CFC#1 Rene shopping around for new home? (VIDEO)

Is CFC#1 Patrice Rene back on market?

While the 6’1, 190 pound defensive back from Ottawa, Ontario has not officially indicated that he is withdrawing his previous commitment to NCAA Division 1 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) team, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, there is speculation he is shopping around for a new home.

The reason for this possible change of heart is due to the recent firing of Scarlet Knights Head Coach Kyle Flood.

Recent events on Rene’s part would indicate he is on the hunt for a new home.  Last night via Twitter, Gridiron Academy’s Victor Tedondo announced that the Ontario defensive back received an offer from NCAA Division PAC-12 team, Cal Golden Bears:

Class 2016 CB Patrice Rene added a #Cal #GoldenBears offer. #PAC12… https://t.co/nkqNL0oTD3

— Victor Tedondo (@GridironCamp) December 4, 2015

Moreover, Rene visited Wisconsin Badgers and will be travelling to North Dakota for a visit on December 12^th.  He will venture down to Rutgers on January 22^nd.

Despite his verbal commitment, the defensive back will not be signing his Letter of Intent (LOI) until NCAA Signing Day this upcoming February. He has been in contact with Penn State (where Toronto running back Akeel Lynch is currently), Virginia Tech and Ohio State.

Back on August 8^th, Rene ended a recruitment process which extended 25 and a half months by announcing his verbal commitment to the Scarlett Knights.

“Rutgers was the only school that came out to Canada and Ottawa to watch me play,” said Rene at the time of his commitment to  TSN’s Matthew Skube in an interview.

It concluded a lengthy process which netted him 28 NCAA offers.  It began back on June 26, 2013 when the CFC reported that the Ontario standout received his first offer from Akron Zips.

It was only the beginning for Rene. During the over two year process, he racked up 28 NCAA offers including ones from Rice Owls, Wisconsin Badgers, Syracuse Orange, Oklahoma Sooners, Wake Forest Demon Deacons, Virginia Tech Hokies, Virginia Cavaliers, Vanderbilt Commodores, Tennessee Volunteers, Temple Owls, Nebraska Cornhuskers, North Carolina Tar Heels, Northwestern Wildcats, Penn State Nittany Lions, Kentucky Wildcats, Indiana Hoosiers, Duke Blue Devils, Boston College Eagles, Minnesota Gophers and Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Prior to his announcement, the defensive standout narrowed down his offers to two finalists – the Scarlett Knights and Ohio State.

This past fall, Rene completed his career south of the border for Episcopal Maroon in Alexandra, Virginia.  Previous to the Maroon, Rene has suited up for the St. Peter Knights of the National Capital Secondary School Athletic Association (NCSSAA) and Orleans Bengals of the National Capital Amateur Football Association (NCAFA). He trains at Gridiron Academy with Tedondo.

This past June, Rene became the third consecutive Ottawa area prospect to grab the top spot in the #CFC100 CLASS 2016 RANKINGS joining  2014 CFC #1 pivot Michael O’Connor and 2015 CFC #1 defensive end Neville Gallimore in this elite group.

Not only has his recruitment process translated into success but the defensive back is has been selected as one of 400 nominees for the US Army All-American Bowl.  Rene will know this month if he will be one of the 90 players that will be chosen to play in the Bowl game on Saturday January 9^th at Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.