Tag: Kyle Monangai

Heisman? Doak Walker Award? Kyle Monangai closed 2023 with an opening salvo for next year

Kyle Monangai might be getting some national award buzz next year.

BRONX, N.Y. – In his last game of the season, Rutgers football running back Kyle Monangai started his campaign for the Heisman and the Doak Walker Award in 2024.

Monangai, the Big Ten’s leading rusher in the regular season, ran for 163 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries as Rutgers beat Miami in the Pinstripe Bowl this past Thursday. The performance was an emphatic statement from Monangai, who announced earlier in December his intention to return to Rutgers next year.

With 1,262 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns on the season, Monangai will likely be the top returning running back in the Big Ten next year. It puts a target on him, but also a spotlight that is unique to the program.

In deciding to come back for one more year, Monangai has said that he wants to complete some “unfinished business” at Rutgers. But his return also signals that Monangai has the potential to be the program’s first Heisman candidate since Ray Rice in 2007.

“What went into my decision was I just felt like there was more left to be done,” Monangai said after the bowl game.

“When guys make that step to go to the next level and whatever they want to do, not come back, whatever it may be, I feel like that’s them saying they’ve done everything they can, and they’re ready to move on. I just feel like there’s more to be done.”

Now, to be a Heisman candidate, Monangai would have to do a lot of things right. First off, he would need to not just replicate his 2023 season, he’d have to improve and really rattle off some big games. He would also have to stay healthy and Rutgers would also need to take a step forward as a program.

But it isn’t far-fetched to think Monangai could be the type of player that come October next season is getting some national buzz. After all, there aren’t many Power Five running backs returning who have led their conference in rushing.

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The decision to return was also fueled in part to better help his stock in the NFL draft. Another strong season could see Monangai vault into being a sure-fire draft pick.

“For me, he’s more straight line and less powerful than Rice,” said former NFL general manager Randy Mueller. “He has quick feet and some north-south acceleration but the lack of ideal size will bother some at the NFL level when it comes to getting behind his pads and running with power.

“Obviously, he is best in space, having good vision for running where ‘they’re not’.”

A former general manager with the New Orleans Saints and the Miami Dolphins, Mueller spent a decade as senior executive for football operations with the Los Angeles Chargers before leaving that role in 2018.

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Mueller thinks that were he to come out for this April’s draft, Monangai would have likely been a late-round selection or even an undrafted free agent. If he performs like this past season in 2024, then Mueller believes he can be “Maybe a mid-rounder if he stays heathy.”

“He might fit some systems better than others,” Mueller said.

“I think in his case, he’s going to have to show he can compete on special teams and in other areas besides just carrying the ball.”

For Monangai, the Pinstripe Bowl win over Miami was a bit of validation for his decision to return for his senior season. Rutgers finished the year 7-6, marking the program’s first winning season since 2014.

It was also the first bowl win for Rutgers since that very same 2014 season. Now having completed their fourth season under head coach [autotag]Greg Schiano[/autotag], Rutgers appears to be going in the right direction of what has been an extensive and at times painful rebuild.

Monangai was one of the first commits to Schiano when he returned to the program in December of 2019. A three-star recruit out of New Jersey powerhouse program Don Bosco, Rutgers was one of two Power Five programs to have offered Monangai.

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He was just the No. 26 recruit in New Jersey.‘s class of 2020 Now, he could be lining himself to be in contention for some national awards.

Undoubtedly, he is the face of the program in many ways, not only for his production but also because he worked and fashioned himself from an under-recruited prospect into a player who might just be the best running back in the Big Ten.

“The win today I think is a huge impact. Being able to go 7-6, that’s not the goal we set for ourselves in the beginning of the season, but to finish over .500 is a big step for this program,” Monangai said after the Pinstripe Bowl.

“To win the last game of the season is definitely something positive to build off going into the offseason.

“Recruiting-wise…I think that is something to show the high school guys, like, hey, these guys know how to win, they’re taking steps in the right direction, so it’s somewhere I want to come play.

“Like I said all the time to the guys, it’s not easy to play here. It’s definitely a hard place to play. But that’s just because coach Schiano demands of us, and he knows what it takes to win. We have to be willing to step up to the plate and do the day in and day out.

“It’s a huge impact, this win.”

A Rutgers football fan? A fan of Kyle Monangai? Scroll down and check out the best photos from the 2023 season of Rutgers running back Kyle Monangai!

A Pinstripe Bowl victory is big for Rutgers football: ‘Definitely something positive to build off of’

Rutgers football got a win that could be program-defining in the Pinstripe Bowl.

BRONX, N.Y. — Since becoming bowl-eligible in mid-October, Greg Schiano had spoken a lot about progress being seen as a mile-marker for his program. The Rutgers football head coach sees Thursday’s win in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl in much the same way.

For Schiano, the 31-24 win over Miami is a sign of progress. But for a program that was used to getting to bowl games – and winning them – in Schiano’s first stint with the program, the Pinstripe Bowl was another step forward.

With the win, Rutgers is now 7-6 (3-5 Big Ten) on the season. It is the most wins for Rutgers since 2014.

It was also their first bowl win since that season as well.

“Miami is one of those programs that whether they’re there right this second, I don’t know, it’s not my place to judge that, but they’re a traditional blue blood program. We had an opportunity to win a game against them today,” Schiano said following the game.

“We’re not there yet, no. But this is a big mile marker because I think we do a good job in bowl games. I learned from the best. Coach Paterno (former Penn State head coach Joe Paterno) was the best at preparing his teams for bowl games. You just look at his record. We do it the same way. We work really hard when we work, and when we don’t, it’s a lot of fun.

“You develop. You have fun. You learn a lot. We learned a lot in this trip together. Then to win, that’s what makes it special. Thrilled.”

It was the first bowl for Rutgers since the return of Schiano in 2020. It also marks an important mile marker for the program in terms of who they beat.

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Miami, as Schiano noted, is one of those programs that has been among the best in college football over the past four decades. Since 1983, they have five national championships.

Running back Kyle Monangai, named the MVP of the game following 163 rushing yards and a touchdown, sees the bowl victory as a big step forward for a program that defied expectations this season.

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“The win today I think is a huge impact. Being able to go 7-6, that’s not the goal we set for ourselves in the beginning of the season, but to finish over .500 is a big step for this program,” Monangai said.

“To win the last game of the season is definitely something positive to build off going into the offseason.”

New York is red (Scarlet)! Rutgers football plays strong, downs Miami to win the Pinstripe Bowl

Rutgers football wins the Bad Boys Mower Pinstripe Bowl over Miami.

BRONX, N.Y. — Rutgers football played what might have been their most complete game of the season, fighting off a tough and fast Miami in a 31-24 win over Miami. With the win, Rutgers won the 2023 Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl.

Big plays, especially a blocked punt late in the third quarter, proved to be he difference maker.

It was the first bowl win for Rutgers since 2014. The win gives Rutgers a 7-6 finish to the season, their first winning season since…yes, 2014.

Rutgers started the game off strong, rolling out a 7-0 lead on their opening drive. They doubled the lead at the midpoint of the second quarter with a seven-yard run by Kyle Monangai.

The Rutgers running back finished with 25 carries for 163 yards and a touchdown in being named the game’s MVP.

Miami fired back with 17 unanswered points, staking themselves to a 17-14 lead with 10:33 left in the third quarter.

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Trevor Yeboah-Kodie produced the play of the game for Rutgers. With 5:06 remaining in the third quarter, Yeboah-Kodie burst through the Miami offensive line and got both hands on a Dylan Joyce punt.

Timmy Ward jumped on the ball to restore the Rutgers lead at 21-17.

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Miami outgained Rutgers in yardage (311:292) and had more first downs (21:17) but lost the big play battle. Rutgers didn’t turn the ball over and had the blocked punt, doing just enough to get a rebuild-defining win for their program.

Rutgers football vs. Miami: Prediction, point spread, odds, best bet

On Thursday afternoon, Rutgers will play in the Pinstripe Bowl for the first time since 2013 when they faced Notre Dame

On Thursday afternoon, Rutgers will play in the Pinstripe Bowl for the first time since 2013 when they faced Notre Dame. They will face a Miami team hungry for a bowl win after finishing the regular season with seven wins. This game will also add to the program’s rich history.

Thursday will mark the 13th time Rutgers has played at Yankee Stadium, dating back to 1926. It will be the Scarlet Knights’ 51st game at an MLB stadium and the sixth such bowl game. They have played Notre Dame and Iowa State in their last two Pinstripe Bowl appearances.

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To leave Yankee Stadium with a win, Rutgers will need a big game from Gavin Wimsatt and Kyle Monangai. The talented duo has combined for 16 rushing touchdowns. That has made the Scarlet Knights a tough team to face regardless of the opponent.

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However, they have a talented team in their way in the Hurricanes. Regardless of the outcome, playing in a bowl game is a significant milestone for Greg Schiano and Rutgers.

Rutgers football is expecting a lot of red for the Pinstripe Bowl: ‘It’s going to be a home game’

Rutgers football is expecting a big turnout for the Pinstripe Bowl this week.

It should be a strong turnout on Thursday for Rutgers football in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. In fact, there is some buzz among the team that the game against Miami at Yankee Stadium will look and feel like a Rutgers home game.

This is the first time that Rutgers has outright been bowl-eligible since 2014, giving a certain sense of anticipation for this game. The return to bowl eligibility after a 6-6 (3-5 Big Ten) season is no small accomplishment for a rebuilding team.

Especially considering they played the second-toughest schedule in the nation.

With the Pinstripe Bowl (Bronx, New York) being the closest bowl game geographically,  there should be a certain advantage for Rutgers in this game. Scarlet Knights fans won’t have to travel far for this game.

It is roughly an hour drive from SHI Stadium to Yankee Stadium,  and with much of the Rutgers football fanbase in north Jersey, that trip could be even less. Trips on NJ Transit and the PATH offer fans mass transportation options if they don’t want to drive.

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All of which means that there are really no excuses for Rutgers fans to not turn out for what is essentially an eighth home game this season.

“I think it’s just overall excitement. I think it’s going to be a big and great turnout for a lot of ‘Rutgers Nation’ to come out, and it’s going to be like a home game,” running back Kyle Monangai said last week during a press conference for the Pinstripe Bowl.

“It’s real close for us, and hopefully — I think we’re the away team, but it’s going to feel like a home game for us, definitely.”

Even though it is a baseball stadium, there is a certain allure in playing at Yankee Stadium. Arguably the most high-profile sporting venue in New York City, the stadium has a long history of college and professional football dating back to the original venue (which was finished in 1923).

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Defensive tackle Mayan Ahanotu said that he is looking forward to the whole experience of playing in New York City, especially during the holidays.

“That’s awesome. It’s definitely going to be a thrill just being able to be there around Christmastime and all the New York lights and everything like that,” Ahanotu said.

“It’s going to be a really fun time.”

Rutgers football: Best five wins of the season

During the 2023 campaign, Rutgers football gave fans plenty of reasons to celebrate.

During the 2023 campaign, Rutgers football gave fans plenty of reasons to celebrate. The Scarlet Knights finished with a 6-6 record and performed better in conference play. Although the last few years have been full of highs and lows, the program took a step forward.

While their success was a team effort, Kyle Monangai and Gavin Wimsatt became players to be reckoned with. Monangai was one of the best running backs in the conference with 1,099 rushing yards and Wimsatt added 1,651 passing yards to his resume. Due their play, the offense was no longer the achilles heel.

 

Like in years past, the strength of this team continued to be the defense. The Scarlet Knights finished the season with eight interceptions and 19 sacks. As a result, they played better against Big Ten teams.

While Rutgers still has one game left, the 2023 campaign was full of positives for this program. Below are the five wins that stood out the most.

Rutgers football: Five players that shined during 2023 campaign

During the 2023 season, the Scarlet Knights showed a lot of encouraging signs as they earned their first bowl game in almost ten years.

During the 2023 season, the Scarlet Knights showed a lot of encouraging signs as they earned their first bowl game in almost ten years. The defense continued to be a strength and the offense showed progress. While their success was a team effort, five players in particular were vital to Rutgers success.

As Rutgers football finished the regular season with a 6-6 record, the talented trio of Kyle Monangai, Gavin Wimsatt and Christian Dremel led the way offensively. Monangai turned into the Big Ten’s leading rusher while Dremel became Rutgers’ most reliable receiver.

 

On the defensive side, Rutgers did not make life easy for opponents. They were led by Mohamed Toure and Deion Jennings. The talented duo added 169 total tackles to their resume and did not miss a game.

Although Rutgers improvement was due to many pieces, the talented group of Monangai, Wimsatt, Dremel, Toure and Jennings took their play to another level and created excitement for the future.

Scroll down for a breakdown of their 2023 campaigns!

Current ticket prices for Rutgers vs. Miami in Baby Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl

There are still some prime tickets available on SeatGeek for the Pinstripe Bowl.

After a promising start to the regular season, Rutgers struggled down the stretch. The Scarlet Knights lost their last four games and finished the regular season with a 6-6 record. With one game left in the 2024 campaign, they will be looking to return to the win column against Miami in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl.

The game represents a chance for Rutgers to reach new heights. They haven’t appeared in a bowl in over ten years. If head coach Greg Schiano and his team emerge victorious, they will cross off a significant item on their bucket list.

Tickets are still available for those looking to make a trip to Yankee Stadium. With the game eight days away, tickets on SeatGeek can still be found for less than $ 100.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop Pinstripe Bowl tickets at Seat Geek” link=”https://seatgeek.pxf.io/an97Ao”]

As of Thursday, ticket prices, including fees, ranged from $ 59 to $ 342. Tickets in the 100 section range from $ 152 to $324.

While gameday is over a week away, anticipation is building by the hour. Rutgers still has plenty to prove and stars such as Kyle Monangai and Gavin Wimsatt are hungry for a bowl win. If they can replicate their regular season success, there is a good chance that will happen.

Kickoff for the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl is set for 2:15 PM ET on December 28.

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For Kyle Monangai, his return to Rutgers football was not driven by records or the NFL draft: ‘See how many wins we can get’

Rutgers football star Kyle Monangai believes in the direction of the program. It was a major reason for his decision to return in 2024.

For Kyle Monangai, his return for the 2024 season is about the unfinished business he needs to take care of at Rutgers. But Monangai isn’t chasing a place in the record books among the all-time greats at Rutgers or even a better slot in the NFL draft.

Instead, Monangai is hoping to return to help Rutgers football take another step in their rebuild and continue the progress they’ve shown this year.

Monangai is the face of the 10 players who are returning to Rutgers for a final season of college football. Had he declared for the NFL draft, he had the potential to go in the opening three rounds. It is safe to say that his draft stock was projected to be the highest of anyone who did return to Rutgers.

There is no doubt that Monangai left some NFL money on the table for opting to return.

But his return, especially as the Big Ten’s leading rusher, is an obviously huge benefit for the program’s continued rebuilding efforts. Monangai is not just a highly productive player, but he is a player with laudable character, known for his unquestioned work ethic and tenacity in the weight room.

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His decision for a last dance, along with the nine other players who are coming back, is poignant because the purpose isn’t just to better themselves for the NFL draft. It is about finishing a mission at Rutgers.

“Made some strides this year in getting six wins, but it’s obviously not the end goal for us,” Monangai said on Monday during a press conference for the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl.

“We think coming back for another year is going to give us another opportunity to make even more progress next year and see how many wins can get, closer to that end goal.”

He finished his junior year with 1,099 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. In his first season as a starter, he made quite a jump in production this fall.

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His rushing total from his first two seasons of college football? Combined, Monangai rushed for 680 yards.

His production in 2023 was nearly double his first two years of college football.

But even bigger than that for Rutgers (6-6, 3-5 Big Ten), Monangai played a huge role in bowl eligibility for the program, something that the Scarlet Knights haven’t done since 2014. It was an attitude change, Monangai said, that started in January within the program and led to Rutgers having their most successful season since their first year in the Big Ten.

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“I think the success came from just a full programmatic buy-in. Not to say we weren’t before, but there may have been a lot of guys that whether they didn’t believe or they weren’t all-in to what we were doing as a program – probably may have held us back in a sense,” Monangai said.

“I think this season and the offseason from January leading up all the way throughout the season we just had guys that — we didn’t put anything above winning. The process was to be 1-0 at the end of every week, and everyone was committed to that. That mindset and that thinking was what was able to get us six wins and give us a chance in a lot of these games.”

Kyle Monangai had a tremendous 2023 season for Rutgers and finished with the most rushing yards in the Big Ten. Scroll down and check out some of the best photos from his time at Rutgers!

Rutgers football: Kyle Monangia earns spot on PFF’s All-Big Ten Team

Kyle Monangai gets an annual honor from Pro Football Focus.

As Rutgers football took a step forward during the 2023 campaign, they relied on Kyle Monangai to set the tone on the ground. The New Jersey native was up to the challenge and had a career year. Due to his play, the talented running back is receiving national recognition.

On Wednesday, PFF College released their All-Big Ten team offense rankings. Monangia was chosen as the Big Ten’s running back. He was included in an offense that features some of the best players in college football, such as Marvin Harrison Jr. and J.J. McCarthy.

In 12 games during the regular season, Monangai set career highs in rushing yards with 1,099 and rushing touchdowns with seven. He also made an impact in the air with 61 receiving yards. Regardless of the opponent, Monangai made an impact due to his explosiveness.

 

Additionally, his breakout season was partly due to an increase in workload. Before the 2023 season, Monangai’s career high for carries was 109. He shattered that mark by recording 217 carries and avoided any significant injuries.

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While his recognition on PFF’s rankings is noteworthy, it confirms what everyone in Piscataway already knew. Monangai was one of the best running backs in the conference. He was invaluable to a Rutgers offense that needed a sparkplug.

Next year, Monangai will be looking to build on his success and take Rutgers football to another level.