(AP photo)

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

PISCATAWAY — Two-plus weeks ago, Quentin Gause was third on the team in tackles and led Rutgers' linebackers with five tackles for loss.

After consecutive losses to Ohio State and Nebraska in which Rutgers' numbers against the run plummeted, few players have seen a dramatic uptick in game-changing plays, though Gause is now No. 2 in tackles behind Steve Longa.
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A photo posted by Paul James (@pjaayyy) on May 5, 2014 at 3:18pm PDT

By Tyler Barto

Twitter: @Tyler_ Barto

tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — After arriving in a deep Wisconsin backfield, Corey Clement didn't mind the wait behind future pro James White and Heisman contender Melvin Gordon.

He had already built up that tolerance from playing side by side with Rutgers running back Paul James for two seasons at Glassboro High.

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(AP photo)

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

PISCATAWAY — On 25 second-half plays in Saturday's loss at Nebraska, Rutgers' offensive staff made a concerted effort to put backup quarterback Chris Laviano in comfortable situations.
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(AP photo)

By Tyler Barto

Twitter: @Tyler_Barto

tbarto@trentonian.com

Rutgers' quarterback-in-training hopes to be the third Long Island protege of Ralph Friedgen to one day play in the NFL.

His first real chance to bulk his body of work could come as soon as Saturday.

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(AP photo)

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

Head coach Kyle Flood offered no update Sunday besides receiving a "positive report" on injured quarterback Gary Nova, who suffered a blow to his right knee a day earlier at No. 16 Nebraska.
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Nebraska's Irving Fryar, a Mount Holly 
native. (AP photo)

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

A question posed to Nebraska coach Bo Pelini during Tuesday's Big Ten teleconference puzzled me, and also got me to thinking.

"Coach, does Nebraska really extend its recruiting footprint now that a Big Ten team (Rutgers) is in that region of the country?"
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By Tyler Barto

Twitter: @Tyler_Barto

tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — Rutgers wide receiver Ruhann Peele was arrested in late August and charged with simple assault, according to a report by NJ.com.

Peele has not appeared on the field with the team since suffering an upper-body injury during training camp. His timetable to return is unknown.

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

PISCATAWAY — It didn't happen under the circumstances he favored, but Rutgers backup quarterback Chris Laviano appeared in his second career game in Saturday's loss at No. 13 Ohio State.
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By Tyler Barto

Twitter: @Tyler_Barto

tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — Rutgers AD Julie Hermann met the media Tuesday to discuss the football team's trip to her native Nebraska, where she is also an alumna and volleyball letterwinner.

She is also encouraged by head coach Kyle Flood's 5-2 start.

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(AP photo)

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

PISCATAWAY — Lost in Saturday's 56-17 loss to No. 13 Ohio State was the subtle return of sophomore Andre Patton to a normal diet at wide receiver.

Relegated to Rutgers' run-heavy packages after returning from an upper-body injury that cost him the first four games, Patton played a season-high 36 snaps Saturday, second most at receiver to Leonte Carroo.
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By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — Playing time hasn't come quickly for  TJ Taylor, who's backing up two-year starter Steve Longa, but the former safety is taking solace in instinctively playing like a WILL linebacker.

And the sophomore remains ready in case he's forced into action as the Big Ten season wears on.
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(For The Trentonian — John Blaine) 

By Tyler Barto

Twitter: @Tyler_Barto

tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — The top of Rutgers' defensive stat sheet reads like you'd expect, with usual suspect Steve Longa leading the team in tackles.

But Rutgers' freshman All-America in 2013 is on pace to finish with two-thirds of his 123-tackle total from a year ago and has only 2.5 tackles for loss (two are sacks) midway through the season.
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(AP photo)

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

PISCATAWAY — When Andrew Turzilli finally decided he would transfer from Kansas, it set in motion a six-month process that eventually landed him into the second-most snaps as Rutgers' No. 2 receiver.

But in mid-April — late by transfer standards — Turzilli a soon-to-be fifth-year senior, was still saddled on the second team of a program that has historically been among the worst in the power conferences.
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(AP photo)

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

PISCATAWAY — Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer held his weekly Big Ten conference call Tuesday to preview Rutgers' game Saturday in Columbus, Ohio.

Here's part of Meyer's transcript, from his relationship with Greg Schiano to Rutgers' special teams work to game-planning for Kemoko Turay.
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By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — With center Betim Bujari questionable with a lower-body injury, Rutgers could see a shakeup along its offensive line when it visits No. 13 Ohio State on Saturday.

Head coach Kyle Flood said the finer details of the position add more responsibilities for a potential fill-in, either right guard Chris Muller or backup Derrick Nelson.
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By Tyler Barto

Twitter: @Tyler_Barto

tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — In an effort to stabilize Rutgers' defensive line rotation, rush end Quanzell Lambert has doubled at the traditional end position the last two weeks.

Lambert was part of a three-man rotation at end against Michigan with starter Dwjany Mera and Julian Pinnix-Odrick. Mera (lower body) was listed as probable that week.

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(AP photo)

By Tyler Barto

Twitter: @Tyler_Barto

tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — While Tyler Kroft's numbers are down across the board from last year, the junior tight end is at least saving his biggest days for Rutgers' Big Ten opponents.

Against Michigan, Kroft saw six targets (third on the team), his second most this season behind his seven against Penn State.

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(AP photo)

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

PISCATAWAY — Sitting in Rutgers' locker room with a one-half suspension following an ejection for targeting a week earlier, safety Johnathan Aiken was writing down notes before entering during the second half Saturday against Michigan.

That's when he actually remained under control.
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(AP photo)

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

PISCATAWAY — Here are some quick hits from Tuesday's practice, the first from Rutgers' bye week after Saturday's victory against Michigan:
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(AP photo)

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

PISCATAWAY — Saturday's 26-24 victory against Michigan was yet another reminder that Rutgers will mold its game plan based on the opposing defense.
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(AP photo)

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

PISCATAWAY — Before Kemoko Turay could make the game-saving play that preserved Rutgers' first Big Ten victory against Michigan, Rutgers' coaching staff had to settle on a field goal block formation.

It chose "house", an alignment that pitted 6-foot-6 Turay and Carlton Agudosi two yards in front of the line of scrimmage with everyone else on the ball.
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By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

LJ Liston recorded four tackles last week in his first career start, but odds are he's been eyeing tonight's game against Michigan far longer.
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(AP photo)

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

PISCATAWAY — Rutgers is nearly 48 hours from its second Big Ten game, this one another home night game against Michigan.

Defensive tackle Darius Hamilton expects a dangerous team after the disarray that hit Ann Arbor in the wake of the mishandling of quarterback Shane Morris's injury.
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(AP photo)

I chatted today with Bleacher Report Michigan beat writer Adam Biggers and Sports in the Mitten about Saturday's Rutgers home game against the Wolverines (starts at 21:30 mark).
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