'A big relief': Richland rising senior WR Arnold Mugerwa commits to Rutgers University

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JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – For as much recruiting interest as Richland rising senior wide receiver Arnold Mugerwa generated, relationships were a major factor in the standout’s decision-making.

After taking his most recent visit to Rutgers University, Mugerwa was enamored with the Scarlet Knights’ vision for him if he committed to play in Piscataway, New Jersey. Those factors led Mugerwa to verbally commit to NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision member Rutgers Thursday morning during a ceremony with his parents, classmates, coaches, friends and teammates in attendance. The signing period starts in December.

“It’s a big relief,” Mugerwa said.

“It was a very hard decision to make. I feel like all of these last couple schools have been really close. What it really came down to is development, I would say.

“At this point in my recruitment, I don’t feel like I would find any better wide receivers coaches than over at Rutgers. Really just to give me the best opportunity for success to push myself to be the greatest I can is at Rutgers, I believe.”

At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, Mugerwa chose Rutgers over Florida State, Michigan State, Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech. He started his commitment by taking off his jacket and revealing a Pitt T-shirt, which led to loud cheers.

His brother Jude attends Pitt.

Then Arnold took off the Pitt shirt to show a Virginia Tech top underneath. A few seconds later, Mugerwa unveiled a Rutgers shirt as his decision.

Mugerwa has 16 FBS offers, including Cincinnati, Connecticut, Duke, James Madison, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina State, Syracuse, Texas A&M, Toledo and Wake Forest.

“Another factor would be relationships,” said Mugerwa, who is a three-star prospect with 4.51 40-yard dash speed. “Rutgers was one of my earliest offers. Really just my relationship with Coach (Dave) Brock and Coach (Greg) Schiano, who would come to my basketball games and see me run track. That really means something to me. Relationships really stand out for me at least.”

Having many of his peers in attendance showcased Mugerwa’s respect he has garnered over his career.

“He’s just a great young man that’s a leader in this school and community,” Richland football coach Brandon Bailey said. “We had a lot of kids here today to watch him commit to Rutgers University. I think that’s a testament to him and the person that he is and how well-liked he is and well- respected he is by his peers.”

Rutgers is coached by Schiano, who is entering his 18th season with the Scarlet Knights in 2026. Schiano has a 99-108 record at Rutgers (2001-11, 20-25). He also was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ coach at the NFL level in 2012-13. Rutgers’ wide receivers coach is Brock, who mentored the Atlanta Falcons’ wideouts from 2018-21, which included seven-time Pro Bowl selection Julio Jones. Kirk Ciarrocca is the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Ciarrocca was Penn State’s offensive coordinator in 2020.

Rutgers went 5-7 in 2025 with a 2-7 mark in the Big Ten Conference.

“This past weekend, I went to Rutgers,” Mugerwa said. “What really opened my eyes was getting a deeper image of what they would use me for on offense. Really just getting to understand him (offensive assistant Jeff Carpenter) going through my film and helping me with my football knowledge in general. Writing a bunch of Xs and Os on the board and just helping me get right with how I watch film, how he sees me at this point in my development and where he thinks I could be by the time that I leave Rutgers and the level I should be at.”

The Big Ten is home to the past three national champions in Michigan, Ohio State and Indiana. Getting to play in one of the most rigorous leagues intrigues Mugerwa.

“It’s always on the top of my mind, really,” Mugerwa said. “Big Ten football, you can’t ask for much more. I love the competition.

“It just pushes me to be an even better player.”

Mugerwa, a 2025 all-state selection, hauled in 54 passes for 1,020 yards (18.9 yards per catch) and 11 touchdowns during the 2025 season. In three seasons, he has 108 catches for 2,299 yards and 28 scores.

He started to show his potential as a freshman.

“I think his freshman year when I started watching him in practice and was coaching him every day,” Bailey said of when he thought Mugerwa could play college football. “He does things that nobody else I’ve ever coached is able to do. At that point, I knew that he had the potential to play at this level. I’m not sure he knew that at the time. He knew he was really talented, but I don’t think that he knew his ceiling.

“I remember talking to him one day and saying, ‘You’re going to play on Saturdays some day.’ He’s like, ‘Really?’ Obviously, he’s continued to put that work in and continue to utilize his God-given abilities, which not a lot of people have – the size, the strength, the speed and the athleticism that he does.”

Mugerwa totaled 31 receptions for 702 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2024. On defense, he has 101 tackles (30 solo), three interceptions and two fumble recoveries over three seasons.

There is another local tie at Rutgers.

Koby Bailey, Brandon Bailey’s son, is an operations assistant with the football program.

“It’s really cool,” Brandon Bailey said.

“Now, it’s kind of come full-circle where Koby is working in his third year in football operations at Rutgers University, and now Arnold is going to go and join him there.”

At free safety, Mugerwa amassed two interceptions and 36 tackles in 2025.

Mugerwa is never one to rest on his laurels.

“I feel like I had a pretty good season, but I can definitely do better,” he said.

“You always hear about you want your best player to be your hardest worker,” Brandon Bailey said. “He kind of fits that mold. We have a lot of hard workers on our team. You saw today a lot of kids here witnessing his commitment. Those kids are all going over and working out right now.

“That’s the type of leadership that he provides on this team.”

Mugerwa scored both of his team’s touchdowns during a 14-7 District 6 Class 2A title game win over McCort-Carroll Catholic in 2025, including a 36-yard pick-six interception return and a 36-yard catch.

“He’s always had great pass-catching abilities and a great catch radius,” Bailey said. “He’s so long, he’s able to make great catches. I think his consistency has gotten better. I think his speed has gotten better.

“He’s always been a fast kid, but there were certain games this year that he just decided he was going to outrun everybody.

“In our district championship game, he had both of our touchdowns. He just made plays that nobody on their team could catch him.”

Mugerwa also plays basketball and is a standout hurdler and sprinter in track and field.

He is the son of Jude and Caroline Mugerwa.

Jake Oswalt is a copy editor for The Tribune-Democrat. Follow him on Twitter @TheWizOfOz11.

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