tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16423887597422504672024-03-13T23:00:45.900-04:00Rutgers RundownDevoted to the daily goings on with Rutgers football, both at High Point Solutions Stadium and behind the scenes.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11626595131869686760noreply@blogger.comBlogger412125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642388759742250467.post-20483934124242649692015-02-10T11:22:00.000-05:002015-02-10T12:17:48.346-05:00It's official: Ben McDaniels named Rutgers football's offensive
coordinator<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E7Pm3DnVEa0/VNoumy1LGVI/AAAAAAAAByY/_saCiMyVD1w/s1600/AP120530064050%2B(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E7Pm3DnVEa0/VNoumy1LGVI/AAAAAAAAByY/_saCiMyVD1w/s1600/AP120530064050%2B(2).jpg" height="213" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(AP)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">By Tyler Barto</b><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Twitter:</i> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_Barto">@Tyler_Barto</a></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>tbarto@trentonian.com</i></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rutgers is staying in-house for its sixth offensive coordinator in as many seasons. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Wide receivers coach <b>Ben McDaniels</b> will supplant one-term-serving <b>Ralph Friedgen</b> as play caller, head coach <b>Kyle Flood</b> announced Tuesday on a conference call.</span><br>
<a name="more"></a><br><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">McDaniels' appointment </span><a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20150209/rutgers-future-of-offensive-coordinator-ralph-friedgen-remains-in-doubt" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">comes less than a week after National Signing Day</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, when 11 listed offensive players pledged commitments to Rutgers.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">McDaniels enters his second season in Piscataway after spending the two previous years as an offensive assistant under <b>Greg Schiano</b> with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He is the brother of New England Patriots offensive coordinator <b>Josh McDaniels</b>.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On game days, Ben McDaniels <a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20141017/inside-rutgers-footballs-sideline-operation-as-ohio-state-looms">served as Friedgen's voice on the field level</a>, communicating with Rutgers' quarterbacks as well as receivers.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Flood has generally given his play callers autonomy on game day, provided <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2013/09/kyle-flood-allows-certain-creative.html">it falls beneath his overall vision</a> of a multiple pro-style offense.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As a high school quarterback under his dad, <b>Thom</b>, McDaniels went 37-3 as a starter at famed Canton-McKinley High (Ohio) and set career and single-season records for passing yards and touchdowns.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br>Canton-McKinley finished 1997 ranked No. 1 in USA Today's national rankings.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">McDaniels becomes Flood's fourth different play caller in his four years as head coach.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Friedgen, meanwhile had signed a two-year deal worth $1 million in January 2014, but his stay became hazy when he held a resigned press conference <a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20141130/could-rutgers-ralph-friedgen-have-coached-his-final-big-ten-game">after Rutgers' season-ending victory at Maryland</a>, his alma mater.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 22.6520004272461px;">“As long as I like it, I’ll do it,” Friedgen, 67, said that day. “I’m getting up in age, some things are a little tougher for me than others.”</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 22.6520004272461px;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 22.6520004272461px;">Under Friedgen, quarterback <b>Gary Nova</b> set <a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20141225/plenty-at-stake-for-rutgers-football-in-quick-lane-bowl">single-season bests in nearly every offensive category</a> of consequence, though Rutgers also managed a combined 20 points in three losses to the Big Ten's elite programs.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Mount Holly, NJ, USA39.9931438 -74.787939339.9444853 -74.8686203 40.0418023 -74.7072583tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642388759742250467.post-85231968071280147372015-02-04T11:41:00.001-05:002015-02-04T11:41:48.082-05:00VIDEO: Rutgers football commit Ronnie James signs his National Letter of Intent<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="315" id="tout_embed" src="//www.tout.com/embed/touts/df64qw" width="560"></iframe>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>By Tyler Barto </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Twitter:</i> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_Barto">@Tyler_Barto</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>tbarto@trentonian.com</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">GLASSBORO — Rutgers commit <b>Ronnie James</b> made his signing official Wednesday, along with teammate <b>Juwan Johnson</b>, who's committed to Penn State.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Chances are, James could've given Rutgers a verbal commit much earlier when he met with head coach <b>Kyle Flood</b> last summer.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"He was like, ‘You might as well just sign now.’
I was like, ‘I think I’ll wait.’ He was just being funny," James said of Flood at Glassboro High. "I was laughing with
him. I wanted to wait, because I knew it would be a special moment when I did
do it.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">James is the younger brother of Rutgers running back <b>Paul James</b>, who has rushed for 1,244 yards and 14 touchdowns in only 13 career games because of injury.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There's more from James's National Signing Day to come, but check out some of the photos and videos from the Gloucester County school below. You can follow along on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_Barto">@Tyler_Barto</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="315" id="tout_embed" src="//www.tout.com/embed/touts/me529j" width="560"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E6jI6ShUVsE/VNJKlhzVPSI/AAAAAAAAByA/WoGmqNwbtnM/s1600/photo%2B1%2B(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E6jI6ShUVsE/VNJKlhzVPSI/AAAAAAAAByA/WoGmqNwbtnM/s1600/photo%2B1%2B(2).jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SCL5s6xY-Wk/VNJKvHscFGI/AAAAAAAAByI/RKzPk9yK72c/s1600/photo%2B3%2B(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SCL5s6xY-Wk/VNJKvHscFGI/AAAAAAAAByI/RKzPk9yK72c/s1600/photo%2B3%2B(2).jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Trenton, NJ, USA40.2170534 -74.74293840000001440.1200519 -74.904299900000012 40.314054899999995 -74.581576900000016tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642388759742250467.post-27206197654719192702015-02-03T11:35:00.000-05:002015-02-03T11:35:57.854-05:00National Signing Day Preview: Rutgers 2015 commits with highest ceilings<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fVqCOtKNxSY/VND4nMqrVMI/AAAAAAAABxs/Kgn9HYXs3pI/s1600/AP373477780091%2B(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fVqCOtKNxSY/VND4nMqrVMI/AAAAAAAABxs/Kgn9HYXs3pI/s1600/AP373477780091%2B(2).jpg" height="456" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(AP)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">By Tyler Barto</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Twitter:</i> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_Barto">@Tyler_Barto</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>tbarto@trentonian.com</i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">Wednesday's </span><a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2015/01/rutgers-football-to-provide-wall-to.html" style="background-color: white; color: #ca1a00; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: none;">National Signing Day becomes the first official marker</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"> for college football's new calendar year. Rutgers' current haul sits at 25 commits, </span><a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20150119/player-by-player-look-at-rutgers-footballs-early-enrollees" style="background-color: white; color: #ca1a00; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: none;">five of whom will enroll early</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">.</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="color: #363636; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #363636; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="color: #363636; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><span style="color: #222222;">I talked to <b>Bobby Deren</b>, a Rutgers recruiting analyst for scarletnation.com, for his list of committed prospects for 2015 with the highest ceilings.</span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Marques Ford</b>, DE </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">— The 11th-hour flip from Tennessee gives Rutgers its first four-star commit since 2013. While he should play right away, his athleticism could make him a league fixture for years to come.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Ford plays at an elite level," Deren said. "He has the quickness, strength and overall talent to be an All-Big Ten defensive player."</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">RELATED: <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2015/02/national-signing-day-preview-rutgers.html">Rutgers' top-six commits most likely play right away in 2015</a></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Zach Venesky</b>, OL </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">— Few offensive linemen play immediately at Rutgers, but this projected center has all the tools to follow <b>Betim Bujari</b> as a four-year starter, Deren said.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"He is not afraid to mix things up and routinely punishes opponents," Deren said. "Having a year to redshirt and learn the system could be adequate enough time before inserting him into the starting lineup."</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Kamaal Seymour</b>, DT </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">— This signee from Grand Street Campus (N.Y.) held off late advances from Penn State in becoming a rare breed of interior linemen.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He's still raw, but Seymour could project as a freakish athlete against Big Ten offensive lines.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"You will not find too many 6-foot-5, 290-pound freshman defensive tackles who are as athletic as Seymour," Deren said. "He is still a bit on the raw side, but has very high potential. Learning the finer points of the game and improving his technique could take him a long way in a hurry."</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">MORE: <a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20150126/ex-coach-has-no-doubt-rutgers-hayden-rettig-can-play-pro-style">Can Hayden Rettig play pro syle? High school coach thinks so</a></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Isaiah Johnson</b>, LB </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">— Yes, this juco linebacker from San Francisco only has two years of eligibility remaining, but he has only one real season of experience in the front seven.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A former running back, Johnson should compete for playing time immediately in Rutgers' suddenly crowded linebacker room.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"He can play both middle and strongside linebacker and closes in a hurry," Deren said. "His speed compliments his 6-foot-2, 225-pound frame and he will be ready to step right in."</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Jawuan Harris</b>, WR </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">— The late flip from Florida Atlantic brings even more youthful depth to Rutgers' perimeter. His playmaking ability and Florida roots draw early comparisons to <b>Janarion Grant</b>.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Harris not only has the ability to leave defenders in the dust, he has a habit of making it look easy," Deren said. "He is quick, fast and possesses excellent hands. The Florida wide receiver is not the biggest player, but he is able to create space and mismatches with his speed."</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Mount Holly, NJ, USA39.9931438 -74.787939339.9444853 -74.8686203 40.0418023 -74.7072583tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642388759742250467.post-17888795508061560952015-02-02T09:40:00.003-05:002015-02-02T09:40:53.745-05:00National Signing Day preview: Rutgers commits most likely to play in 2015<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S5F3nxxORGY/VM-MRkts5DI/AAAAAAAABxY/anAJVa8vZ9U/s1600/AP56901556484%2B(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S5F3nxxORGY/VM-MRkts5DI/AAAAAAAABxY/anAJVa8vZ9U/s1600/AP56901556484%2B(2).jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(AP)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">By Tyler Barto</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Twitter:</i> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_Barto">@Tyler_Barto</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>tbarto@trentonian.com</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Wednesday's <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2015/01/rutgers-football-to-provide-wall-to.html">National Signing Day becomes the first official marker</a> for college football's new calendar year. Rutgers' current haul sits at 24 commits, <a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20150119/player-by-player-look-at-rutgers-footballs-early-enrollees">five of whom will enroll early</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I reached out to <b>Sam Hellman</b>, a Rutgers recruiting analyst for scarletreport.com, for his list of committed prospects most likely to play right away. Listed in alphabetical order.</span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>Blessuan Austin</b>, CB </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">—The prep-school corner from Milford Academy (N.Y.) has attractive size (6-foot-2, 195 pounds) and already has some grooming as a postgrad.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Austin is a strong athlete, and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">needed a semester of prep school to get things together," Hellman said. "There is </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">plenty of winnable time at cornerback, especially when you look at the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">injury history of some other guys.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">MORE: <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2015/01/five-burning-questions-for-rutgers_3.html">Five questions Rutgers' defense must answer this spring</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Rashad Blunt</b>, WR </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">— Outside of <b>Leonte Carroo</b>, the Big Ten's top returning receiver, and <b>Andre Patton</b>, little proven outside depth lingers. Another Jacksonville commit, Blunt could fill that void.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Blunt, like everyone here," Hellman said, "also has special teams </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">potential to go along with a good mix of skills at wide receiver."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">MORE: <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2015/01/five-burning-questions-for-rutgers.html">How will Carroo's usage look in year two with Ralph Friedgen?</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Marques Ford</b>, DE </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">— Rutgers' highest-ranked commit flipped from Tennessee last week, and he'll immediately bolster a defensive line that could stand to add some athleticism.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At 6-f00t-3, 222 pounds, he'll likely start at the rush position. But that doesn't rule out an eventual move to defensive end. It's an immediate upgrade.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Nakia Griffin</b>, TE — Following <b>Tyler Kroft's</b> NFL declaration, this position is completely up for grabs. Incumbent Nick <b>Arcidiacono</b> showed little as a receiver, and a handful of redshirt freshmen and walk-ons follow.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Griffin is an ideal redshirt, but sometimes need </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">overrules readiness," Hellman said. "</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Griffin is athletic with good hands, and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">that may be enough to get him on the field right away.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Jawuan Harris</b>, WR — The recently flipped commit from Florida Atlantic flew under the radar during his recruitment, but he could enter the muddled fray on the perimeter.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Harris's recruitment and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">high-school body of work compares favorably to <b>Janarion Grant</b>," Hellman said, referring to Rutgers' slot receiver and returner. "At St. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thomas Aquinas (Fla.), he's seen plenty of elite competition."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>Isaiah Johnson</b>, LB </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">— The juco transfer from San Francisco will likely battle for one of two starting spots, pending where the coaching staff prefers leading tackler <b>Steve Longa</b>.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Johnson is a good downhill linebacker that gets through the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">gaps," Hellman said.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Mount Holly, NJ, USA39.9931438 -74.787939339.9444853 -74.8686203 40.0418023 -74.7072583tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642388759742250467.post-48290947114053061882015-01-28T17:55:00.002-05:002015-01-28T17:55:33.854-05:00Rutgers football to provide wall-to-wall coverage on National Signing Day<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oC-3KnfgwY8/VMlocCiRJrI/AAAAAAAABxA/tW0MbjiY9Ak/s1600/AP940993852794%2B(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oC-3KnfgwY8/VMlocCiRJrI/AAAAAAAABxA/tW0MbjiY9Ak/s1600/AP940993852794%2B(2).jpg" height="442" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(AP)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">By Tyler Barto</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Twitter: </i><a href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_Barto">@Tyler_Barto</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>tbarto@trentonian.com</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rutgers athletics' scarletknights.com will provide coverage for National Signing Day beginning at 8 a.m. on Feb. 4 when faxes reach its Hale Center facility.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">RVision will host the early morning show from inside the coaches' offices wing, near where head coach <b>Kyle Flood</b> will address the media at 1:30 p.m.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Flood will also appear on the Big Ten Network between 3:30-5:30 p.m. on its signing day show, along with other media outlets.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rutgers will update its social-media feeds as each player from the class of 2015 has his national letter of intent verified.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'll be at the signing-day ceremony for Pennsbury (Pa.) running back <b>Charles Snorweah</b>, who capped an impressive season with a district title and <a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20141121/snorweah-puts-upper-dublin-to-sleep">nearly 300 yards and four touchdowns in one playoff game</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You can follow along on Twitter and here, rutgersrundown.blogspot.com, throughout the day, for multimedia content.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Trenton, NJ, USA40.2170534 -74.74293840000001440.1200519 -74.904299900000012 40.314054899999995 -74.581576900000016tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642388759742250467.post-63391234946811765232015-01-21T12:07:00.004-05:002015-01-21T12:08:29.623-05:00ESPN's Mel Kiper views Rutgers quarterback Gary Nova as undrafted free agent<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVHlROBch7U/VL_cxA2PhvI/AAAAAAAABws/VJhXZUeRa4o/s1600/AP157278943476%2B(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVHlROBch7U/VL_cxA2PhvI/AAAAAAAABws/VJhXZUeRa4o/s1600/AP157278943476%2B(2).jpg" height="492" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(AP)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">By Tyler Barto</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Twitter: </i><a href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_Barto">@Tyler_Barto</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>tbarto@trentonian.com</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Mel Kiper Jr.</b> was intrigued more by a Rutgers player that opted not to enter the NFL Draft, but he said Wednesday that left guard <b>Kaleb Johnson</b> could end up being a third-day selection.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Johnson <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2014/12/rutgers-receiver-leonte-carroo-lineman.html">started a Rutgers-high 50 career games at three different positions</a> and could be a swing lineman in the NFL, where teams often carry only eight players there on game day.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"I look at the Rutgers guys, and some of the guys went back," Kiper said on his draft conference call. "<b>(Leonte) Carroo</b> went back. But I think when you look at Johnson, maybe in the late rounds he would be a possibility. I don't see anybody else of consequence that is going to get drafted high outside of <b>(Tyler) Kroft</b>. .... Johnson would be the guy that would at least have a chance to go late, somewhere in the fifth- to seventh-round area."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">RELATED: <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2015/01/espn-analyst-mel-kiper-sees-rutgers.html">Kiper on his evaluation of Kroft, Rutgers' top draft-eligible player</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Kiper said he considers longtime starting quarterback <b>Gary Nova</b> an undrafted free agent.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nova finished his <a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20141225/plenty-at-stake-for-rutgers-football-in-quick-lane-bowl">Rutgers career in the top two all time</a> in passing yards (9,258), attempts (1,245), completions (689), touchdowns (73) and interceptions (51).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Average size (6-foot-2, 220 pounds) and accuracy (career 55-percent passer) could hurt Nova's draft stock. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He appeared in the Medal of Honor Bowl on Jan. 10, when he finished 6-for-14 for 85 yards and an INT.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rutgers graduate assistant <b>Mike Teel</b> was the school's last drafted quarterback after he went in the sixth round in 2008.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642388759742250467.post-53024265090673676202015-01-21T11:40:00.000-05:002015-01-21T12:01:24.402-05:00ESPN analyst Mel Kiper sees Rutgers tight end Tyler Kroft as third-round pick<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oS1tEmSX2XY/VL_MGZC_2MI/AAAAAAAABwc/RmiHevm8Elk/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oS1tEmSX2XY/VL_MGZC_2MI/AAAAAAAABwc/RmiHevm8Elk/s1600/photo.JPG" height="320" width="234" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(John Blaine — For The Trentonian)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>By Tyler Barto</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Twitter:</i> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_Barto">@Tyler_Barto</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>tbarto@trentonian.com</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Tyler Kroft's</b> drop in numbers won't noticeably affect his draft stock, ESPN draft analyst <b>Mel Kiper Jr.</b> said Wednesday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pegged as a possible All-Big Ten first teamer, Kroft finished 2014 fourth on the team in targets (42) despite playing the second-most snaps (697) as a junior.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">"Kroft I thought going into the year would be a little more highly rated," Kiper said on a conference call. "I was a little surprised he came out. I think on just on pure ability, which you've seen, (he's) probably a third rounder."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">RELATED: <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2015/01/by-numbers-examining-rutgers-footballs.html">Complete breakdown of Rutgers' snaps, targets plays under Ralph Friedgen</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Kroft finished last season with 269 yards on 24 receptions, noticeable lows from a 2013 performance that warranted preseason All-America honors.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Under former offensive coordinator <b>Ron Prince</b>, Kroft capped his first season as a starter with 573 yards and four touchdowns on 43 catches.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But Kroft <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2014/12/rutgers-tight-end-tyler-kroft-declares.html">cautioned against reading too much into his production</a> when he declared for the draft.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"I just evaluated how I played this year and how I've come in all facets of the game," Kroft said. "I know a lot of people get caught up in the numbers, but I'm confident in my tape and I feel like it's the right time for me."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Kroft cited a shallow tight-end class when he declared, but Kiper says teams can still find valuable chips in a pass-heavy NFL. Kroft will be weighed against fellow Big Ten tight ends <b>Maxx Williams</b> (Minnesota), <b>Jesse James</b> (Penn State) and <b>Jeff Heuerman</b> (Ohio State), among others.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">"It's not bad in terms of guys that can play in this league catching the football," Kiper said. "You're not looking for guys that can block. You're not looking for in-line guys. ... They're all different. Some can be in line, some can be flexed out, some are H-backs ... some are glorified receivers."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">Kroft <a href="http://sportsagentblog.com/2015/01/10/trio-of-prospects-sign-with-priority-sports-mike-mccartney/">signed with Priority Sports agent</a> <b>Mike McCartney</b>, who also represents <b>Mohamed Sanu</b>, among others. He's currently training at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">"Another great day of training down at IMG!!" Kroft tweeted Tuesday. "Getting better everyday, one step closer to my dreams!"</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Mount Holly, NJ, USA39.9931438 -74.787939339.9444853 -74.8686203 40.0418023 -74.7072583tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642388759742250467.post-78954577327946399912015-01-13T14:59:00.000-05:002015-01-13T14:59:43.676-05:00Rutgers football agrees to home-and-home nonconference series with Virginia Tech<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hWFBf41eplc/VLVyvHaEA_I/AAAAAAAABwI/ITmNHdb41sU/s1600/AP696437635800%2B(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hWFBf41eplc/VLVyvHaEA_I/AAAAAAAABwI/ITmNHdb41sU/s1600/AP696437635800%2B(2).jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(AP)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">By Tyler Barto</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Twitter:</i> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_Barto">@Tyler_Barto</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>tbarto@trentonian.com</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rutgers filled a future nonconference hole Tuesday in announcing a home-and-home series for 2023-24 with Virginia Tech.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rutgers last played the Hokies in the 2012 Russell Athletic Bowl and met regularly as Big East opponents for 12 years.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">“We are thrilled to renew this long regional rivalry,” AD </span><b style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">Julie Hermann</b><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"> said in a statement. “The chance for us, a Big Ten program, to compete against a great ACC opponent is a tremendous opportunity and gives our fans the ability to easily follow us to an important nonconference away game.”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">Adding Virginia Tech fills another power-five void in the nonconference, a near mandate for consideration for the College Football Playoff. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">In 2016, the Big Ten moves to a nine-game conference schedule, shrinking the nonconference field and elevating the need to add high-profile opponents early in the season.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">A look at Rutgers' future nonconference dates:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" valign="top" width="106"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Opponent</b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" valign="top" width="106"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Wash. State</div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" valign="top" width="106"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Kansas</div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" valign="top" width="106"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Washington</div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" valign="top" width="106"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Miami (Fla.)</div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" valign="top" width="106"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
UCLA</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" valign="top" width="106"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Year(s)</b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" valign="top" width="106"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
2015</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" valign="top" width="106"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
2015, 2018</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" valign="top" width="106"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
2016-17</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" valign="top" width="106"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
2018-19</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" valign="top" width="106"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
2020-21</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">Virginia Tech finished this season at 7-6, another down season for head coach <b>Frank Beamer</b>, the longest tenured at his position in the country.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">Beamer agreed to a two-year contract extension through 2019 in August, first-year AD <b>Whit Babcock's</b> first big decision in Blacksburg.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">Rutgers head coach <b>Kyle Flood</b> also <a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20140911/kyle-flood-rutgers-agree-on-two-year-contract-extension">inked a two-year extension through 2019</a> earlier this season.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">Beamer dealt with health issues that prevented him from coaching on the field in the Hokies' Military Bowl victory against Cincinnati. He would be 77 when the teams meet in 2023.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Trenton, NJ, USA40.2170534 -74.74293840000001440.1200519 -74.904299900000012 40.314054899999995 -74.581576900000016tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642388759742250467.post-17747247796237577572015-01-04T21:06:00.000-05:002015-01-04T21:13:39.925-05:00By the numbers: Examining Rutgers football's offense under Ralph Friedgen<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="315" id="tout_embed" src="//www.tout.com/embed/touts/yulu0d" width="560"></iframe>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>By Tyler Barto</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Twitter:</i> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_Barto">@Tyler_Barto</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>tbarto@trentonian.com</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The 2014 season brought a thorough return to the pro-style system head coach <b>Kyle Flood</b> covets, and that will likely repeat next year with offensive coordinator <b>Ralph Friedgen</b> anticipated back.</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"It’s been really a wonderful experience," Friedgen said </span><a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20141130/could-rutgers-ralph-friedgen-have-coached-his-final-big-ten-game" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">after the season finale Nov. 29</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, the last time he's met the media. "I love working with coach Flood and the staff and the players. It’s just a little different, that’s all.”</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Below you'll find complete results from Friedgen's first season in Piscataway. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">All findings are unofficial and based on week-by-week film reviews. (You can access them on this website under each month's tab.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Player</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Carroo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Grant<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Patton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Kroft<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Tsimis<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Burton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Turzilli<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Peoples<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Targets</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">102<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">48<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">44<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">42<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">33<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">21<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">19<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">12<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Catches</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">55<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">20<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">24<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">19<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">15<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">8<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.85pt;" valign="top" width="80"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Player</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.85pt;" valign="top" width="80"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Goodwin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.85pt;" valign="top" width="80"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">James<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.85pt;" valign="top" width="80"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Agudosi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.85pt;" valign="top" width="80"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Arcidiacono<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.85pt;" valign="top" width="80"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Flanagan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.85pt;" valign="top" width="80"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Martin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.85pt;" valign="top" width="80"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hicks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.85pt;" valign="top" width="80"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Targets</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.85pt;" valign="top" width="80"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.85pt;" valign="top" width="80"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">8<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.85pt;" valign="top" width="80"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.85pt;" valign="top" width="80"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.85pt;" valign="top" width="80"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.85pt;" valign="top" width="80"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.85pt;" valign="top" width="80"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.85pt;" valign="top" width="80"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Catches</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.85pt;" valign="top" width="80"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.85pt;" valign="top" width="80"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.85pt;" valign="top" width="80"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.85pt;" valign="top" width="80"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.85pt;" valign="top" width="80"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.85pt;" valign="top" width="80"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.85pt;" valign="top" width="80"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tight end <b>Tyler Kroft</b>, one of only two departing skill-position players, finished with two fewer targets than <b>Andre Patton</b> despite playing in three more games and taking near-max reps in each.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">RELATED: <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2014/12/rutgers-tight-end-tyler-kroft-declares.html">Kroft declares for NFL Draft, leaving tight end position in doubt</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">His potential replacements, <b>Nick Arcidiacono</b> and <b>Matt Flanagan</b>, played sparingly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.85pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Player</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.85pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Carroo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.85pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Kroft<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.85pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Burton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.9pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Tsimis<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.9pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Patton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.9pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Turzilli<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.9pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Peoples<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.9pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Grant<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.9pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Arcidiacono<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.85pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Snaps</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.85pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">699<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.85pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">697<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.85pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">600<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.9pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">299<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.9pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">297<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.9pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">254<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.9pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">211<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.9pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">200<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.9pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">167<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.85pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Games</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.85pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">13<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.85pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">13<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.85pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">13<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.9pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">12<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.9pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.9pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">11<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.9pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">11<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.9pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">13<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 47.9pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Player</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Goodwin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Martin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">James<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hicks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Agudosi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Flanagan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bergen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Scarff<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Snaps</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">165<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">152<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">135<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">103<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">76<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">67<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">28<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Games</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">11<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">12<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">12<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">13<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">13<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>NOTES</b>: Kroft played one snap against Tulane because of a lingering injury. ... Patton appeared on one play at Nebraska and <b>Janarion Grant</b> <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2014/10/by-numbers-rutgers-puts-chris-laviano.html">didn't line up on offense because of a one-half suspension</a>. ... <b>Desmon Peoples</b> played one snap against Indiana before suffering an injury. ... <b>Andrew Turzilli</b> appeared on only two plays against Washington State with a lingering injury.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Friedgen's eight most-used formations and play counts:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Formation</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Gun
11<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Off-I<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I-form<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">12<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> I-form heavy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Trips
base<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">11<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Off-I<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">heavy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Plays</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">160<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">145<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">115<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">89<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">68<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">62<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">38<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.2pt;" valign="top" width="71"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">34<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="240" id="tout_embed" src="//www.tout.com/embed/touts/1zqqzs" width="420"></iframe><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's clear Friedgen felt most comfortable with Rutgers' base personnel (two backs, one tight end) on the field. And he could never be called a micro-manager, often leaving the same five skill-position players on the field for entire drives.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />MORE: <a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20141022/as-spread-offense-rises-in-popularity-rutgers-football-sticks-to-system">Despite rise of spread offenses, Rutgers sticks to its system</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How much that strategy will change with a new fullback (replacing a four-year starter) and tight end remains to be seen. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But as long as Flood holds dear a pro-style set, certain philosophies will endure, even with a dearth of talent returning on the perimeter. The spring will provide a clearer picture. </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642388759742250467.post-56727722370471609682015-01-03T19:40:00.001-05:002015-01-03T19:40:24.332-05:00Five burning questions for Rutgers football's defense for Big Ten follow-up<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6-zwympP2_A/VKiLzjRisiI/AAAAAAAABv0/kqf5KJu8dt4/s1600/AP897553470642%2B(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6-zwympP2_A/VKiLzjRisiI/AAAAAAAABv0/kqf5KJu8dt4/s1600/AP897553470642%2B(2).jpg" height="320" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(AP)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>By Tyler Barto</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Twitter:</i> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_Barto">@Tyler_Barto</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>tbarto@trentonian.com</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">PISCATAWAY — On Friday, I reviewed the <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2015/01/five-burning-questions-for-rutgers.html">most pressing issues facing Rutgers' offense this spring</a> and into its Big Ten encore. Now let's look at some defensive questions.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>5. How will the safety position look with the graduations of Johnathan Aiken and Lorenzo Waters?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Former DePaul Catholic teammates <b>Kiy Hester</b> and <b>Davon Jacobs</b> will likely battle it out at strong safety. Waters has <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2014/12/safety-kiy-hester-already-captures-eye.html">already noticed Hester's maturity after he transferred</a> this fall from Miami (Fla.).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While <b>Delon Stephenson</b> appears an obvious pencil-in at free safety, he struggled as a tackler this season. He'll often be Rutgers' last line of defense. Stay tuned.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>4. What's going on at the nose tackle position?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Head coach <b>Kyle Flood</b> said last week that he spoke with Daryl Stephenson (who has one more year of eligibility) after the latter contemplated not returning.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Should that be the case, Rutgers faces a severe shortage of experience along the interior. <b>Kevin Wilkins </b>redshirted, as did three-technique <b>Eric Wiafe</b>. <b>Sebastian Joseph</b> isn't necessarily better suited at nose. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">RELATED: <a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20141226/rutgers-football-position-breakdown-post-big-ten">Position-by-position look at Rutgers' returners in 2015</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>3. How much will defensive end Kemoko Turay develop as a sophomore?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The 6-foot-6 edge rusher warranted more playing time on early downs late in the season and was on the field for a game-clinching stop against Maryland.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Look for Turay to add more weight to his frame and eventually become an every-down player at the rush end position, which also returns <b>Quanzell Lambert</b>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>2. Will leading tackler Steve Longa return to middle linebacker?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Much of that depends on Rutgers' faith in likely starting candidates <b>L.J. Liston</b> and <b>T.J. Taylor</b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Liston, who appears better suited at MIKE, got a brief audition against Tulane and North Carolina in the Quick Lane Bowl. Results were mixed.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"What we'll do going forward, that'll be a little bit based on what the personnel is around him," Flood said of Longa. "It's not a decision that you make in a vacuum — you've got to look at everybody at that position group and who are the best three guys to get on the field." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>1. What will defensive coordinator's Joe Rossi's system look like in year two?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rutgers' run defense ranked 106th nationally, even as Rossi at times devoted another defender to the line of scrimmage in a 3-4 alignment.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Still, it's difficult to draw conclusions on Rutgers' improvement given the steep talent incline and culture differences from the AAC in 2013 to the Big Ten.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"I don't know that I would compare them," Flood said. "I think we made significant improvements this year defensively from the year before. I thought we were able to do some things this year on certain plays that a year ago we couldn't make. Can we be better? Sure, and that's going to be our job at every position on the team."</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Trenton, NJ, USA40.2170534 -74.74293840000001440.1200519 -74.904299900000012 40.314054899999995 -74.581576900000016tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642388759742250467.post-26231386146729462842015-01-02T15:13:00.002-05:002015-01-02T15:14:32.580-05:00Five burning questions for Rutgers football's Big Ten encore<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bELp3sWYogg/VKb7x0aZglI/AAAAAAAABvk/h6qPm4kwPYE/s1600/carroo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bELp3sWYogg/VKb7x0aZglI/AAAAAAAABvk/h6qPm4kwPYE/s1600/carroo.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(AP)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>By Tyler Barto</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Twitter:</i><a href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_Barto">@Tyler_Barto</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>tbarto@trentonian.com</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While Rutgers' <a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20141226/rutgers-tops-north-carolina-in-quick-lane-bowl">dominant Quick Lane Bowl victory Dec. 26 offered a proper sendoff</a> to the Scarlet Knights' first season in the Big Ten, their coaching staff is already looking forward to 2015 — even if their players have a few weeks off.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">With that in mind, here are five burning questions for Rutgers' offense entering the spring:</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>5. How will Leonte Carroo's usage change?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Before announcing he would return to school for his final season, Rutgers' star receiver thought fondly of <b>Mohamed Sanu's</b> role in 2011, when he was positioned all over the field.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">With a broken-in quarterback taking the reins, could offensive coordinator <b>Ralph Friedgen</b> find unique ways to get the ball in Carroo's hands?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder has yet to record a rush and often lined up at the X position in Rutgers' offense. Putting Carroo in the slot and finding new ways to use him could enhance his pro value.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">RELATED: <a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20141226/rutgers-football-position-breakdown-post-big-ten">Position-by-position breakdown of Rutgers' returners</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>4. Who will replace departed tight end Tyler Kroft?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Five eligible players — three redshirted — could succeed Kroft, who <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2014/12/rutgers-tight-end-tyler-kroft-declares.html">announced he will enter the NFL Draft last week</a>, combined for two receptions for 17 yards this season.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The most likely replacement, <b>Nick Arcidiacono</b> <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2014/09/how-rutgers-footballs-offense-could.html">missed the first four games of the season</a> and has yet to prove he's a competent receiving threat. Two walk-ons and two redshirt freshmen follow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Though Rutgers' pass targets are based on progressions and reads, head coach <b>Kyle Flood</b> says, the tight end wasn't featured much under Friedgen. Will that change in year two?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>3. How will Rutgers string together the interior of its offensive line?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Three departing seniors take 113 combined starts with them, and little proven quality rests behind them, <a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20141231/chris-laviano-others-to-vie-for-rutgers-quarterback-spot">Flood lamented in his postseason teleconference</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"That one is one we're still going to be maybe a year away from feeling comfortable with the amount of depth we have," Flood said.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Right guard <b>Chris Muller</b> could shift to center, as was a contingency plan this season, while backups <b>Derrick Nelson </b>and <b>Dorian Miller</b> and a handful of redshirt freshmen could campaign for playing time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>2. What will become of Rutgers' deepest group of running backs in years?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Not much, judging from Flood's postseason comments. Flood saw <b>Paul James</b> suffer a significant injury for the second year in a row before four others lobbied for playing time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Flood will likely keep the position intact and let the group naturally erode.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sophomores-to-be <b>Josh Hicks </b>and <b>Robert Martin</b> proved capable of every-down-back status, while <b>Desmon Peoples</b> showed promise in bursts. <b>Justin Goodwin's</b> playing time waned late.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>1. Who will get the nod to replace longtime starter Gary Nova at quarterback?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On the surface it looks like a two-man race between <b>Chris Laviano</b>, whom Flood pointed to early given his backup status, and LSU transfer <b>Hayden Rettig</b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The latter has <a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20141229/rutgers-hayden-rettigs-pro-style-education-becomes-top-priority">worked minimally in Rutgers' pro-style system</a>, which will be his top priority in the offseason. Nova said he has one of the strongest arms he's seen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Given Flood's history with quarterback competitions, this one should stretch into summer.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Trenton, NJ, USA40.2170534 -74.74293840000001440.1200519 -74.904299900000012 40.314054899999995 -74.581576900000016tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642388759742250467.post-56283113223253205642014-12-30T16:35:00.002-05:002014-12-30T18:18:53.597-05:00Rutgers tight end Tyler Kroft declares for the NFL Draft<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3_8XvgP_vF8/VKMafO_idBI/AAAAAAAABvU/IcOHUHb31AE/s1600/kroft.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3_8XvgP_vF8/VKMafO_idBI/AAAAAAAABvU/IcOHUHb31AE/s1600/kroft.JPG" height="320" width="234" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(John Blaine — For The<br /> Trentonian)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span id="goog_2147358627"></span><span id="goog_2147358628"></span>By Tyler Barto</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Twitter:</i> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_Barto">@Tyler_Barto</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">tbarto@trentonian.com</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />PISCATAWAY — Rutgers tight end <b>Tyler Kroft</b> will declare for the NFL Draft and forgo his final year of eligibility, head coach Kyle Flood announced Tuesday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Kroft finished 2014 with 24 catches for 269 yards and no touchdowns, <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2014/10/despite-down-numbers-rutgers-tyler.html">all drops from a sophomore season that made him a popular preseason All-America candidate</a>.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But Kroft based his decision more on intangibles.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"I just evaluated how I played this year and how I've come in all facets of the game," Kroft said. "I know a lot of people get caught up in the numbers , but I'm confident in my tape and I feel like it's the right time for me."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Kroft said he spoke with nearly the entire coaching staff and ex-players for feedback. He also evaluated the current crop of NFL-bound tight ends.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Kroft becomes the first draft-eligible Rutgers player to leave early since <b>Brandon Coleman</b> (2013), who went undrafted. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He said he doesn't fear the same fate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"There's obviously a risk, but I don't think I would not get drafted," Kroft said. "Obviously if you're going to play this game you have to be very confident in what you can do. I know that'll show through."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Under former offensive coordinator <b>Ron Prince</b>, Kroft finished 2013 with 43 receptions for 573 yards and four TDs, all <a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20140901/rutgers-tyler-kroft-developing-into-elite-tight-end">highs for a Rutgers tight end in recent memory</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In Kroft's place, Rutgers will turn to a combination of <b>Nick Arcidiacono</b>, walk-ons <b>Matt Flanagan</b> and <b>Charles Scarrf</b>, and redshirt freshmen <b>George Behr</b> and <b>Logan Lister</b>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They combined for two catches for 17 yards this season. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"It's a room where we've got some guys we're excited about," Flood said. "I think it's going to take a lot of people to replace the production that Kroft has given us over the last two years."</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Trenton, NJ, USA40.2170534 -74.74293840000001440.1200519 -74.904299900000012 40.314054899999995 -74.581576900000016tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642388759742250467.post-68424019500754564942014-12-29T15:37:00.000-05:002014-12-29T15:43:16.941-05:00Jim Harbaugh's Michigan signing adds to Big Ten arms race<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>By Tyler Barto</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Twitter: </i><a href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_Barto">@Tyler_Barto</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>tbarto@trentonian.com</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">PISCATAWAY — Show me the money.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That's the message <b>Jim Harbaugh</b> sent to Michigan in early December, and it paid off Monday when ESPN reported the two sides were close to a deal that would pay the San Francisco 49ers head coach near $48 million through six years.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">With the Harbaugh signing a near-formality, the Big Ten East Division would house four of the nation's top-eight coaching salaries, <a href="http://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/salaries/">based on a report from USA Today</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Michigan State's <b>Mark Dantonio</b> earned the second-highest coaching salary in 2014 with $5.6 million in total pay, followed by Ohio State's <b>Urban Meyer</b> (No. 6, $4.5 million) and Penn State's <b>James Franklin</b> (No. 8, $4.3 million).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">MORE: <a href="http://bit.ly/1Bfs0AP">Hayden Rettig begins education as Rutgers pro-style quarterback</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Iowa's <b>Kirk Ferentz</b> finished ninth with $4.075 million in total pay.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rutgers head coach <b>Kyle Flood</b>, meanwhile, finished last in the league with $987,000. Flood signed a two-year extension in October that <a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20140911/kyle-flood-rutgers-agree-on-two-year-contract-extension">could pay him as much as $3.4 million in total new money</a> by the time the contract runs out in 2019.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Flood's buyout also doubled to $1.4 million, but his salary remains the lowest in the Big Ten.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Report: Huggins to transfer from Rutgers</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Savon Huggins</b> will not take part in what could be a loaded backfield this spring, announcing he'll transfer for his fifth season, according to a ScarletReport.com report.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rivals.com's top-rated New Jersey recruit in 2011, Huggins <a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20141007/for-rutgers-football-strength-staff-plays-major-role-in-development">received a medical redshirt this season</a> after rehabbing a shoulder injury.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In three seasons, Huggins totaled 842 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. He would be immediately eligible provided his destination school offers a graduate program Rutgers does not.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Trenton, NJ, USA40.2170534 -74.74293840000001440.1200519 -74.904299900000012 40.314054899999995 -74.581576900000016tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642388759742250467.post-83654207586955558532014-12-23T12:20:00.001-05:002014-12-23T12:20:18.989-05:00Rutgers receiver Leonte Carroo listed as probable for Quick Lane Bowl<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qWRH7jRs-Gg/VJmN3nkTQqI/AAAAAAAABu8/HzeJzIwwevQ/s1600/carroo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qWRH7jRs-Gg/VJmN3nkTQqI/AAAAAAAABu8/HzeJzIwwevQ/s1600/carroo.jpg" height="320" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(AP)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>By Tyler Barto</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Twitter:</i> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_Barto">@Tyler_Barto</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>tbarto@trentonian.com</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After a few days shrouded in mystery, head coach <b>Kyle Flood</b> made the announcement Tuesday everyone awaited: <b>Leonte Carroo</b> (upper-body injury) is listed as probable for Friday's Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit, per several reports.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When asked about Carroo's status last week, Flood </span><a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2014/12/rutgers-football-injury-report-could.html" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">deferred to his to-be-announced injury report</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, which during the season is released twice a week.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Per Rutgers policy, all injury updates and specifics must come through Flood, which veiled Carroo's status for nearly a week.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20141218/rutgers-receiver-carlton-agudosi-ready-to-step-up-in-quick-lane-bowl">Carlton Agudosi, Carroo's backup at X receiver, ready if needed</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Carroo, who is contemplating early entry to the NFL draft, finished the season with 1,043 yards and 10 touchdowns (both second in the Big Ten) on 53 receptions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Carroo is two touchdowns shy of breaking Rutgers' all-time receiving record (20). He missed the final three games last season after suffering a head injury and was <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2014/08/rutgers-leonte-carroo-says-he-wont-be.html">closely monitored during the spring and training camp</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By all accounts he returned to form quickly, recording 161 yards and a TD on five grabs in Rutgers' season opener against Washington State.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Mount Holly, NJ, USA39.9931438 -74.787939339.9444853 -74.8686203 40.0418023 -74.7072583tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642388759742250467.post-48450092545178514572014-12-22T13:10:00.002-05:002014-12-22T13:10:27.579-05:00Quick hits from Rutgers football practice, Quick Lane Bowl game week<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0g8s3pA0FVs/VJheG4lE67I/AAAAAAAABus/hZEj7gT1zhQ/s1600/flood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0g8s3pA0FVs/VJheG4lE67I/AAAAAAAABus/hZEj7gT1zhQ/s1600/flood.jpg" height="320" width="231" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(AP)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>By Tyler Barto</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Twitter:</i> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_Barto">@Tyler_Barto</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>tbarto@trentonian.com</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">PISCATAWAY —Here are some quick hits from Monday's practice, the final one at Rutgers before the team departs for the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit:</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Head coach <b>Kyle Flood</b> said he will release an injury report before Tuesday's practice. Flood deferred to the report <a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20141218/rutgers-receiver-carlton-agudosi-ready-to-step-up-in-quick-lane-bowl">when asked last week about specific players' status</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Quarterback <b>Gary Nova</b> is anxious to see how the spring's quarterback competition plays out. "I know the guys in that room are very competitive," Nova said. "They're all very talented. Coach Flood is going to have a tough decision on his hands. Whoever he picks, I'm sure they're going to do a good job."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Lorenzo Waters</b> said he sees few freshman qualities in redshirting safety <b>Kiy Hester</b>, who <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2014/12/safety-kiy-hester-already-captures-eye.html">could be his heir apparent in the secondary</a>. "He's definitely aggressive, not only on the field but in his approach to the game," Waters said. "He's definitely grabbed me a few times, just going over certain things. I like his work ethic and I like the way he's attacked these practices." ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="235" id="tout_embed" src="//www.tout.com/embed/touts/w51ifj" width="420"></iframe>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Defensive tackle <b>Darius Hamilton</b> said North Carolina's quick pace affects how Rutgers gets adjusted at the line of scrimmage with its defensive calls. "It can cause chaos," Hamilton said. "If you're not mentally prepared or know what you're doing, it can cause chaos. The biggest thing we're going to have to do is communicate." The Tar Heels ran 919 plays this season to Rutgers' 784. ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2014/12/rutgers-football-shares-postseason.html">Rutgers understands North Carolina's coaching turnover before bowl</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">President <b>Robert L. Barchi</b> attended practice and addressed the team afterward. "I think it means a lot to our program that Dr. Barchi would take some time out of his day to come down and watch a little bit of practice," head coach Flood said. "I know as an ex-college football player he enjoys that part of it." Barchi played in college at Georgetown.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Piscataway Township, NJ, USA40.54564 -74.4608170000000240.4491205 -74.622178500000018 40.6421595 -74.299455500000022tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642388759742250467.post-87848589103234971072014-12-21T16:10:00.001-05:002014-12-21T16:10:11.464-05:00Gareef Glashen helps spearhead Rutgers football's improved pass defense<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gSrBaDV9Zs0/VJc23yje3_I/AAAAAAAABuc/yUbvD_-zvUM/s1600/AP955445712552%2B(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gSrBaDV9Zs0/VJc23yje3_I/AAAAAAAABuc/yUbvD_-zvUM/s1600/AP955445712552%2B(2).jpg" height="320" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(AP)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>By Tyler Barto</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Twitter:</i> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_Barto">@Tyler_Barto</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>tbarto@trentonian.com</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">PISCATAWAY — <b>Gareef Glashen</b> remembers it mostly for fans storming the field afterward, but his performance Oct. 4 against Michigan's <b>Devin Funchess</b> went a long way toward the end result.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Funchess, who <a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20141201/rutgers-receiver-leonte-carroo-sets-sights-on-nfl-draft-decision">recently declared for the NFL draft</a>, was held to five receptions for 71 yards, a platform that saw Rutgers' secondary numbers improve across the board from a dismal 2013 season.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"It's always important," Glashen said, "because when you have top receivers like that, once they get their game going and they start feeling good out there and making plays, it's hard to get them off track."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Glashen proved <a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20141001/rutgers-gareef-glashens-improved-tackling-cuts-down-big-plays">arguably Rutgers' most improved player this season</a>, accounting for a team-high nine pass breakups, the most for a corner since <b>Logan Ryan's</b> 17 in 2012.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rutgers finished with a pass-efficiency defense rating of 134.09 (89th nationally), a <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2014/11/variety-of-factors-lead-to-rutgers.html">drastic improvement from last year's bottom-five ending</a> and program-worst 4,056 pass yards allowed.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="235" id="tout_embed" src="//www.tout.com/embed/touts/lr9tu9" width="420"></iframe>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
"Just playing good defense period is always good for the confidence," Glashen said. "I'm a confident guy. If something doesn't go right, I stay positive about it and look forward to the next play and making the next play."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While pass figures vary in each conference, leading to inflated or deflated numbers, Rutgers' stable supporting cast was a positive in 2014.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Glashen started every game this season. That's <i>twice</i> as many starts as any Rutgers corner a year ago, when 11 players earned the distinction at least once in the secondary.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Last year was kind of rough, but I'm confident in myself," Glashen said. "I don't want to say you have seasons like that, but it was what it was. You can't go back on it."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Despite the all-around improvement, head coach <b>Kyle Flood</b> won't be making any grand proclamations on the secondary until he evaluates it in the offseason.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Right now our focus is really on trying to make improvements week to week," Flood said. "We've looked at it a little bit from a seasonal standpoint, but not the way we will at the end of the season. I'll hold off until the end of the season."</span><br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="400" scrolling="no" src="//e.infogr.am/rutgers-pass-defense-numbers" style="border: none;" width="560"></iframe><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Mount Holly, NJ, USA39.9931438 -74.787939339.9444853 -74.8686203 40.0418023 -74.7072583tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642388759742250467.post-90479568553798226232014-12-18T21:03:00.001-05:002014-12-18T21:03:58.107-05:00Rutgers football shares postseason turnover history with North Carolina<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5niluRmjZzI/VJOGyoUVkPI/AAAAAAAABuM/EaOjOEVtxWM/s1600/AP357476506867%2B(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5niluRmjZzI/VJOGyoUVkPI/AAAAAAAABuM/EaOjOEVtxWM/s1600/AP357476506867%2B(2).jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(AP)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>By Tyler Barto</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Twitter: </i><a href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_Barto">@Tyler_Barto</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>tbarto@trentonian.com</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">PISCATAWAY </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">— <b>Kyle Flood</b> is plenty familiar with the staff changes North Carolina is undergoing weeks before it meets Rutgers in the Quick Lane Bowl.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A year ago, Flood promoted special teams coordinator <b>Joe Rossi</b> to interim defensive play caller ahead of the Pinstripe Bowl against Notre Dame.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"I think we're ready to expect anything," Flood said Thursday. "This gentleman (<b>Dan Disch</b>) was on the staff, he's got the title of coordinator, so I know he's heavily involved in what they're doing. But now he's running the entire show. When that happens, you have to be ready for anything."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rossi's interim tag was one of three personnel changes Flood made after a 6-6 record resulted in job-security questions and the first non-winning season since 2010.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">UNC head coach <b>Larry Fedora</b> parted ways with defensive coordinator <b>Vic Koenning</b> last week </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">— the team ranked 116th in scoring defense — and </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">promoted Disch, who doubles as cornerbacks coach. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20141216/north-carolina-jacksonville-intersect-for-rutgers-footballs-kaleb-johnson">Kaleb Johnson has high school ties with former recruiter Disch</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Tar Heels run a unique 4-2-5 scheme (similar to West Virginia from the old Big East), which could change under Disch's temporary guidance. UNC has already noticed <a href="http://www.goheels.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3350&ATCLID=209810840">more aggressiveness from Disch during bowl scrimmages</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rossi was Rutgers' <a href="http://www.timesherald.com/sports/20131209/joe-rossi-stakes-first-claim-in-search-for-rutgers-defensive-coordinator">safeties coach when Flood appointed him</a> Dec. 10, 2013, 18 days before Rutgers took the field against Notre Dame. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With so many holes on a defense that set a school record for pass yards allowed, Rossi played conservatively. His interim tag was lifted more than a month later.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20141218/rutgers-receiver-carlton-agudosi-ready-to-step-up-in-quick-lane-bowl">Could Carlton Agudosi step in if Leonte Carroo can't play?</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For coaches that are retained, the period between the regular season and bowl game usually allows for some creativity. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"What happens is you have a lot of time," Flood said. "You've got real good, smart, creative coaches. If you give those coaches that kind of time, they usually come up with something a little bit different. That's why when you get to bowl season you see a lot of exotic plays. I would expect we will see some from North Carolina."</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Mount Holly, NJ, USA39.9931438 -74.787939339.9444853 -74.8686203 40.0418023 -74.7072583tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642388759742250467.post-78540460972231048172014-12-18T12:35:00.003-05:002014-12-18T12:37:56.097-05:00Rutgers football's Kyle Flood mum on injury status of star receiver<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>By Tyler Barto</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Twitter:</i> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_Barto">@Tyler_Barto</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>tbarto@trentonian.com</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">PISCATAWAY — Rutgers could see a significant shakeup to its injury report when it is released later in the week, ahead of its Dec. 26 bowl matchup with North Carolina.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When asked about receiver <b>Leonte Carroo's</b> status, head coach <b>Kyle Flood</b> said, "We'll put out a report next week."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Flood has not <a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20141105/rutgers-handling-of-quarterback-gary-novas-injury-a-balancing-act">specifically addressed injury concerns in the last two seasons</a>, a philosophy shift from previous administrations. It's not uncommon nationally as more programs shield injury information.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rutgers usually submits an injury report at the beginning of each week, but it could change during bowl preparation. Rutgers leaves Monday for the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Carroo was <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2014/12/rutgers-receiver-leonte-carroo-lineman.html">voted to the All-Big Ten first team by the media</a> and an honorable mention in the coaches' poll. He finished the regular season with 53 receptions for 1,043 yards and 10 touchdowns, among the league's best.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Carroo suffered a head injury last season that cost him the final three games.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sophomore <b>Carlton Agudosi</b> is his immediate backup at the X position. He played sparingly this season as Carroo cornered the market on production.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Agudosi finished with five catches for 32 yards.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Piscataway Township, NJ, USA40.54564 -74.4608170000000240.4491205 -74.622178500000018 40.6421595 -74.299455500000022tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642388759742250467.post-54529862666775493832014-12-17T17:09:00.000-05:002014-12-17T17:11:57.571-05:00Safety Kiy Hester already captures eye of Rutgers' coaching staff <div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="315" id="tout_embed" src="//www.tout.com/embed/touts/w51ifj" width="560"></iframe>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>By Tyler Barto</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Twitter:</i> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_Barto">@Tyler_Barto</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>tbarto@trentonian.com</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />PISCATAWAY — After giving the pregame speech, <b>Kiy Hester</b> sat in the High Point Solution Stadium stands Dec. 6, watching the high school program he helped build win another sectional title.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In a few months, he can step onto the same field with meaning.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The highly touted Rutgers safety is redshirting after transferring from Miami (Fla). He has already gained the attention of Rutgers' staff as spring practice slowly approaches.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">MORE: <a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20141216/north-carolina-jacksonville-intersect-for-rutgers-footballs-kaleb-johnson">Kaleb Johnson could've ended up with UNC defensive coordinator</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"The coaches told me two guys are graduating, so the other freshmen and I have to step up to be ready to play," Hester said Tuesday. "We're going to get thrown into the competition. ... Next year I'm going to have to talk to them on the field. I might as well get ready now, get vocal, get used to each other."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hester plans to watch film in the offseason with <b>Lorenzo Waters</b>, whom he could replace at strong safety, and a group of three other redshirting defensive backs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />RELATED: <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2013/11/rutgers-commit-nottingham-corner-saquan.html">Scouting Saquan Hampton, Hester's defensive back classmate</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He has already earned the luxury of working privately with defensive coordinator <b>Joe Rossi</b>, who doubles as safeties coach, during individual periods and film sessions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"He's so precise with everything, so when we're in meetings he'll tell you about your alignment, pressing the hips," said Hester, listed at 6-foot, 205 pounds. "We just have to keep working because at the end of the day he's our coach, so he's always watching us. We have to be perfect out there."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hester spent Rutgers' first postseason Saturday as a spectator at DePaul Catholic's Non-Public Group 2 sectional title victory against Holy Spirit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Led by running back <b>Kareem Walker</b> and brother <b>Quayshon Alexander</b>, both Rutgers offerees, DePaul won, 42-0, at Hester's future home stadium.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"They all looked up to me," Hester said. "Last year I was the vocal leader, and I had to calm some of them down when they got nervous. I can see coming in they were a little nervous, but once the first kick (happened) they were ready."</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Trenton, NJ, USA40.2170534 -74.74293840000001440.1200519 -74.904299900000012 40.314054899999995 -74.581576900000016tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642388759742250467.post-33256939829348413492014-12-08T15:30:00.001-05:002014-12-08T15:30:41.668-05:00Rutgers' Lorenzo Waters will be pro-Alabama during College Football Playoff<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GRpk6N1TTZA/VIYJphhxMMI/AAAAAAAABt4/o--431t7pII/s1600/zo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GRpk6N1TTZA/VIYJphhxMMI/AAAAAAAABt4/o--431t7pII/s1600/zo.jpg" height="320" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(AP photo)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>By Tyler Barto</b></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Twitter</i>: <a href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_Barto">@Tyler_Barto</a></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>tbarto@trentonian.com</i></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">PISCATAWAY — Rutgers' season will have ended six days earlier, but <b>Lorenzo Waters</b> will still have some rooting interests when the inaugural College Football Playoff unfolds Jan 1.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That's because Waters' high school teammate, Alabama lineman <b>Arie Kouandjio</b>, will be taking on Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl. It will be part of the first system the NCAA uses to decide a national champion by playoff.</span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"I'm definitely excited for him," said Waters, part of the <a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20141208/rutgers-appreciates-quick-lane-bowl-berth-after-2010-season">last class that missed out on a bowl game</a>. "Every time he's on TV I watch. I keep up with him. He's a busy guy, so I try to stay in contact when I can. I'm definitely going to be rooting for him."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">DeMatha Catholic, Waters' alma mater, is one of the nation's top football programs. At one point it had produced the most active players in the NFL, including the Miami Dolphins' <b>Cameron Wake</b>.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Kouandjio's younger brother, <b>Cyrus</b>, was one of the <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2014/05/dematha-teammate-of-rutgers-lorenzo.html">top-rated lineman coming out of high school and now plays for the Buffalo Bills</a>.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"We hung out a lot, him and a couple of my other teammates at other colleges," Waters said. "We're pretty close."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Crimson Tide's opponent, Ohio State, earned the fourth and final seed after winning the Big Ten championship in impressive fashion. It helped fulfill head coach <b>Kyle Flood's</b> <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2014/12/big-ten-cache-wins-out-in-college.html">vision of a Big Ten team earning a seat at the table</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Well, the top four kind of played out like I thought it would," Flood said. "I've been telling recruits, and people have asked me for a long time now. I felt like an undefeated or one‑loss Big Ten champion would be in the final four. It's just hard for me to foresee a scenario where that wouldn't be the case."</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Trenton, NJ, USA40.2170534 -74.74293840000001440.1200519 -74.904299900000012 40.314054899999995 -74.581576900000016tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642388759742250467.post-56474384289165497482014-12-07T17:20:00.001-05:002014-12-07T17:20:43.375-05:00Reports: Rutgers to Quick Lane Bowl against team from ACC<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>By Tyler Barto</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Twitter:</i> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_Barto">@Tyler_Barto</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>tbarto@trentonian.com</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">PISCATAWAY — Rutgers will play in the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit, according to several reports, refuting <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2014/12/report-rutgers-football-to-heart-of.html">an earlier story that the Scarlet Knights were invited</a> to the Heart of Dallas Bowl.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rutgers finished 7-5 in the Big Ten with the league's toughest preseason schedule and <a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20141129/gary-nova-rutgers-defense-outlast-maryland-for-biggest-comeback">knocked off Maryland in the season finale</a> to secure a spot. As it turns out, all 10 conference teams eligible for a bowl game were invited.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Quick Lane Bowl matches a Big Ten team against one from the Atlantic Coast Conference. Head coach <b>Kyle Flood</b> and team captains will announce their bowl pairing Sunday at 7 p.m.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Mount Holly, NJ, USA39.9931438 -74.787939339.9444853 -74.8686203 40.0418023 -74.7072583tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642388759742250467.post-32179343963504192252014-12-07T16:45:00.001-05:002014-12-07T18:45:05.154-05:00Report: Rutgers football to Heart of Dallas Bowl against Louisiana Tech<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hQphFvqyYpw/VIS7yxVv_SI/AAAAAAAABto/G6OwJL7kcCE/s1600/flood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hQphFvqyYpw/VIS7yxVv_SI/AAAAAAAABto/G6OwJL7kcCE/s1600/flood.jpg" height="432" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(AP photo)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">By Tyler Barto</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Twitter:</i> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_Barto">@Tyler_Barto</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>tbarto@trentonian.com</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">PISCATAWAY — Rutgers has accepted an invitation to the Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl, the Baltimore Sun Media Group reported Sunday..</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Scarlet Knights will face Louisiana Tech, the team's third Group of Five opponent in a bowl game since 2008.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rutgers (7-5) <a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20141129/gary-nova-rutgers-defense-outlast-maryland-for-biggest-comeback">finished the season with a 41-38 comeback victory against Maryland</a> that all but secured the school's ninth bowl berth in 10 seasons. The Big Ten will have all 10 its eligible teams in bowl games.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rutgers head coach <b>Kyle Flood</b> will hold a press conference Sunday at 7 p.m., followed by the team's captains.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Led by former USF coach <b>Skip Holtz</b>, Louisiana Tech lost, 26-23, to Marshall in the Conference USA title game. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Running back <b>Kenneth Dixon</b> finished with 1,500-plus all-purpose yards and 26 total TDs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the new College Football Playoff era, New Year's Day bowl committees could make their selections after the top-four pairings were announced early Sunday afternoon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then athletic directors and athletic department administrators could lobby bowl committees based on their conference affiliation to determine berths. In the Big Ten, that likely meant at least a stamp of approval from Commissioner <b>Jim Delany</b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ohio State <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2014/12/big-ten-cache-wins-out-in-college.html">will represent the Big Ten in the CFP</a>, while Michigan State will play in the Cotton Bowl Bowl on Jan. 1. That preserved the Big Ten's tie-in with the Citrus Bowl and promised a slot for all eight bowl-eligible league teams.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Former Nebraska coach and AD <b>Tom Osborne</b> and Wisconsin AD <b>Barry Alvarez</b> represented the Big Ten on the CFP committee.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Piscataway Township, NJ, USA40.54564 -74.4608170000000240.4491205 -74.622178500000018 40.6421595 -74.299455500000022tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642388759742250467.post-70357984887173255042014-12-07T12:48:00.001-05:002014-12-07T12:48:42.838-05:00Big Ten cache wins out in College Football Playoff — What it means for Rutgers<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U_k7YpcOVZg/VISP4JtJLrI/AAAAAAAABtY/IWGXTcKSNS8/s1600/flood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U_k7YpcOVZg/VISP4JtJLrI/AAAAAAAABtY/IWGXTcKSNS8/s1600/flood.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(AP photo)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">By Tyler Barto</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Twitter:</i> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_Barto">@Tyler_Barto</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>tbarto@trentonian.com</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Kyle Flood's</b> prophecy came true.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The third-year Rutgers coach long believed Big Ten affiliation would lead to a seat at the table in the College Football Playoff.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thanks, partly, to a 59-0 route of Wisconsin on Saturday night in the Big Ten title game, Ohio State earned a No. 4 seed in the CFP, announced Sunday on ESPN.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The decision likely means two Big Ten teams will have clinched berths in New Year's Day bowl games, sending ripples down to the league's bottom-four bowl-eligible teams — Rutgers (7-5), Maryland (7-5), Illinois (6-6) and Penn State (6-6).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Because of Penn State's marketability and a lifted bowl ban, the Nittany Lions become a natural selection for any bowl, realistically shrinking the Big Ten's bubble to three schools for two contracted spots.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rutgers <a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20141129/gary-nova-rutgers-defense-outlast-maryland-for-biggest-comeback">beat Maryland, 41-38, in its season finale</a> last week, but the decision between bowl committees and the Big Ten will come down to the most intriguing matchups and profitability.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl, which matches the Big Ten and Conference USA, won't corner the storyline angle.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Quick Lane Bowl, the other of two likely destinations for Rutgers, provides an interesting case study. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The bowl pits a Big Ten team — Rutgers, Maryland, Illinois, etc. — against an ACC team. The ACC's old Big East ties (Boston College, Miami, Virignia Tech) makes Rutgers or Maryland, which left the ACC this season, a marketable selection.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One to consider: would Quick Lane committee members invite both Rutgers and the Hokies, a rematch of a dreadful 2012 Russell Athletic Bowl? Stay tuned.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Mount Holly, NJ, USA39.9931438 -74.787939339.9444853 -74.8686203 40.0418023 -74.7072583tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642388759742250467.post-73556842925775925662014-12-07T11:21:00.002-05:002014-12-07T11:21:33.484-05:00Six-for-six: Rutgers' most exciting Big Ten players of the future<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PV6-WkJoN6c/VIR-TnMvAuI/AAAAAAAABtI/Gk5jfdE-wKk/s1600/hicks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PV6-WkJoN6c/VIR-TnMvAuI/AAAAAAAABtI/Gk5jfdE-wKk/s1600/hicks.jpg" height="320" width="221" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(AP photo)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><b>By Tyler Barto</b></span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><i>Twitter</i>: <a href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_Barto" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">@Tyler_Barto</a></span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><i>tbarto@trentonian.com</i></span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><i>EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the second in a six-part entry series each day in which Rutgers players reflect on their first season in the Big Ten. </i></span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><i>Each post will cover a different topic of the season. Today, six list the players they're most looking forward to see take the field next for Rutgers. See <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2014/12/six-for-six-rutgers-players-pick-their.html" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Part 1</a>, <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2014/12/six-for-six-rutgers-players-on-big-tens.html" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Part 2</a>, <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2014/12/six-for-six-rutgers-kemoko-turays.html" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Part 3</a>, <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2014/12/six-for-six-rutgers-players-on-missed.html" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Part 4 </a>and <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2014/12/six-for-six-who-had-best-pound-for.html">Part 5 here</a>.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rutgers' first Big Ten season held breakout potential for several players. Who are Rutgers players most excited to see play in the future?</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Gary Nova</b>: "I think <b>(Chris) Laviano</b>. Being with him these past two years, he and I have developed a pretty good relationship. I'm really excited with what he's going to do with the quarterback position. I'm hoping he wins, and if he does win the competition I think he'll have a lot of success here."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Kaleb Johnson</b>: "Definitely <b>Keith Lumpkin</b>, that's my man. Those two running backs we've got, <b>(Robert) Martin</b> and <b>(Josh) Hicks</b>. I can't wait to see how their careers go. That's a one-two punch. I'm very excited to see where they are in a couple years."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Darius Hamilton</b>: "The young defensive line is going to be very good. I think the young running backs are going to be good. I'm really excited to come back and be able to see my roommates, <b>Derrick (Nelson)</b> and <b>Julian (Pinnix-Odrick)</b>. I'm sure they're going to be doing great things here by the time (they're done)."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Michael Burton</b>: "When I come back, I'm going to want to see a guy like <b>P.J. (James)</b>. I played with him for so long. Unfortunately he <a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20140921/rutgers-rb-paul-james-out-for-year-with-torn-acl">went down with a season-ending injury</a>. The two young running backs, really all the running backs. ... I look at a guy like <b>Brandon Russell</b>. He's a guy who I really like. He works really hard, quiet guy, does what he has to do. I definitely just see him grow and develop."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Kevin Snyder</b>: "I want to come back and see how <b>(Steve) Longa's</b> doing. That's my guy there. I want to come back and see <b>Dre Boggs</b>. I want to see him locking people up left and right."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Leonte Carroo</b>: "I'm just going to say Joshua Hicks. I like Josh personally. He and I just have a cool relationship. He spent Thanksgiving with me, and he's just a great player. Honestly, I told him on Thanksgiving when he came into the season in training camp that I didn't think he was going to be that good. He turned out to be really, really good."</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Mount Holly, NJ, USA39.9931438 -74.787939339.9444853 -74.8686203 40.0418023 -74.7072583tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642388759742250467.post-31144348716846165072014-12-06T15:25:00.002-05:002014-12-06T15:26:04.640-05:00Six-for-six: Who had the best pound-for-pound season in Rutgers' Big Ten debut?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PuET3ra-dNA/VINmAvaiOdI/AAAAAAAABs4/1u0qdSpBljw/s1600/darius.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PuET3ra-dNA/VINmAvaiOdI/AAAAAAAABs4/1u0qdSpBljw/s1600/darius.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(For The Trentonian — John Blaine)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>By Tyler Barto</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Twitter</i>: <a href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_Barto">@Tyler_Barto</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>tbarto@trentonian.com</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><i>EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the second in a six-part entry series each day in which Rutgers players reflect on their first season in the Big Ten. </i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><i>Each post will cover a different topic of the season. Today, six make their case for the player who best maximized his ability. See <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2014/12/six-for-six-rutgers-players-pick-their.html" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Part 1</a>, <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2014/12/six-for-six-rutgers-players-on-big-tens.html" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Part 2</a>, <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2014/12/six-for-six-rutgers-kemoko-turays.html" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Part 3</a> and <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2014/12/six-for-six-rutgers-players-on-missed.html">Part 4 here</a>.</i></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Who had the best season in 2014 given their production and skill set? Rutgers placed <a href="http://rutgersrundown.blogspot.com/2014/12/rutgers-receiver-leonte-carroo-lineman.html">four players on All-Big Ten teams</a> after a 7-5 season.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Both sides of the trenches dominated players' postseason evaluations, and for good reason. Rutgers finished in the top four in both sacks (32) and sacks allowed (19) in a league most defined by offensive and defensive line depth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Gary Nova</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">: "On the offensive line, I think <b>Keith Lumpkin</b> did a great job this year. He faced some of the top d-ends in the league, even in the nation, and he held his own and did a pretty good job. I think he's matured — I've known him forever — so that was great to see. <b>Janarion Grant</b> did a great job for us on special teams, and when he was asked to get in there on offense he did a great job. Obviously <b>Leonte (Carroo)</b> just doing what he's doing."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Kaleb Johnson</b>: "Definitely a guy like <b>Betim Bujari</b>. Playing the center position, he doesn't get much of the limelight. He's done great wonders for this team with his leadership. He's really the one calling the protections and making most of the calls. He's done a great job for the offense and a lot of guys don't really notice."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Darius Hamilton</b>: "<b>Kemoko Turay</b>. Kemoko's done a great job coming in and doing exactly what we ask him to do. On third downs he's done a great job. When he fills in for <b>(David) Milewski</b> on the base defenses he's always in the right spot, always doing what he's supposed to be doing. For someone who really doesn't understand the game of football, I would say he's done a great job."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20141205/rutgers-robert-martin-joins-growing-list-of-harrisburg-running-backs">Could Rutgers' Robert Martin be the next great back out of Harrisburg?</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Michael Burton</b>: "A guy like Leonte, Gary, Darius, you can go down the list. One guy I think that maximized was a guy like Dave, because of what he's been through. He's come back from these knee injuries and really playing his best football his senior year. He's maximized himself — being an older guy, being a captain. You can see he's getting better week in and week out."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Kevin Snyder</b>: "Probably 91 (Hamilton). People always talk about how he's not big enough and this and that, but the dude plays hard. The dude gets off blocks against big people. Good player, man."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Leonte Carroo</b>: "I would probably say Kemoko. As a redshirt freshman he had a pretty solid year. Coming on the scene, he did pretty well for himself."</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Trenton, NJ, USA40.2170534 -74.74293840000001440.1200519 -74.904299900000012 40.314054899999995 -74.581576900000016