play, though, and he undoubtedly passes the eye test.

Listed at 5-9, 195 pounds by Rivals, Monangai -- who transferred from Seton Hall Prep himself -- played big for Bosco the past two years.

This season, while helping the Ironmen reach their first state final since 2015, Monangai rushed 130 times for 1,040 yards and 11 touchdowns, while adding 27 catches for 449 yards and another six scores.

He was a big play waiting to happen anytime he touched the ball -- and Don Bosco’s offense suffered late in the year after Monangai was injured in the state quarterfinals against Bergen Catholic.

“No question the offense changed,” Sabella said. “He and Jalen complemented each other so well and allowed us to do so many different things. Kyle catches the ball exceptionally well and brings so many different dimensions. He’s got that combination of being really elusive, really explosive and the ability to finish his runs. When I think of traits that great backs have, it’s making the first guy miss. With Kyle, he can do that with cuts and moves or he’ll run you over.”

So, does Monangai's commitment bode well for the chances at landing Berger -- one of Monangai's closest friends -- too?

“We’ll see what happens here,” Sabella said regarding Berger, who plans to announce his commitment Jan. 4. “They get along really well together. They root for each other and I know Jalen was so excited when Kyle got the Rutgers offer. They’ve both got a tremendous amount of support and respect for each other.”