Isaih Pacheco, Rutgers Football News: Draft Scout Player News

08/12/21 - RB Isaih Pacheco, Sr/2022, Rutgers

Isaih Pacheco had no idea about Rutgers' recent history of producing 1,000-yard rushers. But the Scarlet Knights senior running back set the goal anyway. "Absolutely, it's one of my goals because I had 1,000 yards when I was in high school," Pacheco said following Friday's training-camp practice. "But that was as a quarterback. Now I'm looking at the running back standard." Still, Pacheco was unaware of just how rare of a feat it's been at Rutgers over the past decade. No Rutgers player has cracked the 1,000-yard rushing plateau since Jawan Jamison tallied 1,075 yards in 2012. "It is kind of hard to believe," Pacheco said. "I didn't do my research on it because I just put my head down and work. But that's my goal, and I know that I'm going to get it because how hard I've been working." Since 2013, only 10 of the current 130 FBS college football teams haven't had a player rush for 1,000 yards in a season, an NJ Advance Media statistical analysis revealed.

Joining Rutgers on the list are Akron, Duke, FIU, Kent State, Miami-Ohio, Purdue, Syracuse, UMass and Washington State. Still, Rutgers coach Greg Schiano insists that's not how he'll ultimately judge Pacheco's success this season. "He can have a great year and not rush for 1,000 yards and he can have a not-so-great year and rush for 1,000 yards. I don't know if that's the gold standard," he said. "I want to see him do what he's capable of doing. I thought at times last year he did. And other times not as much. "And some of it wasn't directly his fault. We have to do a good job up front, and he has to trust the plays and be patient with the plays. And when he does that I think he's a really big-time running back. Strong, explosive, fast, tough - (he) has all the tools. And I know our whole staff is looking for him to put it together on a consistent basis. We've all seen flashes. I'd like to see it on a consistent basis, because if he does he'll be as good as there is." - Star Ledger

Sr/2022