Tag: Damiere Shaw

Rutgers football’s Kyle Monangai has impressed running backs coach Damiere Shaw on and off the field

Rutgers football running back Kyle Monangai has impressed running backs coach Damiere Shaw.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — There is nothing left for Kyle Monangai to prove, the Rutgers football running back emerging last season as one of the top players in college football. That doesn’t lower the expectations though for Monangai ahead of his final season at Rutgers.

And for running backs coach [autotag]Damiere Shaw[/autotag], perhaps the greatest skill Monangai showed on his way to a record-breaking season at Rutgers was a mental and physical toughness. Those attributes impressed Shaw last year as Monangai looks to build on his breakout season.

Following a season where Monangai led the Big Ten in rushing, and played a huge role in Rutgers making a bowl game, there isn’t much left for the running back to prove. His 1,262 rushing yards are the most yards for a Rutgers running back since the program entered the Big Ten in 2014.

Shaw, in his second year as the Rutgers running backs coach, was impressed with Monangai’s performance last year

“He does a lot of things well, but here’s what I’ll tell you: Kyle was a very, very tough kid.- mentally tough, and the way he carried the ball and maintained his health the entire time – a lot of people can’t do that,” Shaw said on Tuesday.

:So I think the biggest thing for Kyle was his toughness.”

Monangai’s work ethic has been praised by head coach Greg Schiano. Several times last fall Schiano singled out Monangai as being not just the team’s best player but also their hardest worker.

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Monangai’s resilience made him the perfect running back for Rutgers. His character very much align themselves with the core values of a Scarlet Knights team that Schiano repeatedly calls a “developmental program.”

Coming out of high school, Monangai only had two Power Five offers

“He’s obviously brilliant,” Shaw said.

“He’s one of the smartest players I’ve ever been around ever coach but he’s just a tough tough dude. He keeps going.

Former Rutgers wide receiver, assistant coach Tiquan Underwood heading back to the NFL

Tiquan Underwood is set to leave the college coaching ranks.

Former Rutgers football wide receiver and assistant coach Tiquan Underwood is heading back to the NFL. Underwood is set to join the New England Patriots as an assistant wide receivers coach.

Underwood joined Rutgers as a member of the class of 2025. He was a seventh-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2009 NFL draft.

Linked to the NFL earlier this week, Underwood made it official on Thursday via his social media.

Underwood played six seasons in the NFL before transitioning to coaching. In 2020, he was hired by Rutgers as part of the first coaching staff brought in upon the return of head coach Greg Schiano.

He was a part of Schiano’s staff for two years before leaving before joining Pitt. Now, after serving as a quality control coach with the Miami Dolphins in 2019, he is heading back to the AFC East.

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Following Underwood, Rutgers hired [autotag]Damiere Shaw [/autotag]to become their wide receivers coach (Shaw is currently the running backs coach at Rutgers). [autotag]Dave Brock[/autotag], who coached wide receivers in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons, currently is the wide receivers coach at Rutgers.

Rutgers football recruiting: A Pennsylvania standout got a chopper visit from Greg Schiano

Greg Schiano took a helicopter to visit Pennsylvania offensive lineman Michael Carroll.

Michael Carroll got the chopper treatment from Rutgers football and head coach Greg Schiano on Tuesday.

Rutgers has made Carroll a priority recruit.

One of the nation’s premier offensive linemen, Carroll is a 6-foot-6, 295-pound offensive tackle from Central Bucks East  (Glenside, Pennsylvania). Carroll has a strong offer list that includes Baylor, Boston College, Cincinnati Maryland, Michigan State, Penn State, Rutgers, South Carolina, Virginia Tech and West Virginia among others.

His most recent offer came earlier in January from Kentucky.

Rivals ranks him as the No. 229 player in the nation and Pennsylvania’s sixth-best recruit in the 2025 class.

On Tuesday, Schiano took his helicopter to visit Carroll. The helicopter is used by Rutgers to make a splash and it certainly appears to have done just that.

 

Also on the visit along with Schiano were wide receivers coach [autotag]Damiere Shaw[/autotag] and offensive line coach [autotag]Pat Flaherty[/autotag].

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The work done by Flaherty this past season at Rutgers was borderline miraculous. In his first season at Rutgers, Flaherty turned what had been one of the worst offensive lines in college football the previous five seasons into a solid unit in the Big Ten.

The play and development of the line under Flaherty is a major reason why Rutgers finished 7-6 (3-5 Big Ten) and won the Pinstripe Bowl against Miami.

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The helicopter used by Schiano on recruiting visits is paid for using private funds and donations that are separate from the athletic department’s budget.

Rutgers football continues big recruiting week, lands a Big Ten caliber athlete Antonio White

Antonio White commits to Rutgers football.

The momentum is continuing on the recruiting trail for Rutgers football as the Scarlet Knights nabbed a three-star wide athlete from Georgia in Antonio White.

Oozing with athleticism, White is a 2024 athlete can play wide receiver or as a defensive back at the next level. He moves fluidly in space, is strong in coverage, instinctual in his understanding of routes and has good straight line speed.

In 2022 as a junior, he had 75 total tackles, a sack, three passes defended and an interception,

A 6-foot-2, 175-pound wide receiver from Parkview High School (Lilburn, GA), White is a massive get for Rutgers. He has an impressive Power Five offer list, picking Rutgers over listed offers that included Auburn, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Mississippi State, North Carolina and Texas A&M among others.

He is a consensus three-star recruit on Rivals, 247Sports and On3.

 

White made his commitment known on Saturday afternoon via social media. He tagged several members of the Rutgers coaching staff in his commitment post including head coach [autotag]Greg Schiano[/autotag], safeties coach [autotag]Drew Lascari[/autotag] and wide receivers coach [autotag]Damiere Shaw[/autotag]:

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Rutgers football running backs coach Damiere Shaw believes in competition: ‘Iron sharpens iron’

Rutgers football running backs coach Damiere Shaw sees his room as competing hard this spring.

There may not be a position group on the Rutgers football roster that has the level of competition as the running backs. It is certainly an area of strength for Rutgers this spring.

Saturday’s annual spring game projects as a chance for Shaw’s group to be showcased heavily. The depth at running back might be the best of any position group on the roster.

And for Shaw, in his first year as the Rutgers running backs coach, it has been an important spring. Shaw was the wide receivers coach last year before moving to running backs.

Energetic and upbeat, Shaw has taken to this new role on the coaching staff and he has a depth chart that is athletic, versatile and with an intriguing blend of experience and youth.

As Samuel Brown works his way back from his season-ending injury suffered last fall, the likes of Kyle Monangai (109 carries for 445 yards wand two touchdowns) and Al-Shadee Salaam (57 carries for 210 yards, and two touchdowns) were the next man up to close out last season. Shaw believes in the room and that the talent will continue to develop.

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“You know, iron sharpens iron, and the cream will rise to the top but you got a ton of guys, you know (offensive coordinator) Kirk Ciarrocca, he’s gonna run the rock,” Shaw said on Tuesday.

“So we’ll find a role for everybody and guys continue to progress and develop and stay healthy and we’ll see what happens this coming season. But we got plenty of time and I’m just happy with the progress that they’re making.”

Also factoring into this is Aaron Young. The junior running back was limited to the season’s final four games due to injury, but his return to health this spring is a big boost for the running backs room.

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Young is a reliable ball carrier who is an asset in the passing game. Shaw has been impressed with what Young is doing on the field and in the locker room with the younger running backs.

“A ton of physicality, This guy is running like his hair’s on fire,” Shaw said.

“He’s playing finally, I talked about the guys helping each other out. He’s been a leader in the room; so off the field he’s taken a huge role in developing the younger guys. But he’s really really running hard right now.”

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L.J. Booker says Rutgers football is standing out: ‘It feels like they need me’

L.J. Booker talks recruitment and plans out Rutgers football visit.

Last week, L.J. Booker included Rutgers football in his top three alongside Duke and Virginia Tech. With a decision likely coming this summer, the class of 2024 standout is likely seeing his recruitment winding down.

A 6-foot-2 athlete, Walker is a three-star recruit who is ranked by Rivals as the No. 12 player in Virginia and the No. 90 wide receiver in the nation.

Duke, North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest have all received visits from Booker over the past month. Rutgers football is likely getting a visit, Booker said.

He said that the work of wide receiver coach [autotag]Damiere Shaw[/autotag] and the program’s efforts to make him feel wanted has certainly helped land Rutgers in his top three.

“Because of the continuous love they show me and my family,” Booker told Rutgers Wire.

“I receive maybe 20 letters per week, multiple checkups from many members of the staff.

“It really feels like they need me instead of wanting me.”

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The decision to narrow down his top three to Duke, Rutgers and Virginia Tech came as Walker is eyeing a possible decision this summer. All three programs, he said, are getting an official visit.

“I decided to narrow it down because I realized my recruitment is slowing down in terms of getting offers,” Walker said. “And those were the three schools that felt the most comfortable with.”

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Yasin Willis talks most recent Rutgers football visit, his official visits and the hunt for SEC offers

New Jersey running back Yasin Willis talks about his recent visit to Rutgers football.

Yasin Willis is coming off a weekend visit to Rutgers football, the first visit of what will likely be a busy spring for the New Jersey running back.

A four-star running back and the top player in New Jersey according to Rivals, is one of the top priorities for Rutgers football this offseason. Ranked the No. 11 recruit in the nation, he is a solid 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds.

Last season for St. Joseph’s regional, Willis had 1,133 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns on 189 carries.

Willis said that as of now, Rutgers and South Carolina are going to be getting official visits. He is working on the other three visits.

He holds offers from Boston College, Duke, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Ole Miss, Penn State, South Carolina, Syracuse, Virginia Tech and West Virginia among others.

Check out what Willis had to say about his most recent visit to Rutgers on Sunday. He talks about his time with Rutgers football head coach [autotag]Greg Schiano[/autotag] and running backs coach [autotag]Damiere Shaw[/autotag].

Pennsylvania three-star Jordan Montgomery: ‘I would love to have an offer from Rutgers’

Pennsylvania linebacker Jordan Montgomery discusses his recruitment, is hoping for a Rutgers football offer.

Jordan Montgomery continues to put in work this offseason. The three-star linebacker from Pennsylvania is hoping to be able to land more offers, with a local Big Ten program at the top of his list.

The Roman Catholic (Philadelphia, PA) linebacker is one of the top players in Pennsylvania in the class of 2023. He currently holds offers from Maryland, Syracuse and Temple.

But Rutgers, a program that recruits the Philadelphia area hard, is a program that Montgomery is hoping to land an offer from this spring or summer. He is optimistic about the direction of the program as well as being able to land an offer from the Scarlet Knights.

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He said that head coach [autotag]Greg Schiano[/autotag] and assistant coach [autotag]Damiere Shaw[/autotag], the program’s wide receivers coach who recruits Philadelphia, have formed a good bond so far in his recruitment.

“Right now I’m building a relationship with coach Schiano. He always texts me and asks me how I’m doing and for the holidays he’ll reach out to me,” Montgomery told RutgersWire.

“He’ll send me graphics of me and of Rutgers stuff. We also talked about the draft. Coach Shaw and I have a good relationship as well. He’s my guy! When I post stuff on Twitter about Rutgers, the fans and the staff always show love. So I believe that Rutgers and I are building a great relationship.”

Last season, Montgomery had 56 total tackles and three sacks.

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If Rutgers were to become an offer, Montgomery says that they would be high up on his list in terms of interest. The Scarlet Knights are the closest Power Five program to Philadelphia.

“They actually would be among my favorites,” Montgomery said.

“I would love to have an offer from Rutgers especially knowing I’ve already built a relationship with the staff and coaches.”

This has been a busy offseason for Montgomery as he gets ready for his senior season at Roman Catholic and also balances schoolwork, family and his recruitment. He has several camp dates lined up, including a visit to Rutgers this summer.

“During this spring I will be attending the Rivals camp to compete and get better,” Montgomery said.

“I have 7v7 tournaments with my school this spring/summer. I’ll be going to the Rutgers camp, Wake Forest camp, Liberty camp…a couple more. I will also be visiting Maryland, Syracuse, Rutgers, and I’m going to try and set up a couple more.”

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Rutgers football: Shameen Jones continues to impress with his energy, attitude and production

Rutgers football wide receiver Shameen Jones brings veteran leadership to the Scarlet Knights.

Shameen Jones, who first debuted for Rutgers against Princeton in 1869, continues to bring a freshness and energy to the Scarlet Knights despite being one of the elder statesmen of the program.

Jones had a career-high 35 receptions last season, putting together what arguably was the best season of his time at Rutgers. And while he joined Rutgers in 2017, the redshirt season is bringing plenty of enthusiasm and energy as he is set for his sixth season with the Scarlet Knights.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound wide receiver from Cardinal Hayes (Bronx, N.Y.) has impressed wide receivers coach Damiere Shaw.

“He’s been great, he’s been great. He’s the same guy every day. When you look at him at practice, you don’t see a guy who has been playing [this long],” Shaw told reporters this week.

“He comes out here with a great approach and a great attitude, wanting to learn. He is flying around in the pass game, in the run game. He’s treating every day like this is his first day and he’s trying to make a first impression. I’ve been extremely pleased with his progress, I’ve been extremely pleased with the attitude he’s brought to the room.”

Jones will need to step up this season and continue his production from the past two years. He certainly has experience, having been a starter at Rutgers for three seasons.

Rutgers loses star wide receiver Bo Melton to the NFL draft this year, meaning that Jones and returning starter Aron Cruickshank will need to step-up their output. Melton was the leading wide receiver on the roster last year.

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They will be joined by transfer portal wide receivers Taj Harris and Sean Ryan, both of whom have significant ‘Power Five’ experience.

“There’s a lot of talent in that room and you start with Shameen Jones. He’s a very talented receiver,” Melton told ‘Rutgers Wire’ in a recent interview.

“Then you have Taj Harris, Sean Ryan, Joshua Youngblood, Isaiah Washington. You go down the line-  it is a really, really, really competitive group in there and I’m really excited to see how that shakes out in that room.”

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Rutgers football: Damiere Shaw embraces relationships and listening while still being ‘extremely intense’

Damiere Shaw’s emphasis on relationships is making a mark with Rutgers football.

For Damiere Shaw, recruiting and coaching are all about relationships, the Rutgers wide receivers coach talking this week about his style when it comes to arguably the two most important components of his job.

Shaw has become the new rock star on the recruiting circuit for Rutgers football. The first-year wide receivers coach has created some significant buzz on the recruiting trail, his ability to connect and foster an understanding beyond football already playing a key role in the Scarlet Knights landing three-star wide receiver Yazeed Haynes out of Pennsylvania.

In his role as a recruiter and on-the-field as an assistant, Shaw says he follows the example of head coach Greg Schiano.

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In doing so, he points to the program’s belief in trust and accountability, especially as it comes to recruiting.

“I won’t say that it is anything I do specifically. This program is led by coach Schiano and I’ve watched him and the rest of the guys in this group recruit at a high, high level the last two years. It is all about relationships. The way we recruit, we recruit in teams so I may be responsible for a kid’s area but I’m not the only one responsible for recruiting that kid,” Shaw told reporters this week.

“We collectively recruit and the most important thing I do and the rest of the staff do is build relationships. It is easy to recruit when you have a head coach like coach Schiano backing you.

“You can name-drop him on kids. I like to collectively recruit and build relationships.”

The relationship component, for Shaw, also extends to his job on the sidelines in coaching the wide receivers.

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This offseason, Rutgers lost some significant swagger when Tiquan Underwood left to become the wide receivers coach at Pittsburgh. Underwood was known for his ability to connect with players as a recruiter and also foster relationships within the program.

Shaw, who was hailed by Schiano this week for being a technician as a coach, talked about how he handles his room and mentors the individual players in a way where he is able to critique their performance in practice or a game but also develop their ability to communicate in an open fashion.

“I say I coach extremely hard and everything we do is extremely intense but it’s never personal. You know, the coach is never personal just trying to help these guys be the best version of themselves,” Shaw said.

“And then we get in the meeting room it’s all conversation based, it is never lecture based. Guys can express how they’re feeling, guys can express what they were thinking out there on the football field. So I will say these guys really get coached hard, but they know that my relationship with them is way bigger than football. And I think that enables me to be able to coach those guys hard push them hard without them fighting it.”

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