Tag: 2023 Rutgers recruits

Rutgers football: Assessment on 2023 recruit Jashon Benjamin

Jashon Benjamin has a strong film and a skillset that could see him fit in nicely at Rutgers football.

Running back Jashon Benjamin is the only running back in the 2023 recruiting class for Rutgers football, making him the possible future lead back for the Scarlet Knights. The Florida native has the potential to be a strong part of the backfield.

Benjamin attended Pahokee High School (Pahokee, FL) where he played running back and defensive back. He helped the Blue Devils to a 9-3 record, along with an appearance in the FHSAA Regional Final game during his senior year.

At running back, Benjamin finished his senior season with 1,312 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 8.4 yards per carry. He also caught 30 receptions for 688 yards and four touchdowns.

A three-star recruit, he was a multi-sport athlete where he also ran track.

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According to 247Sports, Benjamin was a three-star and the No. 109 running back in the nation. He received 13 offers including from Arkansas State, Memphis, Purdue and Tulane among others.

Film Breakdown

When watching the film, Benjamin is clearly explosive when running the ball.

This shouldn’t be a surprise as Benjamin ran a 10.7 in the 100-meter dash and he shows off that speed when he reaches the second level.

But he is also physical as Benjamin, at 5-foot-8 and 194 pounds, can run the ball in between the tackles in the power running game. Also, he is a zone-style runner, using his quickness and explosiveness to find open running lanes. Benjamin has excellent vision and looks to hit the big play every time he touches the ball.

In the passing game, Benjamin has excellent hands and can be dangerous in the screen game. He can line up in the slot and cause mismatches against linebackers when running routes.

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Areas to work on

If Benjamin wants to be an every-down back, he will need to add more strength, although he is already pretty powerfully built. In the NCAA, the average running back weighs roughly 204.75 Ibs., meaning that Benjamin will need to put on some size.

Another area of improvement for the future Scarlet Knight is patience. Benjamin needs to work on following his blockers. His patience will come with maturity and practice.

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Rutgers football: 2023 prospect Djibril Abdou Rahman film assessment

Canadia edge rusher Djibril Abdou Rahman is brimming with potential for the 2023 recruiting class.

Djibril Abdou Rahman is one of the more under-the-radar prospects in the Rutgers football 2023 recruiting class.

The defensive end played his high school football for the Cégep du Vieux Spartans in Montreal, Canada. Last season, he had seven sacks, 12 tackles-for-loss, three forced fumbles,a fumble recovery and deflected a pair of passes.

Based on his senior performance, Rahman got named to the 2022 Football Collegial Division 1 All-Star Team. In 2021 as a junior, he helped the Spartans to a 6-2 record.

The Canadian edge rusher has the size and frame to disrupt quarterbacks at the Power Five level. He has tremendous raw talent, recording a 4.62 40-yard dash and 35 inch vertical.

There will be a learning curve for Rahman as he has to adjust from Canadian rules and to a higher standard of the game. But his skillset is hard to ignore.

What is the outlook for Rahman contribute to Rutgers football?

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Film Evaluation

Watching the film on Rahman, you can notice he has the potential to be a solid Big Ten player. He plays with his hand on the ground, disrupting the opponent’s offense throughout the game. The three-star recruit is quick off the ball, using an excellent swim / rip move to get to the quarterback. Rahman can move sideline to sideline, stunting into multiple gaps. He can play three-tech, allowing his team to bring more speed onto the field. While defending the rushing attack, Rahman has solid technique spilling pulling linemen, freeing up linebackers to make all the tackles. His strength is rushing the quarterback, but what areas of improvement does the prospect need to make?

Areas to work on

As he develops, Rahman needs to work on his gap discipline. The defensive end isn’t as dedicated as needed at the Power Five level in terms of maintaining outside leverage and stunting inside during pass plays. Rahman is an upfield player, which is fine during passing situations but can be costly during running plays. He is a raw talent that needs to gain power and size.

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