A key player at a thin position last season is back for one more year. Senior linebacker Deion Jennings, who helped turn a position that looked like a weakness in the preseason into a solid unit throughout the fall, announced Monday that he will return to Rutgers and use his final season of eligibility next year. The Sickerville native started all 11 games he played in this season, racking up a team-high 91 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, one sack and six passes defended. It earned him All-Big Ten honorable mention honors and the program's Homer Hazel Most Valuable Player award, which was handed out in its post-season banquet.Jennings will be the veteran leader of a revamped position that will get two key players back from torn ACLs: four-star freshman Moses Walker and two-time sack leader Mohamed Toure. Jennings is the sixth Rutgers senior with another year of eligibility available to announce his decision; defensive tackle Mayan Ahanotu, offensive lineman Willie Tyler and cornerback Kessawn Abraham announced earlier this week that they were returning for their final seasons, while defensive back Christian Izien announced he was entering the 2023 NFL Draft and tight end Matt Alaimo entered the transfer portal. - Star Ledger