PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Rutgers football has a different mentality this year according to Max Melton, one that the defensive back says involves the entire program buying in.
In what will be his fourth season at Rutgers, Melton believes that the Scarlet Knights are ready and prepared to build upon the growth and development of the last two seasons. As the program enters its fourth season under head coach Greg Schiano, there is certainly an elevation of the overall talent level within the program.
Now, that talent level needs to manifest itself on the field and in Big Ten play. Two years ago, Rutgers played in the Gator Bowl against Wake Forest as a replacement team when Texas A&M had to withdraw.
But Rutgers hasn’t made a bowl game outright since 2014. The senior defensive back believes this team can take that step forward this season.
Melton had the opportunity to test the NFL draft waters but instead returns to the Scarlet Knights for one final season with the program. It is a decision he said was part of a desire to go out on top with the rebuilding program.
“100 percent I was coming back, there was no question in my mind,” Melton said on Saturday.
“I got to win with this team, I don’t feel like it was selfish if I was going to go to the league but like I just want to win. I’ve always been a part of winning teams so I ain’t feel like it’s right if I left and we didn’t win nothing.
“To be honest, I don’t even count the bowl game – Texas A&M had COVID or whatever. I ain’t count that, that wasn’t a bowl game for us. We didn’t earn that.”
Rutgers, Melton believes, is ready for that next step as a program. As for why he believes that, Melton cites a belief that the team has bought in to the vision of the rebuild and is investing in the direction established under Schiano.
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“We’re turnt up, this is the most turnt team at Rutgers I’ve been on. There’s nothing wrong with the teams before but I gel with these guys much, much better. It’s going to carry over to the field when it’s supposed to,” Melton said.
“Like I said before, nothing against the teams we had previously when Schiano came back but like, we’re all on one page. We’re all having leadership meetings, like letting the team know what type of time we’re on this year, like not just going with the flow, or we come out here run plays, we put our daily deposit in football (then) about to go do whatever. Now like we making sure from top from player one to player 132 however many players you’re allowed to have on team – like we’re all on the same page. I think that is gonna help us when it comes fourth quarter versus whatever.”
Last season, Melton posted a career-high 33 tackles and nine passes defended. He also had two interceptions.
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