Tag: Kyle Monangai

Temple vs. Rutgers: The five takeaways from Rutgers’ Week 2 victory

Rutgers defeated Temple, 36-7, to move to 2-0 for the 3rd consecutive season under Schiano. Here are the 5 takeaways from Rutgers’ victory.

On Saturday night, Rutgers football (2-0, 1-0 Big Ten) defeated the Temple Owls (1-1), 36-7, to move to 2-0 for the third consecutive season under head coach Greg Schiano.

Rutgers’ win was the second consecutive game in which the Scarlet Knights’ defense allowed just seven points. The Rutgers’ defense allowed 298 yards and forced one fumble and two interceptions in their second impressive performance.

On offense, Rutgers quarterback Gavin Wimsatt had his second solid performance with no turnovers. Wimsatt completed ten passes for 198 yards and one touchdown. On the ground, junior running back Kyle Monangai led the way for the Scarlet Knights, rushing for a career-high 165 yards on 28 carries with a touchdown.

Scroll below to find the five takeaways from Rutgers’ 36-7 victory over the Temple Owls.

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Greg Schiano took a leap of faith when he offered Kyle Monangai. For Rutgers football, that leap is now being rewarded

Rutgers foottball running back Kyle Monangai is showing plenty of character in the 2022 season.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Kyle Monangai not only led Rutgers football in rushing on Saturday night, but he also seemingly put the offense on his back for stretches in the second half. It was a show of character that head coach Greg Schiano says he first heard about Monangai dating back to when the running back was a senior in high school.

Monangai, who finished with a career-high 165 rushing yards on 28 carries, came up big for the Scarlet Knights at a time in the second half when it seemed like the game could potentially be slipping away.

With Rutgers holding a narrow 13-7 lead in the fourth quarter, the Scarlet Knights offense woke up from its doldrums. The prior three possessions all ended in punts. But after Temple scored a touchdown to cut the Rutgers lead to six points, the Scarlet Knights offense finally responded.

The unit went seven plays and 75 yards to get a crucial touchdown. Monangai had 57 yards on the drive including a one-yard touchdown dive for the 19-7 lead (the two-point conversion failed).

“As the game goes on, you start to get a feel for the other team, definitely but we just kind of stuck to our keys,” Monangai said.

“We’re not going to to trick anybody, you know, tough was a great team. But, you know, at the end of the day, when you’re running plays, you’re running the ball. It’s kind of just about man on man and I’m moving the guy in front of you and I fell running back you know, obviously me finding the right holes and hitting i and I’m trying to make it a little bit played but yeah, I think it was just a matter of just, you know, feeling, get a feel for what they were doing and then once I got that was kind of kind of made it easier out there.”

Coming out of high school at Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, New Jersey), Monangai was under-recruited. Following his senior year in the fall of 2020, he held several offers but only one was from a Power Five program (Cal Berkeley).

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Shortly after Schiano returned as head coach in December of 2020, he spent time on the phone with head coach Dan Sabella.

That’s when he heard about Monangai not just as a player but as a person.

“Well, I didn’t really know for sure, you never know for sure but I asked his high school coach,” Schiano said.

“He said, ‘I’m telling you, coach, I’ll stand on the table for this guy,’ and I trusted his opinion. We took him on that.

“Because a lot of people told me ‘Don’t – he’s too small; he can’t do it.’ When his own high school coach talked with the certainty that he did – I’ve known him for a long time, he’s a heck of a coach. So when he said it, I said, ‘OK. I’m going to trust you on this one’. He was right.”

Monangai became one of the first players Schiano offered upon his return.

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Perhaps what was most impressive about Monangai’s Saturday night performance wasn’t just his output but also his workload. For any running back at any level, 28 carries is a high amount of ouches.

For someone who runs as physically as Monangai does, it is grueling.

But seemingly, Monangai got stronger and stronger as the game wore on.

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“I like to prepare myself for any situation. If I got to go in a drive eight straight plays, eight straight runs you know that’s what I got to do,” Monangai said.

“You know, coach J.B. (Jay Butler, director of sports performance) gets us in the best shape we can be in in the summer. And then through training camp – building and trying to get stronger and faster, more explosive, being able to maintain those long drives and that’s what we’re built for. So I had preparation taking care of my body.”

It was a second straight big game for Monangai. Last week in a 24-7 win over Northwestern, Monangai had a beautiful 15-year touchdown run and produced a massive block.

FoxSports analyst Geoff Schwartz praises Rutgers football running back Kyle Monangai

Geoff Schwartz praises Kyle Monangai for his big block.

For Rutgers football fans, this past Sunday was full of unforgettable moments. As the Scarlet Knights rolled to a 24-7 win over Northwestern, they got contributions from every part of the roster. One player who played a key role was Kyle Monangai, as his impact went beyond the box score.

In the second quarter, he stepped up and crushed a blitzing Northwestern linebacker to the ground. The play left fans in SHI Stadium in awe as the block allowed Gavin Wimsatt to deliver a 12-yard completion to Isaiah Washington.

The play also caught the eye of people around the football world. In a social media post, former NFL Player Geoff Schwarts praised Monangia, saying, “Look at Rutgers RB demolish this blitzing linebacker. It’s beautiful. This is the way. Step up with aggression in pass pro. Love it. Good work.”

 

While the New Jersey native was the talk of social media, he also made a difference in the running game. On 14 attempts, Monangai recorded 49 rushing yards and found the endzone once. As the Rutgers offense proved to be no match for Northwestern, Monangia proved his value.

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If he keeps producing blocks like he did on Sunday, then the Rutgers offense will find success.

 

Kyle Monangai’s season opener for Rutgers football was more than just a highlight block

Kyle Monangai had a big block, and plenty of other big moments for Rutgers football this past Sunday.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Gavin Wimsatt didn’t see Kyle Monangai’s big block in Sunday’s season opener, but the Rutgers football quarterback remembers hearing the reaction from the crowd and knowing that something must have happened. It wasn’t till in the locker room, after the game, that either Wimsatt or Monangai got a good look at what was a truly impressive block by the Rutgers running back.

Monangai’s efforts extended beyond just one play as he put in a strong performance in helping Rutgers to an impressive 24-7 win over Northwestern in what was the season opener for both programs.

But ‘The Block’ was all people wanted to talk about after the game.

The play came early in the second quarter. With Rutgers in third-and-long, Monangai was lined up next to Wimsatt, who was in the shotgun. Monangai’s responsibility was to pick up any blitz from Northwestern.

What he did next was a violent and devastating block on linebacker Xander Mueller. A block that simply, and with all due respect, leveled his opponent.

“When I hit him he was blitzing the A-Gap. I stepped up trying to meet force with force and I was able to put him down,” Monangai told Rutgers Wire this week.

“And yeah, I figured it was a big hit but then when I saw the replay, I realized it was a really big hit. So it was fun to see.”

Mueller, for what it is worth, is a tremendous linebacker. He is one of the top returning players in the Big Ten at his position. Last year, he had 87 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

Monangai didn’t see the replay on the video board and didn’t get to see his highlight until he was back in the locker room celebrating Rutgers’ win.

Despite a big crowd at SHI Stadium and plenty of noise, the thud of Monangai’s block was heard throughout the stadium.

“After the game, I saw the replay and I was like, dang, like, I really I really put a number on him. But yeah, I was just in the moment and I saw a blitzing guy and stepped up and made the block,” Monangai said.

“I heard the crowd so I was like, ‘It must have been big,’ but right then I was kind of in the moment. I didn’t hear it myself, you hear a bunch of thuds in a play.”

All day Sunday evening following the game, Monangai’s block and Ian Strong’s touchdown pass were the buzz on social media. Early in the week, NFL analyst Geoff Schwartz broke down the block.

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Schwartz is an analyst for FoxSports and on SiriusXM.

“It’s always great to get recognition from people like Geoff Schwartz and everything like that, but, you know we’re focused on Temple right now,” Monangai said.

“It was a great thing but it is in the past. And I take pride in my pass protection, obviously. Hopefully, I can get another clip like that on Saturday night.”

Monangai got the start on Sunday and ran for 49 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. He also had one catch for 20 yards.

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It was an impressive afternoon from the solid junior running back, especially with Samuel Brown V and Aaron Young out injured for the home opener. It was also a chance for Monangai to make a statement with his performance.

“We have a whole bunch of talent, top to bottom and we all just feed off each other to get better,” Monangai said

“And that’s the best thing I love about us is that we’re all just hungry to get better. And I feel like as we get better as a running back room, we get better as an offense. You know, we’re a big part of our offense, all of us and I think that if we continue to get better then we can take our offense as far as we want to go.”

Watch: Kyle Monangai absolutely blows up a Northwestern player with a block

Kyle Monangai delivers a tremendous block for Rutgers football in their season opener.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Kyle Monangai is having himself a very strong day, the Rutgers football running back delivering a monster block to key a third down conversion.

The second quarter play saw Monangai step up and absolutely thud a blitzing Northwestern linebacker. There was an audible gasp from the crowd at SHI Stadium when Monangai delivered the block.

The block gave quarterback Gavin Wimsatt time to complete a 12-yard pass to Isaiah Washington, turning a third-and-10 into a first down.

Mongangai, a product of Don Bosco Prep, got the start on Sunday in the season opener. Samuel Brown V, who won the starting job at running back last season, was announced as questionable on Sunday morning.

He had 27 rushing yards on 10 carries in the first half:

 

Last season, Monangai had 445 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 109 carries. He also had six catches for 31 yards.

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Rutgers ended the first half up 17-0 on Northwestern. The Scarlet Knights started the game with three scores in their first three drives.

They had 183 yards of total offense and a significant time of possession edge (21:44).

 

Rutgers vs. Northwestern: Prediction, point spread, odds, best bet

A look at all the numbers and wagering info for Northwestern at Rutgers.

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights play the Northwestern Wildcats on Sunday, and if you’re looking to do some last-minute betting research, you’re in luck! We’ll give you the latest point spread, money line odds, and over/under number, as well as the information you’ll need to make the smartest bet at Bet MGM.

On Sunday afternoon, the long wait for Rutgers football fans comes to an end with the season opener at SHI Stadium. The Scarlet Knights will welcome Northwestern to Piscataway. In this Big Ten matchup, both teams have plenty to prove.

After finishing last season with a 4-8 record, Rutgers revamped their coaching staff over the offseason. Kirk Ciarrocca will now be making the calls offensively. He will be tasked with getting the most out of Gavin Wimsatt and the rest of the Scarlet Knights offense.

The season opener will be a pivotal game for both teams as they both aim for strong September runs.

 

Kyle Monangai looking to build on his 2022 success

Kyle Monangai is ready for another step forward in 2024.

During the 2022 campaign, the Scarlet Knights running back depth was tested due to injuries. Seven games into the season, Samuel Brown V suffered a season-ending lower-body injury. As a result, Kyle Monangai was asked to take on a bigger role, and he stepped up. This fall, the New Jersey native will be looking to build on his success.

In 12 games last year, Monangai recorded a career-high 445 yards and averaged 4.1 yards a carry. He also found the endzone twice and added 31 receiving yards to his resume. After being thrust into the starting role unexpectedly, Monangai gave Rutgers a spark on the ground.

While making 11 starts, the New Jersey native via Don Bosco Prep showed he could handle a heavy workload. Monangai led Rutgers in carries and yards on the ground. He was also named to the Academic All-Big Ten list for the second time in his collegiate career.

When the 2023 season begins, Monangai will be looking to lead Rutgers again in carries. However, he will have competition in Samuel Brown V, who will be healthy and have plenty to prove. It should make for an intriguing battle over the next few months.

Through his first three years as a Scarlet Knight, Monangia has recorded 680 rushing yards on 171 carries. He has steadily improved every season and enters a critical year of his college career. If he can continue building on his success, the Rutgers offense will get a much-needed spark.

The start of the regular season is still months away, but how the workload in the Rutgers backfield is split up will be a storyline to watch with Monangai looking to keep his starting role.

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Rutgers running back Samuel Brown V could have a bigger role in 2023

Rutgers running back Samuel Brown V made a great first impression as a freshman.

The 2022 football season was full of ups and downs for the Scarlet Knights. While the offense struggled, one bright spot was Samuel Brown V. During his freshman season, the talented running back battled injuries, but he made the most of his opportunities when he was on the field. As long as he stays healthy, he could have a more significant role this fall.

In seven games, the Philadelphia native rushed for 383 yards while averaging 4.3 yards a carry. That was the second most on Rutgers, as Kyle Monangia led the way with 459 yards in 12 games. Had the La Salle High School product stayed healthy, the leaderboard might have been flipped.

 

Additionally, Brown V led Rutgers in rushing touchdowns with three and rushing yards per game with 53.43. His best game of the season came against Indiana, as he recorded a career-high 101 yards while finding the endzone once. The Rutgers offense looked different without him on the field, as the running game was less explosive.

As the Scarlet Knights look to post a winning record for the first time under Greg Schiano, Brown V is an important piece. Having him in the lineup takes some pressure off the passing game and allows Rutgers to be more creative offensively. That will be crucial during the 2023 campaign, as Rutgers has the ninth-hardest schedule in college football, according to ESPN.

While football season is still months away, Rutgers has plenty to prove. Brown V will be one player that this team relies on, and if he can build on what he did as a freshman, then the offense should take a step forward.

Greg Schiano on how Nunzio Campanile has navigated a tricky assignment: ‘he’s doing a really good job’

Nunzio Campanile has made an impression with Rutgers football.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — All things considered, Rutgers football is coming off its best offensive output of the season. It was a pretty impressive performance from the unit in its fourth game under interim offensive coordinator Nunzio Campanile.

In a 27-21 loss at Michigan State, Rutgers had 460 yards of total offense and 25 first downs as well as no turnovers. It was a strong showing from a unit that has struggled this year.

They opened up holes for running back [autotag]Kyle Monangai[/autotag] to set the program’s Big Ten rushing record and kept quarterback Gavin Wimsatt relatively upright and clean in the pocket.

When Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano made the decision to move on from Sean Gleeson, he cited the need to play complementary football. Rutgers did that on Saturday in East Lansing, moving the ball effectively against a solid Big Ten opponent.

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“Nunz is a seasoned coach. He’s a leader. He’s been a very successful head coach. So like, being in charge of a group of men is nothing new to him. So he stepped right in and it’s kind of like riding a bike. He went right at it,” Schiano said on Wednesday.

“It’s been a tough position he’s putting put in, but he’s doing a really good job. He’s working incredibly hard. So I’m grateful for that.”

At the time he moved on from Gleeson, the line from Schiano was clear that Campanile was going to have six games to interview for the job. Prior to the Michigan State game, the offense struggled the previous two weeks in losses at Minnesota and then against Michigan.

But if he can show the offense as making progress in these final two games of the regular season, then Campanile might well have the inside track for the position.

Rutgers faces a tough Penn State (8-2, 5-2 Big Ten) defense this weekend.

Asked about Campanile’s viability as a candidate to make the position permanent, Schiano punted on a firm answer at this point in the season.

“Well, like I told you at the beginning, I’m gonna evaluate that at the end of the season, I’m not gonna get into that,” Schiano said.

“I have feelings like everybody else, right? But I don’t want to get into that – this is about what’s best for the program. And when the season’s over we’ll evaluate and make the final decision.”

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Cal Haladay praises Rutgers football’s Kyle Monangai: ‘He’s a very good running back’

Kyle Monangai earns praises from Michigan State.

Kyle Monangai got some quality praise from Michigan State linebacker Cal Haladay, this as the Rutgers football running back had a career day carrying the ball.

The praise is especially meaningful considering the strong performance from Haladay in the Michigan State win.

A sophomore running back, Monangai had 168 rushing yards on 24 carries as Rutgers very nearly upended Michigan State on the road.

Monangai not only set a personal rushing record on Saturday afternoon, but he also broke the Rutgers rushing record in Big Ten play. It was an impressive showing from Monangai, who took over the starting running back role following a season-ending injury to Samuel Brown V.

It was some physical running from Monangai, in particular in a first half where he ran through tackles and consistently got to the second level. Monangai ran hard, carrying multiple Michigan State defenders with him on nearly every rushing attempt.

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Following the game, Haladay had this to say about Monangai:

“He’s a very good running back,” Haladay told reporters about Monangai.

“He is a hard runner that will attack you downhill. He was getting gaps and hitting creases, there’s things we need to tighten up on with tackles, wrapping up and squeezing, those are things we do every day that we need to focus on next week. We need to focus on that because that is something we can’t let happen again, we can’t let them get leaky yards from missing tackles.”

It was certainly no slouch of a performance from Haladay. The sophomore linebacker had 19 tackles in keying the Michigan State defense to victory.

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Coming out of Southern Columbia High School (Catawissa, PA), Haladay was a three-star recruit who held Power Five offers from Michigan and Nebraska and Pittsburgh as well as Michigan State.

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