Tag: Ajanni Sheppard

Who does Mike Teel think has the inside track to be the Rutgers backup quarterback?

Mike Teel chimes in on the Rutgers football backup quarterback competition.

With Rutgers football having named Athan Kaliakmanis as the starting quarterback two weeks ago, one of the most interesting depth chart competitions is settled.

But the battle for the backup role behind Kaliakmanis is a potentially fascinating one, featuring rising sophomore Ajani Sheppard and true freshman A.J. Surace. Gavin Wimsatt, the starting quarterback for Rutgers last year, entered the transfer portal and committed to Kentucky last week.

Sheppard, who enrolled at Rutgers last spring, is the only other quarterback on the roster (other than Kaliakmanis) with college snaps on his resume. Surace, a former three-star recruit, enrolled at Rutgers in January.

For former quarterback [autotag]Mike Teel[/autotag], the decision to name Kaliakmanis the starter following spring practice sends a message about the quality of the depth in the quarterback room.

“You always want that for every position, especially when you’re playing in the Big Ten. Guys get beat up, guys. you got to go in for play. So it’ll be interesting,” Teel told Rutgers Wire.

“I think two things are there for them to be confident in – the fact that they are going to name a starter, number one – I think you’re confident in that decision. But I think that they’re also confident in the development of that room in general.”

Teel is the all-time leading passer in Rutgers football history. He was a sixth round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in the 2009 NFL draft.

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Last season as a true freshman, Sheppard played in the win over Wagner. He was 2-of-2 for 23 yards in that lone appearance last year.

In the spring game, Sheppard was five-of-nine for 63 yards.

“Ajani – I think when he had a very brief opportunity in one of the games last year – he came in very well and I thought he operated things very well for being a freshman who probably didn’t get many reps that week prior to the game,” Teel said.

“I’m sure he’s gotten better as he’s been in the program. And I’m sure he developed in the program so I’m sure that they feel comfortable with him. And then when you have a real highly recruited young kid like (A.J.) Surace in the race – you want him to be able to come in.

“I’m sure it’ll be an open competition, but I’d be shocked if Ajani doesn’t win it as a backup because I was impressed with him. He’s been in the program for a little while now. And there’s some familiarity with the system. But again, competition breeds the best and that’s what you want. You want competition across the board.”

What is the state of the Rutgers football quarterback competition? Greg Schiano sees ‘a healthy competition’

Rutgers football is having a good, healthy quarterback competition this spring.

For the first time since Rutgers entered the Big Ten in 2014, there is a quarterback competition that features two experienced players who each have deep Power Five starting experience.

The offseason addition of Athan Kalaikmanis, who started every regular season game for Minnesota last year, certainly changes the look and feel of the Rutgers quarterback room. With the incumbent starter, Gavin Wimsatt, back from a year where Rutgers won a bowl game, there is a level of depth and competition that hasn’t existed around this program in quite some time.

Of the four scholarship quarterbacks on the roster, Wimsatt and [autotag]Ajanni Sheppard[/autotag] spent last season at Rutgers and with offensive coordinator [autotag]Kirk Ciarrocca[/autotag].

“For two of them, it’s their second year in the system now so you would expect a better understanding from a whole offseason of studying yourself,” head coach Greg Schiano told reporters on Saturday.

“But yeah, there’s a healthy competition in the room. I think it’s deeper so we’ll just let it play out.”

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Rutgers has had inconsistent quarterback play for much of the last decade and the hope this offseason is that Kalaikmanis or Wimsatt will step up and manage the offense effectively.

While Sheppard is promising and A.J. Surace, a three-star quarterback who arrived on campus in January, the quarterback competition is likely to favor the most experienced players.

Wimsatt and Kalaikmanis both have significant starting experience in the Big Ten and that is likely what is needed with this veteran roster.

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“Well, Athan I saw do things in Big Ten games, so I’m not really surprised – I think he’s doing well, but it’s not a surprise,” Schiano said.

“AJ only saw (him) play in high school and yes, he’s pleasantly surprised me. I mean, AJ is a really fine young quarterback prospect. Very excited about him. So like I said, I’m encouraged. Starting up there with Gavin and going all the way through Ajani who was here – it’s a good room, and I think they got a good chemistry in there to coach Ciarrocca does a really good job of kind of blending them together. And yes, there’s a competition. But they you watch them they help each other all the time. I mean, that’s what that’s what family is about.”