Tag: Greg Schianio

Film review of Rutgers football’s latest commitment, three-star Jyon Simon

Rutgers football landed a promising player last week in Florida defensive lineman Jyon Simon.

Last week, Rutgers football received a commitment from Jyon Simon. A three-star defensive lineman, Simon had a strong offer list and fills a very big need for Rutgers in the 2025 class.

Simon had some fun in his commitment, first pulling off a prank by saying he was going to USC before eventually committing to Rutgers.

He finished his junior season with 77 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and nine sacks. As a sophomore, Simon totaled 29 tackles (5.5 for loss), 3.5 sacks, three quarterback hits, and an INT for Raines High School (Jacksonville, Florida).

According to 247Sports, Simon is ranked the No. 95 defensive lineman in his 2025 recruiting class and is the No. 129 ranked prospect in Florida.

[lawrence-related id=37585]

Film Review

In adding Simon, Rutgers adds a defensive lineman with some position versatility.

Despite being a big athlete, he has the ability to move around from tackle to end, Simon offers a ton of diversity to Defensive Coordinator Joe Harasymiak’s defense. He is able to do that because he is fast for a player of his size.

Simon’s quickness and toughness off the ball make him a menace for opposing linemen. He has excellent technique, using his hands to shed blocks and maintain gap discipline.

[lawrence-related id=37616,37618]

Simon is not an up-the-field player, fitting nicely in Rutgers defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak’s gap run defense. His relentless effort and pursuit make Simon a four-down defensive player.

Size and strength are the two important characteristics Simon should focus on as he develops into a Power Five defensive lineman.

 

Film Review: Can Antonio White add depth to Rutgers’ secondary?

Antonio White is a tremendous athlete with Big Ten starting potential.

Antonio White is part of Rutgers football’s 2024 recruiting class. He is an elite-level athlete and brings that to the Rutgers secondary.

The Snellville, Georgia native was a two-way starter, playing defensive back and wide receiver in high school.

The 2024 prospect helped the Parkview Panthers to seven wins and a GHSA Class 7A playoff appearance in 2023. He recorded 90 tackles, 24 tackles-for-loss, three sacks, and two pass breakups as a senior on defense. Also, he blocked two punts and returned one for a touchdown, while adding a kickoff return for a score on special teams. White received an all-region selection on defense for his stellar performance.

According to Rivals, White is the No. 61 ranked prospect in Georgia and is the No. 56 defensive back within his recruiting class.

[lawrence-related id=37384]

Film Review

The 6-foot-1, 168-pound defensive back has excellent play recognition, providing discipline in the defensive secondary. He offers toughness and physicality to Rutgers’ defense, two characteristics head coach Greg Schiano and the Scarlet Knights thrive on.

White can play in multiple defensive schemes, playing pass coverage in dime/nickel packages while being a run stuffer at the hybrid linebacker position in run defense.

[lawrence-related id=37480,37473,37415]

His long wingspan makes him difficult to stop on defense, shedding blocks from opposing linemen. With his diverse skill set, look for defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak to add him to multiple blitz packages and defensive schemes.

If White wants to contribute to Harasymiak’s defense, look for the 2024 prospect to add weight and strength to his resume as he develops into a Power Five player.

 

Rutgers football: The top five bowl wins in Rutgers’ history

Rutgers football captured their seventh bowl victory in program history with their win over Miami. Here are Rutgers’ top five bowl wins.

Rutgers football captured their seventh bowl championship in program history with their victory over Miami in the 2023 Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl.

The Scarlet Knights appeared in 12 bowl games throughout program history, recording a 7-5 record. Rutgers’ first bowl game appearance was on December 10, 1978, when the Scarlet Knights lost to Arizona State, 34-18, in the Garden State Bowl at Giant Stadium (New Jersey).

[lawrence-related id=33538]

Rutgers’ Bowl History

  1. 1978 Garden State Bowl: Arizona State 34, Rutgers 18
  2. 2005 Insight Bowl: Arizona State 45, Rutgers 40
  3. 2006 Texas Bowl: Rutgers 37, Kansas State 10
  4. 2008 International Bowl: Rutgers 52, Ball State 30
  5. 2008 PapaJohns.com Bowl: Rutgers 29, NC State 23
  6. 2009 St. Petersburg Bowl: Rutgers 45, UCF 24
  7. 2011 New Era Pinstripe Bowl: Rutgers 27, Iowa State 13
  8. 2012 Russell Athletic Bowl: Virginia Tech 13, Rutgers 10 (OT)
  9. 2013 New Era Pinstripe Bowl: Notre Dame 29, Rutgers 16
  10. 2014 Quick Lane Bowl: Rutgers 40, North Carolina 21
  11. 2021 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl: Wake Forest 38, Rutgers 10
  12. 2023 Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl: Rutgers 31, Miami 24

After the 1978 season, the Scarlet Knights didn’t appear in a bowl game for 27 years until current head coach Greg Schiano took over. From 2001 to 2011 and from 2020 to the present, Schiano has guided the Scarlet Knights to eight bowl games with a record of 6-2.

Below are Rutgers football’s top five bowl victories in program history.Β 

[lawrence-related id=33544]

Mo Toure’s Rutgers football journey began bleak. Now, he believes the future is bright

Mo Toure reflects on the future of Rutgers football.

BRONX, N.Y. — When Mo Toure committed to Rutgers football, it was a different time and a very different place. On Thursday evening, he sat on a podium at Yankee Stadium, basking in his team’s win in the Pinstripe Bowl.

Toure, who committed to Rutgers in 2019 and then head coach Chris Ash, has emerged as one of the top linebackers in the Big Ten. Earlier this month, Toure announced he would return to Rutgers for a final season, underscoring the faith he has in the direction of this program.

And even in 2019, Toure had a belief in Rutgers, even when few others could see it.

A three-star recruit from Pleasantville, New Jersey, Toure believed he could be a leader of a movement of players from in-state to create a pipeline to Rutgers. His message to recruits looking to join Rutgers, he said, is simple.

“I’ll be honest with them. We work hard. We grind,” Toure said after the game.

“If you want to work and you want to win, come here. Rutgers is the place to be. If you are from New Jersey and you want to put on for your home state, Rutgers is the place to be.”

Toure finished the 31-24 win over Miami in the Pinstripe Bowl with eight total tackles and a sack. It is a reminder of just how much he means to the program in terms of production but also leadership.

[lawrence-related id=33544,33538]

He had opportunities to go elsewhere, to explore other options and possibilities in the transfer portal. But the direction of Rutgers changed for him when head coach Greg Schiano was hired in December of 2019.

Buying into Schiano’s mentality and mindset, Toure has grown into one of the best and most complete defensive players in the Big Ten. That he started at such a low point with Rutgers makes him appreciate moments like Thursday.

Toure, seated on a dais following the game, barely stopped grinning during the press conference.

[lawrence-related id=33534,33502]

“It means a lot. It’s a blessing, honestly. Being able to come back for another year and just help him grow. Come in here freshman year, it was tough going 2-10. I wasn’t used to that,” Toure said.

“All we did was work. Since coach Schiano got here, all we did was work. We brought in guys like these guys, and they’ve become my best friends. Just a blessing to have them and also have my brother (Famah Toure).”