(AP photo)

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

Through five games, coordinator Ralph Friedgen has an idea of what works for Rutgers' offense and its ceiling with certain packages and personnel.
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(AP photo)

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

PISCATAWAY — Jabrill Peppers has played in only three games this season, but Leonte Carroo hopes he sees the chatty Michigan true freshman over top of him on some plays Saturday.

Peppers, Rivals.com's third-ranked recruit a year ago, will reunite with three prominent ex-teammates at Don Bosco Prep when the Wolverines visit Rutgers.
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(AP photo)

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

PISCATAWAY — Leonte Carroo almost added prophet to his growing résumé Saturday against Tulane.

Before the game, Carroo posted a picture of the Big Ten's receiving yardage leaders (he was fourth) and captioned, "@c4rroonation: I'm sorry I promise after this weekend it will say #1 i will/we will #choptulane".
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(AP file photo)

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

PISCATAWAY — Gary Nova became Rutgers' all-time leader in touchdown passes Saturday on a 93-yard connection with wideout Andrew Turzilli.
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(AP photo)

Despite a slew of injuries, Rutgers got some good news Tuesday when receiver Andre Patton (upper body) got another full practice in with the first-team offense. He said he didn't miss a beat with quarterback Gary Nova.
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(AP photo)

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

PISCATAWAY — Nick Arcidiacono played only 11 snaps last week at Navy, but the sophomore tight end's presence should grow in the coming weeks.
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(AP photo)

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

PISCATAWAY — While Rutgers might get some good news in the coming days that will help its multiplicity on offense, Saturday's victory against Navy was all about getting back to basics.
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(AP photo)

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

PISCATAWAY — Rutgers players met the media on Monday after Saturday's 31-24 victory at Navy to no shortage of storylines.
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(AP photo)

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

Kyle Flood delivered the news Sunday that most at Rutgers feared: star running back Paul James will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL.
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By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Linebacker LJ Liston has been suspended one game for a violation of team rules.
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(AP photo)

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

Before I get to the hard numbers, some notes from Rutgers' third game of the season:
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(AP file photo)

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

Rutgers' nickel coverage usually means SAM linebacker Quentin Gause is the odd man out. But against Penn State's pro-style offense — or as close as there is to one anymore in the spread age — Gause played his most meaningful role yet.
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(For The Trentonian/ JOHN BLAINE)

One more practice separates Rutgers from a light walk-through and trip to Annapolis to take on Navy on Saturday. That's when we'll learn if it put a difficult loss to Penn State behind it.
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(For The Trentonian/ JOHN BLAINE)

Rutgers completes its second physical install practice today in preparation for Navy's top-ranked rushing offense. Saturday's meeting is the last scheduled between the two teams that began playing regularly when Greg Schiano roamed Rutgers' sidelines.
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(AP photo)

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

PISCATAWAY — Justin Goodwin trotted onto Rutgers' practice bubble turf Tuesday as a full participant at running back, and that's about the only certainty head coach Kyle Flood could muster.
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By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — Despite a shrinking number of nonconference games and a growing demand for scheduling power-conference opponents, Kyle Flood said it isn't difficult to keep scheduling service academies like Navy.
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(AP photo)

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

Anyone looking for a decision on Rutgers' starting quarterback next week against Navy found it: Gary Nova will remain under center, head coach Kyle Flood said Sunday in his day-after conference call.
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(AP photo)

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

PISCATAWAY — Five sacks. Sixty-four rush yards. One sinking feeling.

That's what Rutgers' defense left with in a 13-10 loss Saturday to Penn State in its Big Ten opener.
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(AP photo)

By Tyler Barto

Twitter: @Tyler_Barto

tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — A head coach with a recently extended contract and $3.4 million in new money. A stadium expansion that revamped the south end zone. A promising training facility.

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(AP photo)

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

Rutgers' Pennsylvania-born football players explain in their own words what Saturday's Penn State matchup means to them:
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(AP photo)

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

Kyle Flood got the contract extension he publicly downplayed but likely had hoped for.

Rutgers' third-year coach received a two-year extension through 2019 on Thursday, upping his annual salary and buyout.
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(AP photo)

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

PISCATAWAY — Here are some quick hits from Rutgers practice Wednesday, the final open one to the media before Saturday night's game against Penn State:
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(AP file photo)

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

PISCATAWAY — Quentin Gause might not have played as much as he wanted to in Rutgers' season opener against Washington State, but the 6-foot-1, 220-pounder should be instrumental as Rutgers begins its Big Ten schedule.
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(AP photo)

Hey, it's Penn State week, everyone, in case you didn't know. Five days separate Rutgers from its most important conference opener in school history. We'll be rolling out some fun story ideas this week. Hope you enjoy the lead-up.
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By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — At 3:23 p.m. on Saturday, Ralph Friedgen quietly stepped out of an elevator leading him from the coaches' box, exiting through an opening from the chain-link fence at High Point Solutions Stadium.
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(AP photo)

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

Few could have imagined Kemoko Turay's rapid development through two games, during which time he leads Rutgers with three sacks.

But that's the luxury Rutgers has found in the Newark native with two full years of football to his name.
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(AP photo)

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

PISCATAWAY — Desmon Peoples has spent so much time going up against Rutgers' first-team defense that he forgot other teams might not place the same premium on speed.

He found out against Washington State, against whom he rushed eight times for 36 yards, both career highs.
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Head coach Kyle Flood has been part of FCS upsets at Hofstra and Delaware, knocking off FBS teams like USF, Connecticut and Navy. He'd like to not reverse roles Saturday against Howard.
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By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — Here are some quick hits from Wednesday's practice, the final one open to the media before Saturday's home opener against Howard:
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(AP photo)

Today's practice is the last one open to the media before the team shuts down in preparation for Saturday's home opener against Howard. Then it's on to a game you might've heard a thing or two about ...
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(AP photo)

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

Thanks for returning to the weekly Rutgers mailbag, this time four days removed from a home opener against Howard. A week ago we discussed Dre Boggs as a returner, Rutgers' injury report and more.

You can tweet me @Tyler_Barto or email tbarto@trentonian.com each week with your questions.
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(AP photo)

Head coach Kyle Flood won't look ahead a week —  "You'd really better cherish and enjoy each one of those game weeks" — but the temptation is only human with a Big Ten opener looming. Your daily links:
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(AP photo)

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

PISCATAWAY — Johnathan Aiken awoke Monday morning to congratulatory text messages from teammates. He didn't know it yet, but Rutgers' senior safety had earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors.
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(AP photo)

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

PISCATAWAY — The play that made everyone a believer in Tyler Kroft came less than a minute after the one most wanted to forget.
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