(AP photo)

By Tyler Barto

Twitter: @Tyler_Barto

tbarto@trentonian.com

Rutgers hasn't shied away from a backfield in motion lately. First, Justin Goodwin moved to corner to supply much-needed depth. Now Desmon Peoples could be deployed differently.

"I feel like I have great hands out of the backfield and slot," Peoples said Monday night. "Catching the ball is like running the ball to me.”

Peoples, a 5-foot-8 gear-changing back, wasn't targeted during Saturday's scrimmage, but he could add versatility at times to a top-heavy passing game from the slot (the Y or F position). 

Head coach Kyle Flood spoke to Goodwin personally in recent days to prove it.

"That had a big impact on me and drove me to stay on top of what I had to do,” Peoples said.

Peoples' offense at Archbishop Wood High (Pennsylvania) had similar principles to coordinator Ralph Friedgen's system, but he said his role now involves more slot play.

Flood's staff has searched for and identified players with dual roles at the position.

"You need guys who can catch the ball out of the backfield, (whom) you can line up in other places and expect them to do a good job," Flood said.