BRONX, N.Y. — When Mo Toure committed to Rutgers football, it was a different time and a very different place. On Thursday evening, he sat on a podium at Yankee Stadium, basking in his team’s win in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Toure, who committed to Rutgers in 2019 and then head coach Chris Ash, has emerged as one of the top linebackers in the Big Ten. Earlier this month, Toure announced he would return to Rutgers for a final season, underscoring the faith he has in the direction of this program.
And even in 2019, Toure had a belief in Rutgers, even when few others could see it.
A three-star recruit from Pleasantville, New Jersey, Toure believed he could be a leader of a movement of players from in-state to create a pipeline to Rutgers. His message to recruits looking to join Rutgers, he said, is simple.
“I’ll be honest with them. We work hard. We grind,” Toure said after the game.
“If you want to work and you want to win, come here. Rutgers is the place to be. If you are from New Jersey and you want to put on for your home state, Rutgers is the place to be.”
Toure finished the 31-24 win over Miami in the Pinstripe Bowl with eight total tackles and a sack. It is a reminder of just how much he means to the program in terms of production but also leadership.
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He had opportunities to go elsewhere, to explore other options and possibilities in the transfer portal. But the direction of Rutgers changed for him when head coach Greg Schiano was hired in December of 2019.
Buying into Schiano’s mentality and mindset, Toure has grown into one of the best and most complete defensive players in the Big Ten. That he started at such a low point with Rutgers makes him appreciate moments like Thursday.
Toure, seated on a dais following the game, barely stopped grinning during the press conference.
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“It means a lot. It’s a blessing, honestly. Being able to come back for another year and just help him grow. Come in here freshman year, it was tough going 2-10. I wasn’t used to that,” Toure said.
“All we did was work. Since coach Schiano got here, all we did was work. We brought in guys like these guys, and they’ve become my best friends. Just a blessing to have them and also have my brother (Famah Toure).”