Draft Scout Rutgers Player News, College Football: Rutgers

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Draft Scout College Football Player News: Rutgers

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04/26/22 - Taj Harris, rSr/2024, Rutgers + More +

Taj Harris made a strong first impression on the Rutgers fanbase. He caught the opening touchdown of the spring game, an impressive back-shoulder grab on a pass from Noah Vedral. Harris finished with five catches for 49 yards. On the other team, Sean Ryan had the distinction of catching Wimsatt's first pass at a spring game, gaining 26 yards. Ryan finished with four catches for 48 yards. Sixth-year senior Shameen Jones (67 yards on three catches) had a nice day as well. With leading receiver Bo Melton off to the NFL, the trio are in the running to be the Scarlet Knights' top receiver, and each showed flashes of that capability. - Star Ledger

rSr/2024

WR Taj Harris, Rutgers
News Source: Star Ledger
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04/21/22 - Kessawn Abraham, rSr/2024, Rutgers + More +

Kessawn Abraham had a breakout season in 2021. Now the Rutgers cornerback needs to build on it. Abraham was one of the Scarlet Knights' most consistent and dependable players last season, finishing with 44 tackles (three for loss) with nine pass breakups on the way to being named the team's defensive MVP at its season-ending banquet. The Erasmus Hall product made steady improvement in his fourth year in the program. Abraham also made one of the biggest plays of the season in Rutgers' win over Illinois, taking down Illini running back Chase Brown for a four-yard loss on fourth-and-1 with less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. That forced a turnover on downs and sealed the Scarlet Knights' 20-14 victory. "I would like to see him really just keep going and continuing on the course that he was," coach Greg Schiano said. "There is going to be increased competition at his position so that is going to challenge him. And Kess is a really good football player. He is a good corner, but he is a good football player. He has a good sense of what's going on. He just needs to continue to improve." - Asbury Park Press

rSr/2024

SS Kessawn Abraham, Rutgers
News Source: Asbury Park Press
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04/20/22 - Naseim Brantley, rSr/2025, Rutgers + More +

2021 ALL-NORTHEAST CONFERENCE FOOTBALL SECOND TEAM (COACHES): WR Naseim Brantley, Sacred Heart, Sr.,...Repeating All-NEC honors from the spring, Brantley is one of the best big-play receivers in the league. Ninth in the NEC at 45.50 receiving yards per game, he's second at 18.2 yards per reception. The Freehold, N.J. native has at least one catch of 25 yards or more in eight contests, topped by a 40-yard haul versus Bucknell. - Sacred Heart Football

rSr/2025

WR Naseim Brantley, Rutgers
News Source: Sacred Heart Football
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04/20/22 - J.D. DiRenzo, rSr/2023, Rutgers + More +

2021 ALL-NORTHEAST CONFERENCE FOOTBALL FIRST TEAM (COACHES): OL JD DiRenzo, Sacred Heart, Sr.,...Champions of the Northeast Conference for the second time in seventh months, the Sacred Heart University football team hauled in 12 postseason conference awards as announced by the league office. Junior Malik Grant was named NEC Offensive Player of the Year and Mark Nofri captured Coach of the Year. Grant was joined on the First-Team All-NEC by offensive tackle, J.D. DiRenzo, punter Noah Gettman, defensive back Salaam Horne, defensive end Kevin Peprah and center/guard Josh Sokol. - Sacred Heart Football

rSr/2023

OG J.D. DiRenzo, Rutgers
News Source: Sacred Heart Football
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12/09/21 - Adam Korsak, rSr/2023, Rutgers + More +

2021 RAY GUY AWARD FINALIST: Adam Korsak, Rutgers,...Korsak, one of three finalists for the Ray Guy Award, helped the Scarlet Knights to a net punt of 45.34, first nationally and setting a new NCAA record. Opponents had a return of less than four yards 67-of-70 attempts, with 63 times recording a zero or negative return. In addition, Korsak pinned 37 inside the 20 with 15 settling at the 10 or closer and four times stopping a punt at the 1-yard line. The Aussie boomed 19 at least 50 yards on the way to setting a new program record with a 45.9 average, recording zero touchbacks. - Rutgers Football

rSr/2023

P Adam Korsak, Rutgers
News Source: Rutgers Football
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11/28/21 - Shawn Bowman, rSr/2024, Rutgers + More +

2021 ALL-CAA FOOTBALL THIRD TEAM (COACHES): Shawn Bowman, Maine, TE, Jr.,...Bowman proved to be a key weapon on offense for the Black Bears as he finished the season with career-highs in both receptions (24) and receiving yards (282) while adding a career-best four touchdowns. - Maine Football

rSr/2024

TE Shawn Bowman, Rutgers
News Source: Maine Football
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11/13/21 - Isaih Pacheco, Sr/2022, Rutgers + More +

Rutgers coach Greg Schiano started Saturday without his top three linebackers. Six turnovers and a a nifty trick play later, the Scarlet Knights celebrated a possible program-changing victory. Isaih Pacheco scored twice in the first quarter and Rutgers scored 17 points off turnovers, routing Indiana 38-3 to move within one win of becoming bowl eligible for the first time since 2014. "I'm excited, our guys are fighting," Schiano said. "We want to write that story at the end of the year and now we have a chance. We'll see what we can do." For the Scarlet Knights (5-5, 2-5 Big Ten), this wasn't just another win.

It was their most lopsided victory in conference play since joining the Big Ten - easily surpassing the previous mark of 22 points against Indiana in 2015. Now comes the hard part - beating either No. 23 Penn State or Maryland to finish the job. Rutgers earned some style points, too, when quarterback Noah Vedral threw a backward pass to offensive tackle Raiqwon O'Neal, who caught the ball around the 12-yard line and dove toward the pylon for a 7-yard TD run and a 31-3 lead in the third quarter. - Rutgers/AP College Football

Sr/2022

RB Isaih Pacheco, Rutgers
News Source: Rutgers/AP College Football
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11/03/21 - Adam Korsak, rSr/2023, Rutgers + More +

NOV 1 BIG TEN CO-SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Adam Korsak, Rutgers, P – Sr. – Melbourne, Australia – Maribyrnong College (Melbourne, Australia),...Punted six times for 282 net yards (47.0 avg.) and did not allow a punt return in Rutgers' 20-14 win at Illinois...Registered three 50-plus-yard punts and landed three punts inside the 20. Downed punts at the 20, 15, 4 and 1. Has now dropped four punts at the 1-yard line this season and has not registered a touchback in 94 consecutive punts dating back to 2019...Has led Rutgers' punt unit to the No. 1-ranked net punting average in the nation (46.6)...Earns the second Special Teams Player of the Week honor of his career and his second of the season...Last Rutgers Special Teams Player of the Week: Aron Cruickshank (Sept. 20, 2021). - Big Ten Football

rSr/2023

P Adam Korsak, Rutgers
News Source: Big Ten Football
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10/30/21 - Noah Vedral, rSr/2024, Rutgers + More +

Noah Vedral threw for 138 yards and rushed for a touchdown to lead Rutgers past Illinois 20-14 on Saturday. Isaih Pacheco rushed 21 times for 91 yards and Kyle Monangai ran 15 times for 77 yards and a touchdown for Rutgers (4-4, 1-4 Big Ten). Brandon Peters, starting for the injured Art Sitkowski, was 14 of 19 passing for 190 yards and two touchdowns for Illinois (3-6, 2-4), including a 52-yard TD pass to Isaiah Williams. Williams caught 3 passes for 67 yards and the touchdown. Daniel Barker caught 2 passes for 47 yards and a touchdown. Chase Brown carried 18 times for 67 yards for the Illini.

Rutgers put the game away in the second half. Vedral ran it in from 15 yards out early in the fourth quarter to give the Scarlet Knights a 17-14 lead. Valentino Ambrosio kicked a 25-yard field goal with 3:58 left in the game to make the score 20-14. Illinois was unable to muster much on offense in the second half after leading 14-10 at the half. Vedral left the game early in the first quarter with an unspecified injury and was replaced by Cole Snyder. Vedral returned midway through the second quarter after spending several minutes in the injury tent. - Rutgers/AP College Football

rSr/2024

QB Noah Vedral, Rutgers
News Source: Rutgers/AP College Football
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10/04/21 - Taj Harris, rSr/2024, Rutgers + More +

Syracuse wide receiver Taj Harris plans to transfer. Orange coach Dino Babers confirmed Monday that the junior has decided to enter the transfer portal. Babers said he spoke to Harris before Saturday's game at Florida State and afterward. Babers said Harris, who did not travel to Florida with the team, decided "the best opportunity for him" would be to transfer. Harris, who also did not play in the previous game against Liberty, announced his decision Sunday on social media. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

The speedy 6-foot-2, 180-pound Harris set Syracuse rookie records for receptions and receiving yards in 2018 with 40 catches for 565 yards. He was a third-team, All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection in 2020, when he had 58 catches for 733 yards and five TDs, and had 16 catches for 171 yards in three games this season. He finishes his Syracuse career with 151 receptions for 2,028 yards and 10 touchdowns and four 100-yard games. The Orange (3-2, 0-1 ACC) have dropped to the bottom of the conference in passing offense, averaging 171 yards per game, and have only three scoring passes, the fewest in the league. - AP College Football

rSr/2024

WR Taj Harris, Rutgers
News Source: AP College Football
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09/20/21 - Aron Cruickshank, rSr/2023, Rutgers + More +

SEPT 20 BIG TEN CO-SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Aron Cruickshank, Rutgers, WR - Jr. - Brooklyn, N.Y. - Erasmus Hall (N.Y.),...Recorded a career-long 62-yard punt return for a touchdown in Rutgers' 45-13 win over Delaware. Marked his first collegiate punt return for a touchdown and his fifth career kick return touchdown (four kickoff return touchdowns)...Finished the game with 151 all-purpose yards, including 77 punt return yards and 38 kickoff return yards. Added 26 receiving yards and 10 rushing yards on offense...Is tied for second among all active FBS players with five career kick return touchdowns (four kickoff return and one punt return)...Garners the second Special Teams Player of the Week honor of his career and his first since Nov. 18, 2019 while playing for Wisconsin...Last Rutgers Special Teams Player of the Week: Adam Korsak (Sept. 13, 2021). - Big Ten Football

rSr/2023

WR Aron Cruickshank, Rutgers
News Source: Big Ten Football
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09/18/21 - Isaih Pacheco, Sr/2022, Rutgers + More +

Three games into the season, Rutgers found its big-play offense. Noah Vedral threw for two touchdowns and Isaih Pacheco ran for two more as the Scarlet Knights defeated Delaware 45-13 Saturday for its first 3-0 start since 2012. Vedral found Bo Melton on a 28-yard touchdown pass on his opening possession. He hit Brandon Sanders on a 62-yarder for the other TD in helping the Scarlet Knights take 35-10 half lead over their FCS opponent.

Vedral said offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson pushed the group in practice. "It's the little things; the little things," said Vedral, who was 21 of 25 for 323 yards. "We were close here and we were close there, kind of keeping us from kind of reaching this explosive potential that we always felt we had. So really big day for us to kind of put the pieces together and to see it come together on the field." The statistics were impressive. Rutgers had a season-high 497 yards in total offense and didn't turn the ball over for the third straight game. "I think any time you perform efficiently like that, that would help anybody's confidence," coach Greg Schiano said of Vedral. "Noah doesn't lack for confidence, though. He's a very confident guy because he prepares so well." Pacheco tallied on runs of 20 and 7 yards, while Aaron Young plowed into the end zone from 6 yards out for the Big Ten Conference team. Aron Cruickshank excited the crowd of 40,129 with a 62-yard punt return for a touchdown. - Rutgers/AP College Football

Sr/2022

RB Isaih Pacheco, Rutgers
News Source: Rutgers/AP College Football
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09/13/21 - Adam Korsak, rSr/2023, Rutgers + More +

SEPT 13 BIG TEN CO-SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Adam Korsak, Rutgers, P - Sr. - Melbourne, Australia - Maribyrnong College (Melbourne, Australia),...Set career highs in both gross (52.2) and net (51.7) punting averages in the Scarlet Knights' 17-7 win at Syracuse...Pinned 5-of-6 punts inside the 20 and registered four punts of 50-plus yards...Hit a 69-yard punt which tied for the seventh-longest punt in program history...Garners the first Special Teams Player of the Week honor of his career...Last Rutgers Special Teams Player of the Week: Janarion Grant (Sept. 12, 2016). - Big Ten Football

rSr/2023

P Adam Korsak, Rutgers
News Source: Big Ten Football
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09/11/21 - Noah Vedral, rSr/2024, Rutgers + More +

Rutgers took advantage of two Syracuse second-half miscues and downed the Orange 17-7 Saturday. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Syracuse (1-1) coach Dino Babers after he disputed a personal foul call on Orange linebacker Mikel Jones gave Rutgers (2-0) a first down on the Syracuse 11. Kyle Monangai ran it in on the next play to give the Scarlet Knights a 7-0 lead with 6:46 to go in the third quarter.

A fumble by Syracuse quarterback Tommy DeVito was recovered on the Orange 10 and a 27-yard field goal by Rutgers' Valentino Ambrosio made it 17-7 with 8:23 remaining in the game. "I'm not quite sure what happened," Babers said of the unsportsmanlike call. "I thought I saw a play (on which Jones was called for the personal foul) and I'm trying not to get fined. I thought I saw a play where we tackled a guy and he got pushed back. I saw a personal foul called. I didn't see a targeting. "As far as I know, I know I've never had a personal foul penalty called on me as a head coach. I know I've never had one called on me as an assistant coach and I'm pretty doggone sure that I never had one called on me as a player and I've been playing since the 60s." Rutgers' 2-0 start is the team's first since 2014. Noah Vedral was 22 of 28 for Rutgers for 145 yards and a 30-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jovani Haskins. He was sacked four times by a Syracuse defense that held the Scarlet Knights to 198 yards. "I thought he did a heckuva job," Schiano said. "Took care of the football. Made plays when he had the chance. I thought he did exactly what he had to do." - Rutgers/AP College Football

rSr/2024

QB Noah Vedral, Rutgers
News Source: Rutgers/AP College Football
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09/04/21 - Aron Cruickshank, rSr/2023, Rutgers + More +

Greg Schiano ran his team out of the tunnel in front of a sellout crowd at SHI Stadium, like he'd done so many times before during his 13 years as the Rutgers coach. Playing in front of fans for the first time since his highly anticipated return to Piscataway in December of 2019, things didn't go as planned. The 55-year-old coach led his team down the tunnel, veered right and fell to the turf after colliding with a TV cameraperson. "That was the low point of the day," Schiano said. "So that was good."

Aron Cruickshank had a career-high 206 all-purpose yards, the special teams made big plays, the defense was stifling and the offense managed the game as Rutgers opened the season with a 61-14 win over Temple on Saturday. Rutgers scored over 60 points for the first time since 2016, and first time against an FBS opponent since 2008. Noah Vedral was 15-of-27 passing for 138 yards and a touchdown for Rutgers. He also had a team-high 58 yards on eight rushes. Cruickshank returned four kicks for 113 yards and two punts for 55 yards, and he carried it three times for 24 and caught one pass for 14. - Rutgers/AP College Football

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