The ice cup is ready for chopping.
That's because Atlantic City's Sarnai “Icecup” Degraffenreit announced that he has committed to attend Rutgers University and play football. He made the announcement on his social media X account on Friday, saying he is “1000% committed.”
With Degraffenreit, Rutgers acquired a top-tier player from South Jersey. The Scarlet Knights, who finished with a 7-6 record including a 31-24 win over Miami in the Pinstripe Bowl, will host their annual spring game on Saturday.
more:Millville College's Rozaia Brooks decides to attend college
The 6-foot, 185-pound junior was a highlight pass catcher for the Vikings, racking up 1,009 receiving yards and 14 TDs last season, both single-season school records, according to South Jersey football historian Chuck Langerman. It is said that
DeGraffenwright is a two-time All-South Jersey selection and has 95 career catches for 1,903 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also scored six touchdowns on special teams, along with two pick-sixes and a rushing TD.
Sophomore De Graffenwright caught 51 passes for 894 yards and 11 touchdowns, leading Atlantic City to its first playoff victory since 2012. He totaled 16 points in 10 games as the Vikings went 7-3.
His most famous catch, a one-handed grab against the Holy Spirit on Thanksgiving, earned him a spot in SportsCenter's Top 10.
Degraffenreit got his nickname when he was late to a youth football game as a child. When he finally reached the sideline, he had a water ice cube in one hand.
Now, Degraffenreit is looking to bring some calm to opposing defenders in the Big Ten. He chose to stay home and play college football in the Garden State over other conference opponents like Michigan and Penn State, which had offers for the receiver.
Tom McGuirk is a regional sports reporter for the Courier-Post, Daily Journal and Burlington County Times and has covered South Jersey sports for more than 30 years. If you have a sports story to tell, contact us at (856) 486-2420 or email tmcgurk@gannett.com. Follow @McGurkSports on Twitter. Support local journalism with a digital subscription.
