Rumson’s Charlie Volker Commits to Princeton

Rumson-Fair Haven senior tailback Charlie Volker, who was the Shore Sports Network Offensive Player of the Year last season, said Friday that he has verbally committed to Princeton University.

Technically Volker has committed to the admissions process at Princeton and still has to be formally accepted by the university, but he has made it clear that Princeton is where he looks to continue his career. He had multiple Ivy League and Patriot League offers.

"It's just a great fit for me football-wise and academically,'' Volker said.

Volker had the greatest season by any Rumson-Fair Haven running back in history in his first year as the starting tailback last year. He rushed for a school-record 2,108 yards and 24 touchdowns to lead the Shore Conference in rushing and finish ranked second in New Jersey. Selected as the Class A Central Co-Offensive Player of the Year by the coaches, he helped the Bulldogs win their second state sectional title in four seasons, rushing for 93 yards and a touchdown in a 14-6 win in Central Jersey Group II over a Weequahic team that entered undefeated and allowing under three points per game. In the semifinals against Rahway, he ran for a single-game school record 314 yards and four touchdowns, including an 80-yard touchdown run with six seconds left in the game that gave Rumson a 28-21 win.

He will head to a Princeton program that currently includes freshman linebacker Thomas Martello, a first-team All-Shore selection last year who starred for the Bulldogs at linebacker and safety. A bulked-up Volker looks to be one of New Jersey's top running backs this season for the defending Central Jersey Group II champions.