[mm-video type=video id=01fn7s7e0pw3e2bk5y7n playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fn7s7e0pw3e2bk5y7n/01fn7s7e0pw3e2bk5y7n-b896d12acd4a87990b9bedd0473e0d0d.jpg]
Consistency along the offensive line has been a challenge for Rutgers football, especially with the emergence of several young players as starters. The emergence of true freshman Gus Zilinskas comes as Rutgers is still searching for the best combination of personnel along the offensive line.
Zilinskas came in to Rutgers perhaps a bit under the radar, the Colorado offensive lineman not one of the more heralded players of the 2021 recruiting class. But over the past month, Zilinskas has impressed as the starting center
The center has been impressive and has established himself along an offensive line that has been anything but consistent this year.
“Well, I think Gus is really improving his arrow is up. And again, we’re just trying to find the best combination of five guys that produce the best result,” head coach Greg Schiano told reporters on Monday.
“Now some would say, Well, that didn’t happen Saturday. Well, like, I know, but again, you have to you have to go against what would have been with other groups in there as well. So we’re never 100 percent. That’s for sure. But we’re trying. And it says something that in week 12 We’re still trying to find the best five, right? We have not accomplished what we set out to accomplish in that that area, but we just keep working at it. You know, it doesn’t always go on our time. You’ve got to roll with it and keep going.”
The development of Zilinskas is rare as true freshmen rarely become starters along the offensive line. Rated the No. 19 player in Colorado in the 2021 recruiting class by 247 Sports, Zilinskas was certainly under recruited with Rutgers his only ‘Power Five’ offer.