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2020 ALL-BIG TEN FOOTBALL HONORABLE MENTION (COACHES): Bo Melton,...Melton leads RU with nine total touchdowns (six receiving, two rushing, one punt return), which ranks second in the Big Ten, on three multiple-score games. Previously recognized nationally as member of the Biletnikoff Award watch list and the Hornung Award honor roll, he has posted career highs with 42 receptions for 557 yards, highlighted by back-to-back 100-yard games versus Illinois (150) and Michigan (109). The Mays Landing, New Jersey, native rushed for two touchdowns in the recent win at Maryland, both giving RU the lead, and collected a career-high 170 all-purpose yards at No. 3 Ohio State. He has eight receptions of at least 20 yards and two over 60 yards this year. - Rutgers Football

(DS#18 WR) rSr/2022

WR Bo Melton, Rutgers
News Source: Rutgers Football
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12/15/20 - Reggie Sutton, rSr/2025, Rutgers, 6-3, 308 (DS#999 OG) + More +

2020 ALL-BIG TEN FOOTBALL HONORABLE MENTION (COACHES): Reggie Sutton,...Sutton has started all eight games on the offensive line, the first seven at right tackle before moving inside to right guard in last week's victory at Maryland. The Scarlet Knights tallied a season-high 235 rushing yards against the Terrapins. Sutton, from Towson, Maryland, entered the season with only one collegiate start, which came as a blocking tight end, and has been part of a unit that has scored eight more offensive touchdowns that last season in three fewer games. - Rutgers Football

(DS#999 OG) rSr/2025

OG Reggie Sutton, Rutgers
News Source: Rutgers Football
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12/14/20 - Mike Tverdov, rSr/2022, Rutgers, 6-4, 266 (DS#50 DE) + More +

Rutgers' seven sacks in a 27-24 win over Maryland was a Big Ten record for a conference game. Defensive end Mike Tverdov accounted for three of the sacks and became the fourth FBS player this season to finish with five tackles for loss. - AP College Football

(DS#50 DE) rSr/2022

DE Mike Tverdov, Rutgers
News Source: AP College Football
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12/12/20 - Bo Melton, rSr/2022, Rutgers, 5-11, 190 (DS#18 WR) + More +

Valentino Ambrosio kicked the tying field goal at the end of regulation and accounted for the only points in overtime with a 42-yarder to help Rutgers rally past error-prone Maryland 27-24 Saturday. Bo Melton scored two touchdowns for the Scarlet Knights (3-5, 3-5 Big Ten), who trailed twice in the fourth quarter before coming back. Rutgers had lost five of six before salvaging this one. Backup quarterback Artur Sitkowski moved the Scarlet Knights 61 yards to set up a 39-yard field goal by Ambrosio on the final play of the fourth quarter. - Rutgers/AP College Football

(DS#18 WR) rSr/2022

WR Bo Melton, Rutgers
News Source: Rutgers/AP College Football
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12/12/20 - Olakunle Fatukasi, rSr/2022, Rutgers, 6-1, 234 (DS#19 ILB) + More +

College football teams and players have learned to expect the unexpected. "I could say 2020's been a tough year for everybody," said linebacker Olakunle Fatukasi, who leads Rutgers (2-5) with 92 tackles. "Just us doing this, it's actually just making us stronger. Stronger mentally, physically, spiritually. Every day you've just got to wake up and grind it out." Fautkasi said he's found a way to help manage that grind. "What helped me with that is every day I meditate," he said. "Every time I meditate, it makes me forget about the past and just worry about the now. That's what I've been doing lately." Part of the grind has been daily COVID-19 testing. Schiano waits each morning to get the results from from Will Gilkison, the associate athletic director for football. It's become a new normal, but it's still not exactly easy. "It makes every morning interesting," Schiano said. "Let's put it that way." - Asbury Park Press

(DS#19 ILB) rSr/2022

ILB Olakunle Fatukasi, Rutgers
News Source: Asbury Park Press
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12/11/20 - Olakunle Fatukasi, rSr/2022, Rutgers, 6-1, 234 (DS#19 ILB) + More +

Rutgers linebacker Olakunle Fatukasi continued his breakout season with 18 tackles in last Saturday's loss to Penn State, running his Big Ten-leading total to 92 in just seven games this season (he had 85 in 12 games last fall). Fatukasi is also now leading the nation with 13.1 tackles per game. "He works really, really hard at being a great football player. He's the guy who's here getting treatment on his body, he's the guy here studying film, he's the guy who wants to meet extra with [linebackers coach Bob] Fraser," coach Greg Schiano said. "There is usually one common denominator (with standout players), and it's hard work. But on top of that, he's a gifted guy with talents, and he's a very smart guy. So you throw all of that into the cooker and you have a really good linebacker. "He's an elite player. He's worked himself into becoming an elite player." - Star Ledger

(DS#19 ILB) rSr/2022

ILB Olakunle Fatukasi, Rutgers
News Source: Star Ledger
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12/04/20 - Jett Elad, rSr/2026, Rutgers, 6-0, 201 (DS#26 SS) + More +

Elad is off to a great start. In only his second year at Ohio University, Elad has held down the nickelback position. Nickelback is one of the toughest positions to play on defense because it incorporates roles from the linebacker, cornerback and safety positions. When Elad moved to Cleveland as a freshman in high school he played cornerback for St. Ignatius. Elad has been able to use some of the techniques he learned to help him learn his new role. What may have been his greatest lesson, however, was the wisdom he received from T.J. Carrie, a former Bobcat who currently plays for the Indianapolis Colts. At the time, Carrie played for the Browns so when Elad ran into him at a movie theater in Cleveland, he had to strike up a conversation. Carrie played nickelback for the Bobcats so there was nobody better to talk to. "I talked to him a couple times on the phone about it," Elad said. "And he was telling me the exact same thing about he was playing nickel and how he was playing the hybrid position." - The Post

(DS#26 SS) rSr/2026

SS Jett Elad, Rutgers
News Source: The Post
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12/02/20 - Aron Cruickshank, rSr/2023, Rutgers, 5-09, 165 (DS#120 WR) + More +

Aron Cruickshank left one program that was at the top of the Big Ten and joined another that was at the bottom. But the transfer from Wisconsin is now glad to be helping Rutgers in a big way, as the fierce, albeit onesided, rivalry with Penn State has a renewal at SHI Stadium on Saturday. Penn State is a 10-point favorite. "It's been very fun for me," Cruickshank said after the Scarlet Knights' 37-30 win over Purdue on Saturday night. "I came from one side of the spectrum to the other side of the spectrum. It's kind of humbling me and making me a better football player at the end of the day because now I know, it's going to be hard to win games in this conference but that we still have the talent to win these games."

Cruickshank, a Brooklyn native who played at Erasmus Hall, was one of the high-impact transfers that Greg Schiano landed after returning to Piscataway. The 5-foot-10, 160-pound Cruickshank had already displayed his speed on a national stage when he returned a kick 95 yards for a touchdown in the 2019 Rose Bowl. In all he returned four kicks for 194 yards, a bowl game record for Wisconsin, which lost to Oregon. Cruickshank had been wanting to break something big with the Scarlet Knights. He finally got one on Saturday, returning a kick 100 yards in the third quarter right after Purdue had scored to take a 10-point lead. - Asbury Park Press

(DS#120 WR) rSr/2023

WR Aron Cruickshank, Rutgers
News Source: Asbury Park Press
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11/29/20 - Aron Cruickshank, rSr/2023, Rutgers, 5-09, 165 (DS#120 WR) + More +

Aron Cruickshank has run back a kickoff for a touchdown three times in his last 11 games. He went 100 yards in the third quarter to start Rutgers' comeback from a 10-point deficit in what would be a 37-30 win at Purdue. Playing for Wisconsin last year, Cruickshank had kick returns of 89 yards against Nebraska and 95 yards against Oregon in the Rose Bowl. - AP College Football

(DS#120 WR) rSr/2023

WR Aron Cruickshank, Rutgers
News Source: AP College Football
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11/26/20 - Olakunle Fatukasi, rSr/2022, Rutgers, 6-1, 234 (DS#19 ILB) + More +

Linebacker is arguably Rutgers' strongest position, and Fatukasi is a big reason why. The senior is having a career year, leading the Big Ten in tackles and stuffing the stat sheet on a consistent basis. Against Michigan, he finished with 16 tackles, two sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, a pass break-up and a quarterback hurry. He showed his strength when he stonewalled Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara at the goal line to set up 4th-and-goal in the second overtime, though the Scarlet Knights did not take advantage. In the Scarlet Knights' only win, he dominated, earning Big Ten co-defensive player of the week honors for his outing. Fatukasi is playing at an All-Big Ten level. - Star Ledger

(DS#19 ILB) rSr/2022

ILB Olakunle Fatukasi, Rutgers
News Source: Star Ledger
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11/26/20 - Noah Vedral, rSr/2024, Rutgers, 6-1, 200 (DS#999 QB) + More +

Noah Vedral could've pointed to the stat sheet that showed a career-high passing yardage total for the second straight week. The Rutgers quarterback could've cited any of his three touchdown passes. Instead, Vedral preferred to talk about an intangible he accomplished Saturday night in one of the most prolific passing performances in Rutgers football history. "I thought I did a better job being accurate for my team today," he said. "But ultimately it just came down to doing my job as consistently as I could. That's what every player is asked to do. I have places to learn from in this game. It's not perfect."

It wasn't perfect, but Vedral's effort certainly was good enough to lead Rutgers to an upset win over Michigan. Instead, a defense that couldn't make crucial stops, a missed field goal and an interception on the game's final play doomed the Scarlet Knights in a triple-overtime 48-42 loss to Michigan. "I thought Noah played really well," Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. "Certainly statistically that played out, but it showed (in) everything he did. I thought he was very focused and executed well." - Star Ledger

(DS#999 QB) rSr/2024

QB Noah Vedral, Rutgers
News Source: Star Ledger
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11/07/20 - Michael Dwumfour, rSr/2021, Rutgers, 6-2, 291 (DS#24 DT) + More +

The former DePaul Catholic star committed to Rutgers in January as a graduate transfer after four years at Michigan and Dwumfour has had a strong showing through the Scarlet Knights' first two games. That Rutgers could land a defensive tackle with plenty of Big Ten experience is significant. "I think it's a privilege to play here at Rutgers," Dwumfour said. "Coach (Greg) Schiano and the coaching staff, me and my family just felt like it was the right fit for me. I'm very excited to be a part of this program." The 6-foot-1, 296-pound Dwumfour made six tackles (1 1/2 for a loss) in Rutgers' season-opening win over Michigan State. He made a huge stop when the Spartans went for it on fourth-and-2 at Rutgers' 21-yard line with the Scarlet Knights leading by eight in the third quarter. Dwumfour, a Scotch Plains native, finished with four tackles in Rutgers' loss to Indiana on Saturday, but he wreaked havoc on the Hoosiers' offensive line.

A lot of the impact Dwumfour has doesn't show up in the box score. "I think Mike's an explosive player and one that we really needed inside," Schiano said Monday. "As you know, we play a lot of people so we're going to keep rolling the defensive linemen. But I think Mike brings a little different skill set than maybe some of the other guys do. I think it's been good for both. It's good for our team and it's been really good for Mike. He and I are close and I appreciate the way he goes about doing his business." Dwumfour was rated a three-star prospect and the 23rd-best recruit in New Jersey coming out of DePaul, where he had 55 tackles as a senior and helped lead the Spartans to a pair of state championships. In four seasons at Michigan, Dwumfour had 36 tackles (7 1/2 for loss) and four sacks. - Asbury Park Press

(DS#24 DT) rSr/2021

DT Michael Dwumfour, Rutgers
News Source: Asbury Park Press
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10/26/20 - Olakunle Fatukasi, rSr/2022, Rutgers, 6-1, 234 (DS#19 ILB) + More +

OCT 26 BIG TEN CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Olakunle Fatukasi, Rutgers, Sr., LB, Far Rockaway, N.Y./Grand Street Campus,...Forced one fumble and recovered two fumbles in the Scarlet Knights' win against Michigan State...Registered 10 total tackles, including three solo tackles...Ended the Spartans' first drive of the second half by forcing and recovering a fumble...Claims his first career Defensive Player of the Week honor...Last Rutgers Defensive Player of the Week: Jonathan Aiken (Sept. 1, 2014). - Big Ten Football

(DS#19 ILB) rSr/2022

ILB Olakunle Fatukasi, Rutgers
News Source: Big Ten Football
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10/24/20 - Isaih Pacheco, Sr/2022, Rutgers, 5-10, 222 (DS#35 RB) + More +

Isaih Pacheco ran for two first-half touchdowns, and Rutgers snapped a 21-game Big Ten losing streak Saturday, beating Michigan State 38-27 in coach Greg Schiano's first game back with the Scarlet Knights. Michigan State has a new coach too, and Mel Tucker's debut was forgettable from the start. The Spartans (0-1) turned the ball over seven times - four in the first half - and never led against a Rutgers team that hadn't won a conference game since Nov. 4, 2017 against Maryland. The Scarlet Knights scored 14 points total through their first five Big Ten games last year. It took them 8:03 to reach that mark Saturday. Pacheco strolled in from 12 yards out to cap the game's opening drive, then Michigan State receiver Jayden Reed fumbled the ball away on his team's first offensive play.

Rutgers (1-0) didn't capitalize on that turnover, but the Scarlet Knights quickly forced another. Rocky Lombardi was sacked and fumbled, giving Rutgers the ball at the Michigan State 1. A touchdown run by Johnny Langan made it 14-0. Reed scored on a 50-yard catch-and-run on fourth down to make it 14-7, but the Spartans weren't done turning the ball over. An interception in Michigan State territory led to a 24-yard touchdown run by Rutgers quarterback Noah Vedral. Reed's second fumble of the half gave the Scarlet Knights the ball again, but Vedral threw an interception. Michigan State's Shakur Brown ran it back for a touchdown, but that was called back for a penalty and the Spartans settled for a field goal. - AP/Rutgers College Football

(DS#35 RB) Sr/2022

RB Isaih Pacheco, Rutgers
News Source: AP/Rutgers College Football
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10/23/20 - Aron Cruickshank, rSr/2023, Rutgers, 5-09, 165 (DS#120 WR) + More +

Rutgers believes Aron Cruickshank can make an offensive impact. Everyone knows the Erasmus Hall product and Wisconsin transfer has blazing speed and is an elite return man. His kickoff return for a touchdown in the Rose Bowl is mesmerizing to watch. But he did not do much as a wideout for the Badgers and mostly served as a jet sweep guy there when he was used. Rutgers clearly thinks he can do more than that. It will be interesting to see how offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson utilizes Cruickshank. - Star Ledger

(DS#120 WR) rSr/2023

WR Aron Cruickshank, Rutgers
News Source: Star Ledger
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