(RB Kyle Monangai – USA Today Sports)
Key Players Returning:
RB Kyle Monangai, WR Christian Dremel, OC Gus Zilinskas, OG Kwabena Asamoah, OG Bryan Felter, OT Tyler Neeham, OT Hollin Pierce, DE Wesley Bailey, DE Aaron Lewis, LB Tyreem Powell, LB Mohamed Toure, CB Robert Longerbeam, CB Eric Rogers, NB Desmond Igbinosun, FS Flip Dixon, SS Shaquan Loyal, and PK Jai Patel.
Key Players Departing:
QB Gavin Wimsatt (Kentucky transfer), WR JaQuae Jackson, WR Isaiah Washington, TE Johnny Langan, OG Curtis Dunlap Jr., DT Isaiah Iton, LB Deion Jennings, CB Max Melton (Cardinals R2), KR/PR Rashad Rochelle, and PT Flynn Appleby.
(WR Antonio White – 247Sports)
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: WR Antonio White (Lilburn, Georgia), WR Dymere Miller (Monmouth transfer), and ATH Gabriel Winovich (Lawrenceville, New Jersey).
3 Star Recruits: QB AJ Surace (Lawrenceville, New Jersey), TE Korey Duff Jr. (Melville, New York), ATH Kevin Levy (West Palm Beach, Florida), ATH Kaj Sanders (Oradell, New Jersey), LB Sam Robinson (Tallahassee, Florida), WR Ben Black (Charlotte, North Carolina), and LB Sam Pilof (Middleton, Wisconsin).
2023 Results:
G01 NORTHWESTERN W 24-7
G02 TEMPLE W 36-7
G03 VIRGINIA TECH W 35-16
G04 @ #2 Michigan L 7-31
G05 WAGNER W 52-3
G06 @ Wisconsin L 13-24
G07 MICHIGAN STATE W 27-24
G08 @ Indiana W 31-14
G09 #1 OHIO STATE L 16-35
G10 @ #22 Iowa L 0-22
G11 @ Penn State L 6-27
G12 MARYLAND L 24-42
BOWL vs. Miami, FL W 31-24
Misc. Team Information:
2023 Record: 7-6 (5th in Big Ten East)
Home: 5-2
Away: 1-4
Neutral: 1-0
B10: 3-6
Non-B10: 4-0
Head Coach: Greg Schiano
Rutgers: 87-95
Career: 87-95
Bowls: 6-2
(CB Robert Longerbeam – USA Today Sports)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Ajani Sheppard (2-2, 23 yards, 47.8%, 11.5 avg., 0 TD, 0 INT)
Rushing: Kyle Monangai (242 car., 1262 yards, 5.2 avg., 8 TD)
Receiving: Christian Dremel (36 rec., 468 yards, 13.0 avg., 3 TD)
TDs Scored: Kyle Monangai (8)
Sacks: Mohaned Toure (4.5)
Tackles: Mohamed Toure (93)
Tackles For Loss: Mohamed Toure (9.5)
Interceptions: 4 Tied (1)
Pass Deflections: Robert Longerbeam (10)
Forced Fumbles: Robert Longerbeam (2)
Kick Returns: None
Punt Returns: None
Kicking: Joe Patel (15-18 fg/fga., 83%, 33-34 xp/xpa., 78 pts.)
Punting: None
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 16 Athan Kaliakmanis (RS JR/TR)
RB: 5 Kyle Monangal (SR)
WR: 18 Naseim Brantley (RS SR/TR)
WR: 0 Dymere Miller (SR/TR)
WR: 6 Christian Dremel (RS SR)
TE: 12 Kenny Fletcher (JR)
LT: 72 Hollin Pierce (SR)
LG: 65 Bryan Felter (RS JR)
OC: 59 Gus Zlinskas (RS JR)
RG: 69 Kwabena Asamoah (RS SO)
RT: 56 Tyler Needham (RS JR)
KR: 20 Ja’shon Benjamin (SO)
PK: 44 Jai Patel (RS SO)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 71 Aaron Lewis (SR)
NT: 48 Kyonte Hamilton (SR)
DT: 9 Malcolm Ray (RS SR/TR)
DE: 23 Wesley Bailey (SR)
LB: 1 Mohamed Toure (RS SR)
LB: 22 Tyreem Powell (SR)
NB: 4 Desmond Igbinosun (SR)
CB: 7 Robert Longerbeam (SR)
CB: 0 Eric Rogers (RS JR/TR)
FS: 10 Flip Dixon (SR/TR)
SS: 6 Shaquan Loyal (SR)
PR: 6 Christian Dremel (RS SR)
PT: 0 Jakob Anderson (FR)
(LB Mohamed Toure – Icon Sportswire/Getty Images)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: A
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: A
Punters: C
Schedule:
08/29 HOWARD BISON | First meeting between schools.
09/07 AKRON ZIPS | Rutgers won (20-17) the only prior meeting between schools in 1990.
09/21 @ Virginia Tech Hokies | Rutgers trails the series 4-12. The Scarlet Knights won (35-16) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series loss (0-13) was at the prior meeting in 2012.
09/27 WASHINGTON HUSKIES | Rutgers trails the series 0-2. The Scarlet Knights lost (14-30) the last meeting between schools in 2017.
10/05 @ Nebraska Cornhuskers | Rutgers trails the series 0-6. The Scarlett Knights lost (13-14) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
10/12 WISCONSIN BADGERS | Rutgers trails the series 0-5. The Scarlett Knights lost (13-24) last season’s meeting between schools, and they lost (3-52) the prior meeting in 2021.
10/19 UCLA BRUINS | First meeting between schools.
10/25 @ USC Trojans | First meeting between schools.
11/09 MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS | Rutgers trails the series 0-3. The Scarlet Knights lost (0-31) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
11/16 @ Maryland Terrapins | Rutgers trails the series 7-12. The Scarlet Knights are 3-7 since 2014, and their last series win (27-24) was in 2020.
11/23 ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI | Rutgers trails the series 3-5. The Scarlett Knights won (20-14) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
11/30 @ Michigan State Spartans | Rutgers trails the series 5-10. The Scarlett Knights are 2-8 since 2014, and their last series loss (21-27) was in 2022.
Predictions:
Home: 6-1
Road: 2-3
Neutral: 0-0
B10: 6-3
Non-B10: 2-1
Overall: 8-4 (8th in Big Ten)
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