Tag: Kirk Ciarrocca

Around the Big Ten: Quarterback with ties to Rutgers football’s Kirk Ciarrocca is in the transfer portal

Jacob Knuth has entered the transfer portal.

Jacob Knuth has entered the transfer portal, leaving Minnesota after a redshirt freshman season with the Big Ten program. Knuth was a class of 2022 quarterback who was coached by Kirk Ciarrocca last year.

Knuth did not play last year but was a ighly-recruited quarterback coming out of South Dakota. He was the top ranked player in the state from his class and the No. 30 quarterback in the nation according to 247 Sports.

In his final season at Harrisburg High School (Harrisburg, SD), Knuth was impressive, throwing for 2,401 yards and 26 touchdowns. He also showed some ability with his legs, running for 527 yards and touchdowns as a senior.

As a junior, he was invited to the All-American Combine in San Antonio, TX as well as competing at the Elite 11 Regional event for quarterbacks in Nashville, TN.

Ciarrocca, now the offensive coordinator at Rutgers, did not recruit Knuth. Minnesota was picked in Knuth’s recruitment prior to the arrival of Ciarrocca, who was with the Golden Gophers for last season before moving to Rutgers this offseason.

Knuth committed to Minnesota over offers from Iowa, Iowa State and Kansas State among others. He is last listed as 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds.

With four years of eligibility remaining, Knuth posted his decision to enter the transfer portal on Thursday, likely indicating that the pathway to playing time over the next two years wasn’t likely with Minnesota.

 

Rutgers football hasn’t been active in the transfer portal for a quarterback this year, but they certainly need some depth at the position. There are three scholarship quarterbacks on the roster and only two have college experience (freshman Ajani Sheppard).

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Knuth would certainly know the offense, having been in Ciarroca’s system last year. But that certainly doesn’t guarantee that there is a pathway to playing time at Rutgers or even any interest from the Scarlet Knights.

Rutgers would be a big move, geographically, away from South Dakota. In addition, Ciarrocca wasn’t the primary recruiter for Knuth as the player had already committed to the program the summer before the offensive coordinator arrived in 2022.

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Rutgers offensive productivity to improve with Victor Konopka return?

Rutgers football hopes tight end Victor Konopka can boost offensive productivity after missing most of the 2022 season with a knee injury.

Rutgers football hopes tight end Victor Konopka can boost offensive productivity after missing most of the 2022 season with a knee injury. Last season got off to a promising start for the tight end from Don Bosco Prep. Through the first three games of the 2022 season, Konopka saw significant playing time as a blocker and receiver. After injuring his knee in late September, Konopka is fully healthy and back on the field for spring practice.

The 6-foot-7 250-pound tight end spent time learning and watching game films during rehab, patiently waiting for a return to the football field. Entering his fourth year of the program, Konopka adds much-needed experience to a young Rutgers offense. Konopka has appeared in 20 games since making his first start in 2020, recording five catches for 69 yards. The Rutgers tight end was honored with Academic All-Big Ten in 2021 and 2022.

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Konopka gets recognized for his potential pass-catching ability and his ability to block. His focus now will be learning new offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca’s offense as he returns to action.

During spring practices, Konopka will continue his development, trying to become an all-around tight end. Building a connection with quarterback Gavin Wimsatt will be important as he learns to find open spots in a zone or man coverage.

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Dave Brock’s NFL experience is shaping his new role with Rutgers football

A strong coaching resume in the NFL now sets Dave Brock up for his new experience with Rutgers football.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The challenge is certainly a big one for Dave Brock, this as the Rutgers football wide receivers coach is working his way through his first spring practice back with the program.

At Rutgers, Brock is faced with the task of rebuilding a wide receivers room that lost its top three statistical producers last season. And while there is some talent among the group, it is largely unproven, at least at the Big Ten level.

Brock, who served as the Rutgers offensive coordinator in 2012 under then head coach [autotag]Kyle Flood[/autotag], joins a revamped offensive staff under head coach [autotag]Greg Schiano[/autotag]. His friendship with offensive coordinator [autotag]Kirk Ciarrocca[/autotag] predates their time here at Rutgers when they were both on staff at Western Connecticut State nearly three decades ago.

“I think I have a unique relationship with Kirk Ciarrocca and he and I worked together too long ago to probably say and then you know, we had had a conversation really a couple of years ago and man, wouldn’t it be a really cool situation to have an opportunity to work together again?” Brock said on Tuesday.

“And then, you know, again, this opportunity came up, and I jumped at it. You know, I was really excited. I have an incredible amount of respect for coach Schiano. I’ve known him for a long time, kind of through other people, coached against him a bunch which is challenging, and, you know, the opportunity to be here and work under him with Kirk. You know, just an opportunity too good to pass up.”

Since his time at Western Connecticut State, Brock has certainly gained some impressive experience on his resume. After his season with Rutgers where he was their offensive coordinator, Brock spent four years at Delaware as their head coach.

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He then moved to the NFL for five years with the Atlanta Falcons, spending the 2019 season as a running backs coach. Midway through that season, he moved to wide receivers coach which is the post he held until 2021.

Now, he is back with the Scarlet Knights and a program that is very different than the one he left over a decade ago.

In his 11 years away from Rutgers, the program has changed plenty, from now playing in the Big Ten to vastly improved facilities. But Brock has changed as well.

His time as a college head coach and then his five years in the NFL with the Falcons helped him develop and grow as a coach.

“I hope experience and kind of the opportunity to share those experiences,” Brock said of what he learned during his five years in the NFL as an assistant coach. “You know, I think one of the things that players enjoy hearing is, ‘Hey, this is exactly how X, Y or Z did something. This is what it will look like if you’re able to do it this way’.”

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Rashad Rochelle is poised for a breakout spring with Rutgers football

Rashad Rochelle is showing potential this spring for Rutgers football.

A wide receivers room that has lost its three top producers from a season ago is likely to rely on Rashad Rochelle this spring. A rising sophomore, Rochelle is coming off a strong season freshman season where he saw some extensive game action and showed more than a flash of potential.

The player nicknamed ‘Train’ since high school has the very real chance to emerge from spring practice as one of Rutgers starting wide receivers.

At Springfield High School (Springfield, IL), Rochelle was a standout quarterback who was recruited to Rutgers as a wide receiver. But last season, he lined up almost exclusively at running back, where he had 109 rushing yards and a touchdown on 27 carries.

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Now, he will transition back to wide receiver this spring where the pathway to early playing time is very clear and open.

“I’m pretty sure ‘Train’ is gonna become a very good wide receiver. I really am,” Rutgers offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca told reporters on Thursday.

“I see that skill set in him. Again, he is in great hands with the coaches that are around him. With him, as I watch him move around – it’s not if he’s gonna be a good player and productive for us…it’s just when.

“And he’s done a great job putting in the work, so far. But you know, it takes work right and it’s a process. So we just got to keep working with it.”

A three-star recruit out of high school, Rochelle was a wildly productive quarterback and historically was one of the best to ever emerge from Illinois. He committed to Rutgers as an athlete and a wide receiver prospect after head coach Greg Schiano ran him through a workout in the summer prior to him committing.

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“With Rashad, he’s a tremendous explosive athlete. He’s not the biggest guy, but he’s not tiny either. But some of the things he did in his testing is off the chart record stuff. Explosiveness. And like you said, he plays quarterback. I love guys who plays quarterback at some point because they run the whole show. They touch the ball every play. They love being in that spot where they’re running everything. When you put them in another position, I think they thrive,” Schiano said after Rochelle signed with Rutgers in November, 2021.

“We had him here for one of those individual workouts this summer and everything we thought would be consistent with his skill set was when we worked him out. Explosive off the line of scrimmage, good hands, great body control. I think he has an opportunity to come in here and be a player that helps us, relatively sure.”

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RU football: Top five positional battles heading into spring practice

As spring practices inches closer, Rutgers football gets set to iron out their 2023 depth chart.

With the start of spring football this week, Rutgers football gets set to iron out their 2023 depth chart. It is a crucial time for the program

The Scarlet Knights finished the 2022 season with a 4-8 record and were last in college football in scoring offense against winning teams, averaging just 7.8 points. Under new offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarroca, the Scarlet Knights are looking for a new identity. Head coach Greg Schiano and Ciarroca will need to find some offensive weapons to help quarterback Gavin Wimsatt develop.

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The Scarlet Knights’ defense made strides under defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak in 2022, rewarding Harasymiak with a contract extension and raise. Members of Rutgers’ defense praised Harasymiak for his teaching and communication skills. Rutgers’ defensive line is the strongest unit on the defensive side, something to build on going into the 2023 season.

With spring practices approaching, take a look at the top five positional battles for Rutgers football.

What Rutgers football coaches got new contracts this offseason?

Rutgers football doled out some impressive money to their offensive coaches this offseason.

Rutgers football’s new hires on the offensive side of the ball are certainly making some Big Ten money.

This offseason as part of a shake-up of the offensive coaching staff, Rutgers head coach [autotag]Greg Schiano[/autotag] brought in three new coaches. The additions will be charged with elevating an offense that has been at the bottom or the near the bottom of the Big Ten in nearly every offensive category over the past five years.

The new hires of Kirk Ciarrocca (offensive coordinator), Dave Brock (wide receivers coach) and Pat Flaherty (offensive line coach) have contracts that are now competitive for Big Ten coaches. It shows a significant investment on the part of athletic director Pat Hobbs in beefing up Rutgers football to be competitive in the Big Ten:

  • David Brock ($500,000 for his first year, $550,000 for his second year)
  • Kirk Ciarrocca ($1.4 million for his first year, $1.4 million for his second year, $1.4 million for his third year)
  • Pat Flaherty ($350,000 for his first year, $400,000 for his second year)

Consider that offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson, fired midseason, made $1 million a season and the money offered to pry away Ciarrocca from his previous job at Minnesota now makes sense. Ciarrocca is a highly-respected coach with a strong track record of success.

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Also, defensive coordinator [autotag]Joe Harasymiak[/autotag] got a new contract that will pay him $1 million for each of the next three seasons.

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Last year, his first season at Rutgers football as defensive coordinator after making a move from Minnesota, Harasymiak earned $775,000. This year, he was scheduled to make $800,000 before he signed his new deal.

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Quarterback to wide receiver, 2023 three-star prospect to impact Rutgers football

From high school quarterback to Big Ten wide receiver, can 2023 recruit Vilay Nakkoun Jr. be an impactful player for Rutgers football?

2023 recruit Vilay Nakkoun Jr. is transitioning from a high school quarterback into a Big Ten wide receiver for Rutgers football. How can the young prospect use his expertise to impact Rutgers football?

A standout at Orlando Christian (Orlando, FL), Nakkoun led the Warriors to an 11-2 record, throwing 1,305 yards with 20 touchdowns and four interceptions in 2021. The high school quarterback added 344 yards on the ground with six rushing touchdowns during his junior year. As a senior, Nakkoun got selected as captain for his leadership. He finished his senior year with 708 passing yards and six touchdowns.

Nakkoun averaged 12.2 yards per carry with 550 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. At 5-foot-11 180 pounds, Nakkoun was selected as FACA 1M District 11 all-district for his stellar performance.

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Recruited as a wide receiver,  Vilay’s athleticism and versatility alone will make him an impactful player for Rutgers offense. As the 2023 season approaches, it is still unclear how Nakkoun can get involved in Rutgers’ offense. Not being under center might be a change of pace for the former quarterback, but his athleticism and football IQ will let him thrive at any other skill position.

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His quickness and quarterback knowledge will allow him to shine in the slot position. Being under-sized for the X or Z outside spots, the slot is where Nakkoun can do his damage. Ability to read defensive coverages, this recruit can find the soft spots in the opposing defenses.

New Rutgers offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca could potentially design special packages and plays to utilize Nakkoun’s skill set. Rutgers is thin with proven talent at wide receiver, making Nakkoun’s abilities to climb the depth chart. Ciarrocca’s offense will be determined based on the personnel available, but with a player like Nakkoun, his offense can provide different wrinkles to get him the ball in space.

 

Former Penn State offensive coordinator hired by NFL team

John Donovan, James Franklin’s first offensive coordinator at Penn State, just landed an NFL job for 2022.

Penn State head coach [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] has always taken pride in sticking with his guys on his coaching staff, which made it hard when the time came to finally part ways with one assistant that just wasn’t working out in Happy Valley early on in his tenure with the Nittany Lions. John Donovan was Franklin’s first offensive coordinator at Penn State, carrying over the position he held on Franklin’s staff at Vanderbilt prior to their arrival in State College.

But after two seasons, Donovan was relieved of his duties and Franklin went in another direction with [autotag]Joe Moorhead[/autotag]. Safe to say, that worked out quite well for Franklin, Moorhead, and Penn State.

Meanwhile, Donovan has continued his coaching career with multiple stops since his departure. Now, he is returning to the NFL to serve as a senior analyst.

The Green Bay Packers put the finishing touches on their football staff for the upcoming 2022 NFL season this week. Among the additions to the staff was Donovan as a senior analyst for Packers head coach Matt LaFleur.

The former Penn State offensive coordinator joins the Packers after a two-year run as the offensive coordinator for the Washington Huskies, with the Pac-12 program ranking 115th in total offense in 2021 and 57th in 2020.

Since his departure from Penn State, Donovan has been an offensive quality control coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars, followed by two seasons as an offensive assistant for the Jaguars, and a season as the assistant running backs coach before returning to the college game on Washington’s staff in 2020.

Here is an update on where Franklin’s former Penn State offensive coordinators are entering the 2022 season.

  • John Donovan (Penn State offensive coordinator 2014-2015): Green Bay Packers senior analyst
  • Joe Moorhead (Penn State offensive coordinator 2016-2017): Akron head coach
  • [autotag]Ricky Rahne[/autotag] (Penn State offensive coordinator 2018-2019): Old Dominion head coach
  • [autotag]Kirk Ciarrocca[/autotag] (Penn State offensive coordinator 2020): Minnesota offensive coordinator and quarterback coach
  • [autotag]Mike Yurcich[/autotag] (Penn State offensive coordinator 2021-present)

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Former Penn State offensive cooridinator returning to Big Ten

Former Penn State OC is caught in the middle of an awkward coaching change between Minnesota and West Virginia

It’s been a busy offseason for former Penn State offensive coordinators. Joe Moorhead is getting settled in as the head coach at Akron, and his successor, Ricky Rahne, is preparing to coach Old Dominion in a bowl game this bowl season. As for the coach who came between Rahne and current offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich, there really is no place like home for the holidays.

Kirk Ciarrocca has officially been welcomed back by the Minnesota Golden Gophers as the team’s offensive coordinator. Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck welcomed Ciarrocca back on Monday, and the return to familiarity for Ciarrocca and Fleck could rejuvenate the Minnesota offense a bit as he gets adjusted.

Penn State hired Ciarrocca to be the offensive coordinator after Rahne was hired to be the head coach at Old Dominion in 2020. Unfortunately for Ciarrocca and Penn State, the new offensive coordinator was never able to get fully ingrained with the roster as the COVID-19 pandemic took away Penn State’s entire spring football schedule and coaches worked via video for the majority of the year.

This is believed to play a part in Penn State’s disappointing 0-5 start to the 2020 season, as the offense was unable to work itself into much of a rhythm until later in the season. Ciarrocca’s one season at Penn State failed to live up to the expectations given the work he had done at Minnesota prior to his arrival.

Franklin moved on quickly from Ciarrocca and brought in Yurcich once Yurcich became available as a result of a head coaching change at Texas after the 2020 season. Yurcich experienced a few offensive concerns during the 2021 season as well, so perhaps Ciarrocca just never got a full shake to see what he could truly do at Penn State.

Ciarrocca spent the 2021 season working as an offensive analyst at West Virginia. In a unique twist to this situation, Minnesota is preparing to face West Virginia in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl in Phoenix. Through a mutual agreement between Fleck and West Virginia head coach Neal Brown, Ciarrocca will not coach in the game for Minnesota, as he started with the Gophers staff on Monday.

Either way, his return to Minnesota should give Gopher fans reason to be optimistic.

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PJ Fleck loses key “oarsman” Kirk Ciarrocca at Minnesota

Kirk Ciarrocca leaves PJ Fleck, creating uncertainty in Minnesota

The Wisconsin Badgers woke up on the feast of Stephen and noticed that the Minnesota Golden Gophers — who will try to spend the 2020s bumping the Badgers off their perch atop the Big Ten West — don’t have an offensive coordinator for the time being. Kirk Ciarrocca, who has been with P.J. Fleck at Western Michigan and Minnesota, left the Gophers to join James Franklin at Penn State.

Coaching moves aren’t guaranteed to succeed or fail, but on the surface of things, the fact that Fleck will have to change coordinators after several years with a trusted lieutenant seems suboptimal for the Gophers. More than the loss of continuity on his staff, though, Fleck has to deal with the reality that Ciarrocca generally developed wide receivers:

The Badgers saw Ciarrocca’s offense before Ciarrocca went to Minnesota. Wisconsin played — and contained — Ciarrocca’s offense in the 2017 Cotton Bowl when P.J. Fleck was at Western Michigan. Watching Ciarrocca stay in the Big Ten Conference is not a good thing for Wisconsin. Watching Ciarrocca leave the Big Ten West, however, is definitely a good thing for the Badgers. Minnesota needs every ounce of leverage it can get in its burgeoning battle with the Badgers for Big Ten West supremacy. Maybe Fleck will somehow find a coordinator on par with Ciarrocca. Yet, given how successful Fleck has been the past several years with Ciarrocca by his side, this surely isn’t what Fleck had in mind for his offseason. It is not what he planned or hoped for.

Could Fleck successfully adjust? If he is the caliber of coach many people think he is, he will… but we don’t know just how good Fleck is. We are only beginning to get a fuller measure of him, and given how thoroughly he got schooled by Jim Leonhard and Paul Chryst a month ago, anything which disrupts Minnesota’s momentum is a genuine threat to a sustained Fleck ascendance in Minneapolis. Stay tuned for Minnesota’s hire of a replacement for Kirk Ciarrocca. The Big Ten coaching carousel season just became a lot more interesting.