As Rutgers football prepares for the 2023 campaign, they will look to improve on offense. Last year, the Scarlet Knights struggled at times to put points on the board and as a result, they brought in a new offensive coordinator in Kirk Ciarrocca. In his first season in Piscataway, Ciarrocca will be looking to maximize his players’ talents, including Al-Shadee Salaam.
During the 2022 campaign, Salaam was a force on the ground. He finished third on the team in rushing yards with 238. The talented junior also found the endzone twice while averaging 3.7 yards a carry.
After taking a redshirt his freshman year, Salaam made the most of his opportunities. He proved to be a difficult matchup due to his ability to impact a game in multiple ways. While the Scarlet Knights battled injuries, he was a model of consistency and finished third on the team in carries with 57.
The game winning TD by Al-Shadee Salaam. ⚡️
@AlshadeeSalaam | #CHOP pic.twitter.com/qzGhJI4o7s
— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) September 3, 2022
As the East Orange High School product prepares for his third season at Rutgers, he will be looking to build on his success. While Salaam mostly made an impact on the ground, he did make nine catches for 23 yards.
Team Scarlet takes the 7-0 after the Al-Shadee Salaam TD ‼️
@Alupnext21 | #CHOP pic.twitter.com/5zuGnOw0P6
— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) April 29, 2023
Although Salaam will have to battle for playing time, he showed last year that he can be a valuable piece. Having multiple playmakers is always a good thing and Salaam will be a player to watch after his success as a sophomore.
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