Morning practices.
Timber Creek linebacker Quanzell Lambert said that was a big factor in his decision to commit Thursday to Rutgers University on a football scholarship.
"They practice in the morning, so I won't have to miss labs in the afternoon," said Lambert, who plans to major in engineering.
Lambert is a top student with a 3.4 grade-point average. He hopes to become a mechanical engineer.
The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Lambert projects as an inside linebacker at Rutgers. He chose Rutgers among a final three that included Iowa and Nebraska, although he also seriously considered Northwestern, Oklahoma, and Alabama.
Lambert said he started leaning strongly toward Rutgers after the end of last season. He said he developed a strong relationship with Rutgers assistant coach Phil Galiano, brother of Camden Catholic quarterback Pete Galiano.
Phil Galiano attended Lambert's news conference at Timber Creek on Thursday.
Lambert said he was impressed by Rutgers' facilities, commitment to winning, and status as a Big East Conference member. But he stressed the school's academics and support he will receive in balancing football and schoolwork.
"That's most important to me," said Lambert, who plans to sign his letter of intent on national signing day, Feb. 1.
Timber Creek coach Rob Hinson said Rutgers sometimes is overlooked when top local athletes begin to draw recruiting interest from national programs.
"But when people take a hard look at Rutgers, they realize how much is there," Hinson said. "That's a team that will compete every year to play in a BCS bowl."
Contact staff writer Phil Anastasia at 856-779-3223, panastasia@phillynews.com, or @PhilAnastasia on Twitter. Read his blog, "Jersey Side Sports," at www.philly.com/jerseysidesports
