(AP)

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

Rutgers is staying in-house for its sixth offensive coordinator in as many seasons. 

Wide receivers coach Ben McDaniels will supplant one-term-serving Ralph Friedgen as play caller, head coach Kyle Flood announced Tuesday on a conference call.

McDaniels' appointment comes less than a week after National Signing Day, when 11 listed offensive players pledged commitments to Rutgers.

McDaniels enters his second season in Piscataway after spending the two previous years as an offensive assistant under Greg Schiano with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

He is the brother of New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

On game days, Ben McDaniels served as Friedgen's voice on the field level, communicating with Rutgers' quarterbacks as well as receivers.

Flood has generally given his play callers autonomy on game day, provided it falls beneath his overall vision of a multiple pro-style offense.

As a high school quarterback under his dad, Thom, 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.

Canton-McKinley finished 1997 ranked No. 1 in USA Today's national rankings.

McDaniels becomes Flood's fourth different play caller in his four years as head coach.

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 after Rutgers' season-ending victory at Maryland, his alma mater.

“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.”

Under Friedgen, quarterback Gary Nova set single-season bests in nearly every offensive category of consequence, though Rutgers also managed a combined 20 points in three losses to the Big Ten's elite programs.

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

GLASSBORO — Rutgers commit Ronnie James made his signing official Wednesday, along with teammate Juwan Johnson, who's committed to Penn State.

Chances are, James could've given Rutgers a verbal commit much earlier when he met with head coach Kyle Flood last summer.
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(AP)

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

Wednesday's National Signing Day becomes the first official marker for college football's new calendar year. Rutgers' current haul sits at 25 commits, five of whom will enroll early.

I talked to Bobby Deren, a Rutgers recruiting analyst for scarletnation.com, for his list of committed prospects for 2015 with the highest ceilings.

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(AP)

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

Wednesday's National Signing Day becomes the first official marker for college football's new calendar year. Rutgers' current haul sits at 24 commits, five of whom will enroll early.

I reached out to Sam Hellman, a Rutgers recruiting analyst for scarletreport.com, for his list of committed prospects most likely to play right away. Listed in alphabetical order.
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(AP)

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

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.

RVision will host the early morning show from inside the coaches' offices wing, near where head coach Kyle Flood will address the media at 1:30 p.m.
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(AP)

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

Mel Kiper Jr. was intrigued more by a Rutgers player that opted not to enter the NFL Draft, but he said Wednesday that left guard Kaleb Johnson could end up being a third-day selection.

Johnson started a Rutgers-high 50 career games at three different positions and could be a swing lineman in the NFL, where teams often carry only eight players there on game day.
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(John Blaine — For The Trentonian)

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

Tyler Kroft's drop in numbers won't noticeably affect his draft stock, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said Wednesday.

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.

"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."

RELATED: Complete breakdown of Rutgers' snaps, targets plays under Ralph Friedgen

Kroft finished last season with 269 yards on 24 receptions, noticeable lows from a 2013 performance that warranted preseason All-America honors.
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