Tag: Kyle Monangai

Broncos scouts are zeroing in on these college football teams

Broncos scouts have been paying close attention to Oregon and Washington games this fall. Here are the prospects to know from those schools.

Going into this weekend’s slate of college football games, the Denver Broncos have spent more time scouting the Oregon Ducks and Arizona Wildcats than any other college football programs.

That’s according to NFL draft pundit John Vogel, who reported last week that Denver scouts have attended three Oregon games and three Wildcats games this fall. Broncos general manager George Paton also attended the Washington Huskies game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in September.

The most notable prospect among the four colleges mentioned is Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, the top receiver in the 2025 class. The Wildcats’ offense also features offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea.

Oregon has a host of prospects who could interest Denver’s staff, including receivers Tez Johnson and Evan Stewart, offensive tackles Josh Conerly and Ajani Cornelius, defensive linemen Derrick Harmon and Jordan Burch, and running back Jordan James.

Washington’s prospects of note include running back Jonah Coleman, safety Kamren Fabiculanan and receiver Giles Jackson. Meanwhile, the Rutgers’ offense features offensive tackle Hollin Pierce and running back Kyle Monangai.

With Broncos scouts and executives checking in on those programs, the above players will be worth monitoring this fall. The 2025 NFl draft will be held in Green Bay from April 24-26. Denver holds seven picks.

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DeShaun Foster ‘excited’ for challenge of facing Rutgers’ Kyle Monangai

Kyle Monangai is a tough player to stop.

The UCLA Bruins have a cross-country road trip to face the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in Week 8. On top of that, it is another 9 AM pacific time kickoff, meaning the Bruins’ body clocks will be on early time once again just like it was for Penn State.

Rutgers has a 4-2 record although they come in with two straight losses and a combined 14 points in those games against Nebraska and Wisconsin.

Still, UCLA head coach DeShaun Foster highlighted Rutgers running back Kyle Monangai and mentioned the challenges he brings to the fold, per Matthew Niiya of The Daily Bruin.

“Their running back is really good,” said coach DeShaun Foster. “He’s not just going to go down if you hit him, so he’s a back that we’re going to have to wrap up, and I’m confident in my defense and I know they’re excited for the challenge.”

Monangai has 739 yards with seven touchdowns this season, including three games of 100 yards or more and a 208-yard performance against Akron.

Monangai presents UCLA with a big challenge, and it will be interesting to see how they handle that one.

2025 NFL Draft first impression: Kyle Monangai, RB, Rutgers

2025 NFL Draft first impression of Rutgers RB Kyle Monangai ahead of the 2024 college season

It’s always cool when a player jumps onto your personal draft scouting radar by catching them in person for a first viewing. Such is the case with Rutgers RB Kyle Monangai.

My very first look at Monangai was in attendance at Michigan Stadium in 2023 for Rutgers’ game against the host Wolverines. It was not an impressive statistical game for Monangai, who netted just 27 yards on 11 carries against the eventual national champions. Yet even in that meager output, the compactly built Monangai impressed.

I counted exactly one run where Monangai got beyond the line of scrimmage without being touched. The Rutgers blocking was overmatched, to be charitable. But Monangai was not dissuaded. He kept battling, showing vision and toughness as well as a very good lower body churn through contact. Pass protection assignments were carried out effectively and with enthusiasm. This is a guy who takes pride in his physicality.

At 5-foot-9 and 210 listed pounds, Monangai is built like a between-the-tackles back. And that’s where he’s at his best, sifting through tight traffic and using his lower-body strength and momentum-based running to maximize what’s blocked for him.

In watching more of Monangai and Rutgers, he continued to prove very good at running through contact and punishing tacklers that don’t establish leverage. His ball security is literally perfect–no lost fumbles, which for a hard-nosed interior runner is wildly impressive.

Out in space, Monangai isn’t as effective. His speed is more burst-based and not “long” speed to outrun defensive backs in pursuit. No. 5 can effectively press the edge and get north-south to try and run through tackles, but he’s not overly elusive or blessed with quick feet in space.

Rutgers barely used Monangai in the passing game outside of pass protection, so his receiving skills are limited in experience. He has never been a return specialist during his time with the Scarlet Knights.

Teams looking for a power back and short-yardage/red-zone grinder, a la Jamaal Williams, will probably like Monangai a lot. There is some stylistic and size resemblance to NFL journeyman Jeremy McNichols if McNichols ran with more power, too. It would be great to see Monangai get better blocking and more passing game usage to better project his NFL draft stock. Entering the year, he looks like an early Day 3 type of talent if he had been in the 2024 NFL Draft.

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Rutgers football: Five Scarlet Knights earn spot on Phil Steele All-American List

Rutgers football sees five named to the Phil Steele Preseason All-American list.

With the college football season quickly approaching, the latest Phil Steele preseason All-American list was released this past week. Rutgers was well represented, with five players selected.

The list of Rutgers football players named to the list included running back Kyle Monangia, linebacker Mohamed Toure, offensive lineman Hollin Pierce, and defensive backs Flip Dixon and Robert Longerbeam.

Expectations are higher for every player on this list, including Monangia, who is coming off a stellar season. During the 2023 campaign, he recorded seven 100-yard games and led the Big Ten in rushing with 1,262 yards. He also scored eight touchdowns and was arguably Rutgers‘ best player on offense.

 

While Rutger’s star running back frustrated defenses, Toure made life hard for quarterbacks. After missing the 2022 season, he played in all 13 games and finished second on the team in tackles with 93, including 9.5 for a loss. Due to his play, Toure was named a Comeback Player of the Year semifinalist.

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As Toure was a human highlight reel, he got some help from Dixon and Longerbeam. In his first season with the Scarlet Knights, Dixon started all 13 games, recording 76 tackles. Longerbeam made his presence felt in the passing game as he was one of two players in the Big Ten with double-digit pass breakups.

Rounding out the list is Hollin, who has been a model of consistency on the offensive line. He has started 37 consecutive games, the longest active streak on the roster. He was also rated the sixth-best tackle in the Big Ten by Pro Football Focus.

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After winning their first bowl game in a decade, Rutgers football has high hopes for the 2024 campaign. They are also receiving more national attention which was on display in Phil Steele’s list. If this group can meet expectations then Rutgers will be a lot of fun to watch.

Kyle Monangai one of five from Rutgers football to receive All-Big Ten honors

The Phil Steele’s All-Big Ten Preseason has five from Rutgers football on the list.

On Monday, five Rutgers football players made Phil Steele’s All-Big Ten Preseason list, with running back Kyle Monangai being the only Scarlet Knight to receive Preseason First Team honors.

Even though Monangai was the only First Team selection, linebacker Mohamed Toure and offensive tackle Hollin Pierce received Third Team selections. Also, defensive backs Flip Dixon and Robert Longerbeam received Fourth Team honors.

Monangai is coming off a strong 2023 season where he led the Big Ten Conference in rushing yards. He finished the season with 242 carries for 1,262 rushing yards and eight touchdowns to earn Second Team All-Big Ten postseason honors.

The Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl MVP became the first running back to eclipse 1,000 yards since Jawan Jamison in 2012. In the Pinstripe Bowl, the Rutgers Team Captain rushed for 168 yards on 25 carries with a touchdown in a 31-24 victory.

 

Monangai has recorded 413 carriers for 1,942 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 4.7 yards per attempt throughout his four seasons with the Scarlet Knights.

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The former Don Bosco Prep prospect was also named Preseason Third-Team All-Big Ten by Lindy’s Sports on June 5. He is set to return to a running back group, featuring Sam Brown and Ja’shon Benjamin from last season.

 

Kyle Monangai & Tyreem Powell named preseason All-Big Ten by Lindys’s Sports

Two from Rutgers football were named to the Lindy’s preseason All-Big Ten.

After winning their first bowl game in a decade, expectations are high for Rutgers football entering the 2024 campaign. Two players who will be relied on heavily are Kyle Monangai and Tyreem Powell, both of whom got big honors this week.

On Tuesday the Rutgers football duo were named by Lindy’s Sports as preseason All-Big Ten selections.

For Monangai, the honor comes as no surprise, considering what he did last year. In 13 games, the talented running back recorded a career-high 1262 rushing yards while finding the end zone eight times. Due to his play, Monangai became one of the best running backs in the conference and a vital piece of Rutgers offense.

As Monangai tries to build on his career year, Powell will be looking to make life difficult for opposing offenses. During the 2023 campaign, he recorded two sacks and 25 solo tackles. The veteran linebacker also forced the first fumble of his career.

Kyle Monangai & Tyreem Powell have been named @Lindyssportsmag Preseason All-Big Ten selections.@kylemonangai | @TyreemPowell pic.twitter.com/8iGmFPMNWS

— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) June 4, 2024

While the talented duo plays different sides of the ball, they make life difficult for opponents. Powell has shown the ability to apply pressure, while Monangai has frustrated opponents with his speed and ability to break tackles.

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Although the season is still weeks away, it is not hard to envision Monangai and Powell being one of the best players at their position in conference. They have been productive players in the past and are now veteran leaders. As long as they build on their success from last year, Rutgers will be in good hands.

How does Kyle Monangai stack up against the best running backs in the Big Ten?

Kyle Monangai is the Big Ten’s top returning running back.

The return of Kyle Monangai for a final season with Rutgers football also puts him as one of the players in the Big Ten for the upcoming season.

Last year, his first as a starter at Rutgers, Monangai led the Big Ten with 1,262 rushing yards. It was the first time in program history that a Rutgers running back has led the Big Ten in rushing.

And his return for a final season with the Scarlet Knights very much makes him one of the offensive players in the Big Ten. And despite his outstanding season, Monangai believes he can do more.

This week while talking with linebacker Tyreem Powell and defensive back Robert Longerbeam on the ‘Reem & Beam‘ unplugged podcast, Monangai said he believes he can build on last year.

According to Pro Football Focus, Monangai is the top-ranked running back in the Big Ten.

 

The return of Monangai gives Rutgers a seasoned running back who can balance the offense.

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Rutgers returns nearly all of their offensive line and has two transfer portal wide receivers who are expected to be significant contributors.

Rutgers football running back Kyle Monangai says there is more to prove in 2024

Kyle Monangai talks about his return to Rutgers football.

Off a season where he was among the best running backs in college football, Rutgers‘ Kyle Monangai believes that there is more to be done this upcoming season.

And, that last year’s season isn’t the ceiling for his time with the Rutgers football program.

In 2023, Monangai had a breakout season where led the Big Ten in rushing with1,262 rushing yards. The total was the most for a Rutgers football running back since the Scarlet Knights joined the Big Ten in 2014. So to hear Monangai say there is more work to be done is certainly noteworthy.

In talking with linebacker Tyreem Powell and defensive back Robert Longerbeam on the ‘Reem & Beam‘ unplugged podcast this week, Monangai admitted that last year was special.

But, the All-Big Ten running back can do even more this fall.

An especially intriguing decision to return given that Monangai was All-Big Ten and would have been a likely NFL draft this past spring.

“I had a good season – but I had a good season, in my opinion. I don’t know, other people tell me differently. I think I had a good season,” Monangai said on the podcast.

“From where I want to get to and what I want to do at the next level and to get myself the best chance to play at the next level, I want to have a great season. Yea, I did some things. The rushing title was major.

“I had one player of the week and all that. But that’s just stepping stones to reach that next level for me. I just have higher standards for myself. I think one more year running back with you all – having you all back on the defensive side.

“I think we can do good things for the team and then for myself, it’s only going to raise my stock.

“It was a multi-benefential to coming back, being able to play with you all again. Being able to have a better chance of doing what I always dreamed of as a kid.”

Monangai joins Powell and Longerbeam in returning to Rutgers in 2023.

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Things are looking up for Rutgers, following a 7-6 season that was capped off with a Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl win over Miami. Monangai was named the game’s MVP.

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.

Following two decades in the NFL, Pat Flaherty didn’t change his coaching style at Rutgers

Pat Flaherty says he coaches Rutgers football the same way he did his NFL players.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The success that Pat Flaherty had as Rutgers football’s offensive line coach last year can be attributed to one simple truth: He coaches all of his players the same throughout his four decades on the sidelines.

It was a tremendous job undertaken by Flaherty last season in turning around one of the worst offensive lines in college football. Rutgers ended up finishing middle of the Big Ten in most of the significant offensive categories, representing a huge step forward in the offense’s ability to function.

And it was the play of the offensive line in protecting quarterback [autotag]Gavin Wimsatt[/autotag] as well as paving the way for running back [autotag]Kyle Monangai[/autotag] that doesn’t get enough attention for a season where Rutgers finished 7-6 and beat Miami in the Pinstripe Bowl.

The improvement is noticeable, especially to those who have been embedded in the program for a while.

“I mean a lot better. A lot of guys – we have talent across the board on the o-line. Just the way we work. We work hard. Everybody’s working at things they need to work on. We’re a tight group,” senior left tackle Hollin Pierce said on Tuesday during media availability.

“We’re a tight group. I think we’re going to be a lot better.”

The impact of Flaherty on the group is clearly seen in the increased performance.

With two decades of NFL coaching experience to his resume, Flaherty has considerable clout. His two Super Bowl rings from his time with the New York Giants give him a certain cache that few college coaches have.

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When Flaherty speaks to his players, some of whom are teenagers, he point to a career that includes turning offensive linemen into All Pro players. But the biggest part of his success, he says, is found in not changing things whether he is coaching at the college level or the NFL.

“I coach these guys like any group I’ve ever coached in my career, NFL college – football is football. From that standpoint, they do a great job of wanting to learn the techniques,” Flaherty said on Tuesday.

“You know, I feel that again, they will be the best group that they can by doing the training that we can.

“And you can say, ‘Well, you can train this way in the NFL, train this way in college. I don’t believe there’s a difference in training the players.”

Off the field, the group is developing in a way that is making them a more cohesive unit. As Pierce explains it, the line is now acting as one, even away from the practice field and the team facility. It is creating a level of cohesion that wasn’t present in the year prior.

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“Since I started till now, the group’s completely different,” Pierce said.

“How we care about each other, everything we do with each other, we go out with each other. On the field, we’re always looking out for each other. Just the whole intentions of our goals and what want to do is completely different and just how we approach the field.”