Wood's Arcidiacono picks Rutgers

Archbishop Wood junior center Brandon Arcidiacono sifted through his 15 Division I offers and decided to stay close to home, verbally committing to Rutgers yesterday.

"It was the best fit for me," said Arcidiacono. "They have good coaches, a great atmosphere, great facilities. Plus a good friend of mine is going there, too."

That good friend is Wood running back Desmon Peoples.

Arcidiacono hopes to play center but he's not choosy.

"I'll play whatever position gets me on the field," he said. "But I prefer center."

Arcidiacono plans to major in business but it's early in the decision-making.

"Something in the line of business," he said.

His father, Mark, kidded about wanting Brandon to go to a distant school but admitted he was pleased the trek would be short to his son's games.

"Don't put that in the story," Mark said about his joke.

Too late.

"We're happy, of course, that he's close to home."

Arcidiacono is the fifth member of Wood's class of 2012 to make a verbal commitment. He joins Peoples, lineman Frank Taylor (Boston College), running back Brandon Peoples (Temple) and tight end Colin Thompson (Florida). *