(Courtesy of Rutgers Athletics Communications)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

Nearly half of the NFL's 32 teams are running some semblance of a 3-4 defense, with three defensive linemen. It's unclear whether the trend has impacted the college ranks or vice versa.

Rutgers defensive coordinator Joe Rossi told the Big Ten Network on Friday that his defense will feature both 4-3 and 3-4 elements, used sparingly in the past.

Rush end Quanzell Lambert, likely most affected by changing defensive fronts, is on board.

"You can’t line up in one set all the time," Lambert said recently. "The offensive line would get used to it and it be to their advantage. The great thing they do is find different schemes and sets and moving guys around, because an offensive lineman would be surprised if a defensive lineman was at linebacker."

More from Rutgers training camp:

My story for tomorrow: Rutgers defensive coordinator Joe Rossi on 3-4 fronts and what it means around the Big Ten: http://t.co/Rq2BOW2GDP.
— Tyler Barto (@Tyler_Barto) August 13, 2014