Tag: Aron Cruickshank

Aron Cruickshank working his way back with something to prove on offense

Rutgers football hoping to get an impact from Aron Cruickshank this season.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Aron Cruickshank is back on the field for Rutgers football as the star wide receiver continues to work towards full fitness and recovery from last season’s season-ending injury.

The Rutgers wide receiver saw last season cut short after five games due to a season-ending leg injury. The then junior wide receiver was on pace for a breakout season, with 20 catches for 244 receiving yards with two touchdowns.

Speaking on Wednesday, Cruickshank said that it wasn’t “a minor injury, this is a life-changing injury.”

“I actually feel like I’m working towards it. I’m working with the trainers, trying to get a good plan for me but I feel like I’m doing pretty well right now,” Cruickshank said following practice on Wednesday.

“And this camp is fun. I get to play football with my guys again. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to do that.”

Earlier in the week, head coach Greg Schiano praised Cruickshank’s development. When he joined Rutgers in 2020 following two seasons at Wisconsin, Cruickshank was not seen as a weapon in the offense. Instead, he was relegated to primarily being a special teams standout.

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Schiano now sees a far more complete player in Cruickshank, who is arguably the fastest player on the Rutgers roster and one of the fastest athletes in the Big Ten.

“Aron worked himself into being a really good receiver, not only a return man,” Schiano told reporters.

“He had the surgery so we were very concerned. And you know, we’re not out of the woods yet. But he’s making progress and he’s taking care of himself and he’s healing well, and he’s playing – he’s playing he’s not full load yet, but he’s close. And we just got to keep bringing him along at a steady pace, but he needs to be a good, good player for us for sure.”

The goal, Cruickshank says, is to make an impact as a wide receiver and on special teams. It is something he believes he is trending towards.

“I was always just wanting to let everybody know I’m not just a special team this or return guy,” Cruickshank said.

“I like to just get the ball in my hands and do everything I can. So it feels good to actually get acknowledgment but I’m not done yet.”

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Aron Cruickshank’s return is big for Rutgers football on special teams and on offense

Rutgers football is getting a big boost in the return of Aron Cruickshank from injury.

The return of Aron Cruickshank is big for Rutgers football, not only because Cruickshank is one of the best returners in college football but he is also becoming a real threat on offense.

Cruickshank is one of the fastest players in all of the Big Ten, an electric presence when he gets the ball in his hands. Limited to the first five games of the season due to a leg injury, Cruickshank had 224 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns on 20 catches last year.

His receiving numbers, despite the injury, all showed a dramatic uptick from the 2020 season where his role in the Rutgers offense was limited.

Cruickshank transferred to Rutgers ahead of the 2020 season after spending his first two seasons at Wisconsin. The Erasmus Hall product was primarily used on special teams with the Badgers.

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On Monday, head coach Greg Schiano said that the return of Cruickshank “is really big.”

“Aron worked himself into being a really good receiver, not only a return man,” Schiano told reporters.

“He had the surgery so we were very concerned. And you know, we’re not out of the woods yet. But he’s making progress and he’s taking care of himself and he’s healing well, and he’s playing – he’s playing he’s not full load yet, but he’s close. And we just got to keep bringing him along at a steady pace, but he needs to be a good, good player for us for sure.”

Cruickshank had 153 punt return yards last year on nine returns. He also fielded 15 kickoffs for 316 yards.

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In 2020, Cruickshank was first-team All-Big Ten as a returner.

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Greg Schiano looking for Rutgers football special teams to be dominant once again

Greg Schiano talks Rutgers football special teams.

During his first stint with Rutgers football, head coach Greg Schiano put an emphasis on his special teams unit. With a team that was lacking talent on offense and defense, Schiano saw special teams as a way to help his team stay competitive.

Blocked kicks. Blocked punts. Clutch kicking. Big returns. Rutgers football was known for having dominant special teams play. And it helped give a significant boost to a team that had some early struggles in the old Big East.

And now, Schiano is trying to get his team back to that level and special teams is once again leading the way.

Last week at the Big Ten’s annual football media days, Schiano was asked about his special teams and the impact of having an All-American punter in Adam Korsak. Schiano underscored the importance of the unit as he enters his third season of a rebuild of Rutgers football.

“I think it makes a big difference in any league. I think special teams are critical right now. I don’t subscribe to the theory — you hear a lot of people say it’s a third, a third, and a third. That’s not true. Special teams plays cover about 22 percent of the game, but the fact of the matter is they cover the most real estate of any play in the game when you add them all up. So I think they’re critically important,” Schiano told reporters at the Big Ten media day.

“I think we put a great deal of importance on it in our program. Anywhere I’ve ever been, that’s probably the biggest thing is we spend a lot of time on it. We’re willing to play our starters, our best players on it, and I do think that certainly teams — I don’t think all the special teams are created equal either. I think certain teams are a little more important than others, and you’ll see guys, starting linebackers, starting tight ends, starting running backs on those teams.”

Last season, Rutgers football ranked No. 54 in the nation as a special teams unit.

Rutgers has two of the best at their respective positions in the nation on their special teams unit. Wide receiver Aron Cruickshank was an electric returner before an injury shelved him for the second half of the season.

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Punter Adam Korsak, set to enter his sixth season at Rutgers, was a Second-Team All-American selection by the Associated Press.

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Rutgers football: Greg Schiano is pleased with how his transfer wide receivers played

Rutgers football got some solid performances from their wide receivers in Friday’s spring game.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Taj Harris and Sean Ryan fit in seamlessly to the Rutgers football offense on Friday night during the annual spring game. The two transfer wide receivers added a new dimension to an offense that at times last year was lacking explosiveness.

The integration of Harris and Ryan into the offense is going to be as important for the Scarlet Knights as the production from the quarterback position and the development of the offensive line. All three units were a question mark throughout last season.

And now after the spring game, it appears that the offensive line is improved from last season and that the wide receivers are certainly a more balanced group with the chance to be explosive. [autotag]Bo Melton[/autotag], likely to be taken on Day 3 of the NFL draft, was very good last year and Shameen Jones showed some flashes, but adding the two transfers will be a big help for Rutgers.

“I think they are really going to help us. You know, they come in, they join Shameen, and then a host of other guys,” head coach Greg Schiano said after the game.

“We lose a really fine player in Bo as he leaves for the NFL. And I think it’s really important that what we did through the portal, supplementing what we already have here. We have some young receivers that are going to be really good but they make take a little while to get there. To have some experienced guys on the squad now that, helps a lot.”

Ryan (a transfer from West Virginia) led the Scarlet team with four catches for 48 yards. The White team was led by Harris (a transfer from Syracuse) who had five catches for 49 yards, including a first quarter touchdown catch.

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Harris and Ryan along with Jones gives Rutgers some good talent at wide receiver. If [autotag]Aron Cruickshank[/autotag] can fully recover from his season-ending injury suffered last fall, then Rutgers will be able to go with multiple looks for whoever may be the starting quarterback.

It is a lot of speed on the field as well, something Rutgers has been lacking in recent years.

Lost in the buzz about Harris and Ryan from Friday’s scrimmage was the fact that wide receiver [autotag]Josh Youngblood[/autotag] flashed with two catches for 29 yards.

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An outstanding returner, Youngblood, a transfer from Kansas State, might be the fastest player on the roster.

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Rutgers football playmaker Aron Cruickshank out for the season

Rutgers football wide receiver Aron Cruickshank is out for the season and will require surgery.

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Injury was added to insult for Rutgers football on Monday with the news that playmaker Aron Cruickshank is out for the year. The wide receiver, perhaps the most influential player on the team’s offense, suffered a knee injury in the second quarter of Saturday’s 52-3 loss to Wisconsin.

Head coach Greg Schiano told reporters on Monday that Cruickshank will require surgery.

“Aron Cruickshank is out for the season. I really feel bad for him because he came back from his shoulder injury that he sustained and then he had a knee injury – that he’s going to need surgery for,” Schiano said.

“I feel really bad; he’s such a competitor. And such a great representative for us but you know, what? We’ll surround him, we’ll help him through it. He’ll heal, medicine being as good as it is now, he’ll be back.

“He’s going to have a change in kind of goals right now for a little bit until he gets back to playing.”

Cruickshank suffered the injury attempting a kickoff return. He was a huge part of the offense and, given his speed, had the ability to change games for a Rutgers offense that has struggled at times this season to move the ball and get chunk yards.

Despite battling injuries this season, Cruickshank has 20 catches for 244 yards with two touchdowns. The special teams threat has nine punt returns for 135 yards with a touchdown and 15 kickoff returns for 316 yards.

Former Wisconsin WR Aron Cruickshank is dressed today for Rutgers

Former Wisconsin WR Aron Cruickshank is dressed today for Rutgers

The status of former Wisconsin and current Rutgers wide receiver Aron Cruickshank was a significant storyline throughout the week leading up to today’s game.

Cruickshank had been battling an injury as of late, an ailment that has held him out since October 3.

The former Badger wide receiver has played in six of Rutgers eight games this season. He’s recorded 20 catches, 244 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns, 6 carries, 30 rushing yards, 14 kick returns, 20.5 average yards per return, 8 punt returns, 19.1 average yards per punt return and 1 punt return touchdown.

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He is a pivotal piece of a Rutgers offense that has struggled to consistently move the ball this season. When they need a dynamic play today in order to find any success against the Wisconsin defense, all eyes should be on Cruickshank no matter where he lines up on the field.

As reported by several in attendance, he is dressed and appears to be active for today’s game.

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

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A former Wisconsin Badger is questionable to play for Rutgers this week

The former Badger WR has been a massive part of the Rutgers offense when healthy

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When Wisconsin meets Rutgers on Saturday afternoon, the Scarlet Knights hope to have a familiar face leading the way offensively.

Wisconsin transfer Aron Cruickshank went to Rutgers following the 2019 season, and has since become a significant part of the Scarlet Knights’ offense and special teams units. The former Badger has 20 catches for 244 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the year.

Those numbers come without him taking the field since an Oct. 3 loss to Michigan State. Is he ready to go this weekend? Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano was vague at best in his answer on Monday:

“I don’t know about Aron. That’s going to be close,” Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano told reporters on Monday.

“I know he wants to. He’s been trying to but you know, there’s a difference between want to and physically able and we’re never going to put a guy out there and risk their health. If they’re not, they’re not ready to go.”

 

Aron Cruickshank’s injury status is a bit of mystery for Rutgers football

Rutgers football wide receiver Aron Cruickshank’s injury status still uncertain ahead of Wisconsin game.

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The status of Aron Cruickshank remains up in the air. The Rutgers football wide receiver and special teams ace still not given the green light ahead of the Scarlet Knights game this Saturday against Wisconsin.

Cruickshank transferred to Rutgers from Wisconsin following the 2019 season. He has become a huge part of the Rutgers offense with 20 catches for 244 yards and two touchdowns this season.

One of the fastest players in the Big Ten, Cruickshank hasn’t played since getting injured in an Oct. 3 loss to Michigan State. His return would be a big potential spark for Rutgers against a Wisconsin team that has the best total defense in the country.

In the second Big Ten game of the season, Cruickshank had three catches for 102 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Ohio State.

“I don’t know about Aron. That’s going to be close,” Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano told reporters on Monday.

“I know he wants to. He’s been trying to but you know, there’s a difference between want to and physically able and we’re never going to put a guy out there and risk their health. If they’re not, they’re not ready to go.”

(Read what Greg Schiano had to say about Wisconsin’s top-ranked defense)

The wide receiver also has nine punt returns for 153 yards and a touchdown as well as 14 kickoff returns for 287 yards.

 

As for Julius Turner, his status seems a bit clearer for Rutgers. The interior defensive lineman has had an All-Big Ten quality season despite facing constant double-teams.

“Yeah, he’s you know, OK,” Schiano said. “It’s, it’s, you know, the back third of the season, everybody’s hurting in some ways, but he’ll be ready to go.”

Turner has 24 total tackles this year with 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble. He left the field twice this past Saturday for treatment during Rutgers 20-14 win at Illinois.

(Johnny Langan might be the most versatile – and intriguing – Big Ten player you haven’t heard of)

Former Badger Aron Cruickshank is making big-time plays for Rutgers

Wisconsin special teams sure miss Cruickshank’s abilities…

Aron Cruickshank stepped up on the biggest stage for the Wisconsin Badgers when he took an early kickoff all the way for a touchdown during the 2019 Rose Bowl.

Cruickshank then transferred to Rutgers after that season, joining head coach Greg Schiano on what has become an improving football team. His Badger career ended with 26 games played, 49 total kick returns, a 24.6-yard return average, 2 return touchdowns, 4 catches, 40 receiving yards, 19 carries, 189 rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns.

Now at Rutgers, Cruickshank is showing the Big Ten the promise he showed with the Badgers. That continued today with an impressive toe-drag reception on third down and a touchdown reception later that drive.

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

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Watch: Rutgers gets big play in touchdown drive against No. 11 Michigan State

Rutgers quarterback Noah Vedral with an impressive throw and third-and-long on opening touchdown drive.

Rutgers took a 7-0 lead over No. 11 Michigan State with 6:51 left in the first quarter. The nine-play, 72-yard drive was keyed by a big third-down play by quarterback Noah Vedral and wide receiver Aron Cruickshank.

Rutgers took over the ball on their own 28-yard line after the special teams unit snuffed out a fake field goal attempt. The drive got off to a rough start, with a one-yard run by Isaih Pacheco followed up by a sack of Vedral. Facing a third-and-19, quarterback Noah Vedral escaped a collapsing pocket, rolled to his left, threw across his body, and laced a tight pass along the sideline.

There, Cruickshank kept his foot in-bounds for a 19-yard catch. The drive ended six plays later when Johnny Langan found Cruickshank for a four-yard touchdown pass and an early lead for Rutgers.

 

It was a strong first series from Vedral who was 2-for-2 for 30 yards and ran four times for 35 yards.

Rutgers came into the game 3-2 following losses at Michigan and to Ohio State in the past two weeks. Michigan State is 5-0 in their second season under head coach Mel Tucker.