Tag: Max Melton

Rutgers Max Melton named one of the top NFL cornerback draft prospects by Trevor Sikkema

Max Melton gets a big grade from Pro Football Focus.

With the college football season quickly approaching, excitement at Rutgers is building for what the 2023 campaign will bring. There will be many returning faces for the Scarlet Knights, including Max Melton. Following a career year, expectations are high for the New Jersey native, who will be one of the leaders on defense.

Over the next few months, more eyes will be on Melton than ever before. The talented Junior was named the fifth-best cornerback in the 2024 class by Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema. The honor comes as no surprise, given Melton’s recent success.

In 12 games last year, Melton recorded a career-high 33 tackles and two interceptions. He frustrated opposing quarterbacks with 12 passes defended and two tackles for a loss. The Cedar Creek High School product also led the nation in blocked kicks with three.

Due to his play, Melton was voted honorable mention All-Big Ten by the coaches and media. The Rutgers cornerback showed that he could handle a more significant workload as, for the first time in his college career, he appeared in 12 games.

While Melton was a human highlight reel during the 2023 campaign, he was a key piece of Rutgers defense. On a team that struggled to score, Melton did his best to keep the Scarlet Knights in games as long as possible. That should prove beneficial this year as his experience continues to pile up.

[lawrence-related id=29351,29342]

As Melton looks to improve his draft stock, he has been placed in elite company by Trevor Sikkema. The only players ahead of Melton on his list are Kool-Aid McKinstry, Kalen King, Cooper Dejean, and Josh Newton. That talented group should produce plenty of jaw-dropping plays in the next few months and push Melton to take his game to another level.

[lawrence-related id=29331,29318]

2024 NFL draft: Preseason CB watch list and early rankings

2024 NFL draft: Preseason CB watch list and early rankings entering the 2023 college football season

The popular saying is true: no NFL team can ever have enough cornerbacks. More CBs are drafted each year than any other position, with no less than 36 selected in every draft since 2020.

With such a huge demand comes a giant group of aspiring collegiate corners. The early impression on the class is that there is room for a couple at the top to seize the bull by the horns and emerge as the best, while the next grouping is slightly lower-end than the similar tiers of the past couple of seasons at the same preseason point.

These are very fluid rankings. In general, these are early impressions about the NFL potential of players who still have a considerable amount of football to play before they’re drafted. Some underclassmen are included here strictly as mentions; it is not meant to advocate for a player to leave early.

After watching enough to get a baseline feel for the players, here is an early listing and my preliminary ranking for the cornerbacks in the NFL draft class of 2024.

[lawrence-related id=646925]

[lawrence-related id=646448]

Rutgers football head coach Greg Schiano believes Eric Rogers, Flip Dixon will boost the defense

Greg Schiano sees two transfer portal additions as helping his defense.

Rutgers football has certainly seen both its quality and overall depth improve on the defensive side of the ball over the past three years. The secondary, in particular, is an area that head coach Greg Schiano is particularly pleased to see the overarching growth and development.

Headlined by returning players such as cornerbacks[autotag] Robert Longerbeam[/autotag] and [autotag]Max Melton[/autotag], the secondary might be the strongest unit on the entire Rutgers roster. But for Schiano, the additions on the backend also include two players brought in from the transfer portal.

These additions, Schiano said, help balance the secondary and bring some veteran experience. In an interview with NBC Sports Chicago, Schiano outlined his secondary, including the importance of adding Rogers and Dixon to the group.

“I think we got a good group with Melton and Longerbeam back at the corners. But we added a guy Eric Rogers, who came over from Northern Illinois, I think he’s going to be a great, great addition,” Schiano told NBC Sports Chicago.

“You mentioned Flip Dixon and you know, he’s a guy that I I think is a Big Ten safety. That’s what he is, and he’s going to be a great, great player for us coming in from the University of Minnesota. So I like our secondary I think we have some experience mixed with some real fine young players. And again, I think at all three levels of the defense, we have some depth, which is critical. It’s a tough league. It’s a league of big men, people get hurt. So to have a little depth is certainly helpful.”

The addition of Dixon to the roster was an under-the-radar part of the Rutgers offseason, but with 30 games of Big Ten experience (and six starts), Dixon can certainly add something to the Rutgers unit.

Last season at Minnesota, he posted 28 tackles and three passes defended, both career-highs. 

[lawrence-related id=28605,28618]

Top three cornerbacks in the Big Ten for 2023

The Big Ten has some elite corners and the Bucks may have the best #B1G #GoBucks

The Big Ten has some elite corners and a few may be vying for an opportunity to be drafted in the first round. The top of this list features two studs from programs that produce top-notch corners on a consistent basis and the third guy is from a lesser-quality program that has made some defensive anchors in the past.

We do have a Buckeye make our top three and it may seem to be a biased selection to a few, but this guy has gotten consistent first-round hype and had a slight hiccup of a season in 2022, but is ready to bounce back in 2023. Let’s dive into the list.

Here are our top three cornerbacks in the Big Ten entering the 2023 season.

2023 Buckeyes Wire Preseason All-Big Ten team: Defensive Backs

How many Ohio State players made our All-Big Ten team? #GoBucks #B1G

The 2023 college football season is right around the corner and the Big Ten is loaded with top-notch talent and predicting who will end up on the All-Big Ten has proven challenging. Not only was it hard to choose one player over another, but it was also hard to admit that some of Ohio State’s most prominent rivals have some serious dogs on their squad.

This list will dive into the defensive backfield — and as expected — the Big Ten has some dominant defensive backs that make it very hard to narrow it down to just four. This list contains two cornerbacks and two safeties and we have a Buckeye make the team at corner, but not at safety.

In the age of the transfer portal, it is possible for a complete dark horse to rise as a frontrunner, but we will do our best to provide the most educated guess based on previous performances and situations.

Four Scarlet Knights make Phil Steele preseason All- Big Ten list

Four Rutgers players make the Phil Steele All-Big Ten team.

With football season quickly approaching, anticipation is building for what the fall will bring. On Monday, Rutgers football earned special recognition as four players were named to the Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten teams list.

The list includes DB Max Melton earning second-team honors, LB Deion Jennings earning third-team honors, and both DL Mayan Ahanotu and LB Tyreem Powel earning fourth-team honors. This group will play a critical role in Rutgers success in 2023, starting with Melton, who is entering his junior year. 

Melton was a force on defense and special teams during the 2022 campaign. He added ten pass breakups to his resume while leading the nation in blocked punts with three. He also ranked seventh in the Big Ten in passes defended per game (1.0) while appearing in all 12 games.

Like Melton, Jennings created problems for opponents every time he stepped on the field. The talented linebacker recorded a team-high 91 tackles, 8.5 of which were for a loss. He also had six pass breakups. Due to his play, Jennings won the Homer Hazel Award as the team’s most valuable player.

[lawrence-related id=27735]

Just like in years past, Ahanotu was a model of consistency. He has played in 34 straight games and totaled 39 tackles in that span. As Ahanotu continued to be a reliable presence on the defensive line, he was named a team captain in 2022.

Rounding out the list is Powell, who had four pass breakups in 12 games last year. The New Jersey also recorded 71 tackles, including six for a loss. As the talented linebacker saw an increase in playing time, he made the most of his opportunities.

During the 2023 campaign, wins will not come easy for Rutgers. They have one of the most challenging schedules in college football. However, with this talented quartet back for another season, the Scarlet Knights should be an intriguing team to watch.

[lawrence-related id=27795,27784]

Ahead of a fourth season under Greg Schiano, Rutgers football has a different feel to it

Rutgers football faces a crucial fourth season under head coach Greg Schiano.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — There is a sense among the Rutgers football that things are building and growing. That’s the message from two veteran players on the roster, both of whom have been here for the entirety of head coach Greg Schiano’s rebuild of the program.

And as Schiano enters his fourth season back with Rutgers, it is a crucial year for the head coach and his team. If Rutgers is going to make a move within the Big Ten’s pecking order, then this season they will need to show significant growth and development.

For tight end Johnny Langan, set to enter his fourth year at Rutgers and his sixth in college football, this locker room is showing signs that he hadn’t seen before in the past. He said that things have been “a little bit different” this spring in terms of the team buying into the rebuild.

“The locker room is great. We’re really just like a well-oiled machine,” Langan said on Tuesday following practice.

“Everyone falls in line. The leadership of the team is some of the best I’ve been around. And, you know, we’re kind of just like on a very linear alignment throughout the organization and we’ve got a chance to really do some special.”

The rebuild’s crucial juncture is an important time for Schiano and his staff to show some growth within the program. The 2022 recruiting class, featuring six recruits ranked as four-stars, was a top 30 national class. They are expected to take a big jump this season in terms of development and growth.

[lawrence-related id=25798]

That young, emerging group of talent is met with a strong senior class that is experienced.

They are experienced, and tired of losing. Rutgers hasn’t had a winning season since 2014.

Not even Langan has been around that long.

“We’re turnt up, this is the most turnt team at Rutgers I’ve been on. There’s nothing wrong with the teams before but I gel with these guys much, much better. It’s going to carry over to the field when it’s supposed to,” defensive back Max Melton said last week.

“Like I said before, nothing against the teams we had previously when Schiano came back but like, we’re all on one page. We’re all having leadership meetings, like letting the team know what type of time we’re on this year, like not just going with the flow, or we come out here run plays, we put our daily deposit in football (then) about to go do whatever. Now, we (are) making sure from top – from player one to player 132 – however many players you’re allowed to have on team – like we’re all on the same page. I think that is gonna help us when it comes fourth quarter versus whatever.”

[lawrence-related id=25795]

[mm-video type=video id=01gxrmt5h0xqh37r711q playlist_id=none player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gxrmt5h0xqh37r711q/01gxrmt5h0xqh37r711q-d1d13816fea71187be693b4409e42cf4.jpg]

Max Melton never doubted his Rutgers football return, says this team is ‘turnt up’

Max Melton believes that Rutgers football is ready to take that next step in 2023.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Rutgers football has a different mentality this year according to Max Melton, one that the defensive back says involves the entire program buying in.

In what will be his fourth season at Rutgers, Melton believes that the Scarlet Knights are ready and prepared to build upon the growth and development of the last two seasons. As the program enters its fourth season under head coach Greg Schiano, there is certainly an elevation of the overall talent level within the program.

Now, that talent level needs to manifest itself on the field and in Big Ten play. Two years ago, Rutgers played in the Gator Bowl against Wake Forest as a replacement team when Texas A&M had to withdraw.

But Rutgers hasn’t made a bowl game outright since 2014. The senior defensive back believes this team can take that step forward this season.

Melton had the opportunity to test the NFL draft waters but instead returns to the Scarlet Knights for one final season with the program. It is a decision he said was part of a desire to go out on top with the rebuilding program.

“100 percent I was coming back, there was no question in my mind,” Melton said on Saturday.

“I got to win with this team, I don’t feel like it was selfish if I was going to go to the league but like I just want to win. I’ve always been a part of winning teams so I ain’t feel like it’s right if I left and we didn’t win nothing.

“To be honest, I don’t even count the bowl game – Texas A&M had COVID or whatever. I ain’t count that, that wasn’t a bowl game for us. We didn’t earn that.”

Rutgers, Melton believes, is ready for that next step as a program. As for why he believes that, Melton cites a belief that the team has bought in to the vision of the rebuild and is investing in the direction established under Schiano.

[lawrence-related id=25511]

“We’re turnt up, this is the most turnt team at Rutgers I’ve been on. There’s nothing wrong with the teams before but I gel with these guys much, much better. It’s going to carry over to the field when it’s supposed to,” Melton said.

“Like I said before, nothing against the teams we had previously when Schiano came back but like, we’re all on one page. We’re all having leadership meetings, like letting the team know what type of time we’re on this year, like not just going with the flow, or we come out here run plays, we put our daily deposit in football (then) about to go do whatever. Now like we making sure from top from player one to player 132 however many players you’re allowed to have on team – like we’re all on the same page. I think that is gonna help us when it comes fourth quarter versus whatever.”

Last season, Melton posted a career-high 33 tackles and nine passes defended. He also had two interceptions.

[lawrence-related id=25483]

Bo Melton hypes up brother Max before Rutgers Week 1 game

Former Scarlet Knights Bo Melton took to Twitter to hype up Rutgers and his brother Max Melton

In football, there’s the Rutgers family – and then there’s family-family.

Former Scarlet Knight Bo Melton played for the program just last season. Just because Bo is no longer a student-athlete at Rutgers, doesn’t mean that he can’t continue to hype up his former squad and especially his younger brother and current Rutgers cornerback, Max Melton. He took to twitter to do just that:

Bo was taken in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. He had the privilege of playing together with his younger brother, Max at Rutgers for the last two years. The brothers played on opposite sides of the field with Bo playing wide receiver and Max playing cornerback, and were able to help each other grow. They battled each other while lifting each other up day in and day out.

[lawrence-related id=18408]

Max has used his experience with his brother and the Scarlet Knights to elevate his game, and experts were talking about him as a potential breakout candidate for this coming season. Knowing his brother will be watching closely this weekend may inspire him even more.

Bo was waived a few days ago as a result of offseason roster cuts, but signed back with the Seahawks to join their practice squad.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fc3gzhz7qrm49z6q player_id=none image=https://rutgerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Rutgers football 2022 preview: defensive backs

Rutgers Wire continues their 2022 Rutgers football season preview by taking a look at the defensive backs

With the regular season set to kick-off this coming weekend, it is past the time to start getting ready for the return of Rutgers football. Rutgers Wire is here to help with your last minute catch-up needs.

The Scarlet Knights will be looking to improve over their record in 2021, as they finished 5-8. Despite finishing with less than the usual required six victories, they were selected as a replacement team for a bowl game last season. They stepped in for Texas A&M in last season’s Gator Bowl, resulting in a losing effort to Wake Forest. Head coach Greg Schiano was happy his team got the opportunity, but they will be looking to improve and earn a bowl game appearance outright this season.

Rutgers has struggled to find its footing during the program’s time in the Big Ten. The Scarlet Knights have not finished a season with a winning record since 2014 – their first season in the conference. In their ninth season in the power five conference, defense is key. This is Schiano’s third season since returning for a second stint with the program and he wants to continue to build the strength of his defensive units.

Let’s break down how the Scarlet Knights look along the defensive line going into the 2022 season.

Part of building the defense is the fresh coaching staff brought in for 2022. Almost every defensive coach who was with the Scarlet Knights in 2021 was replaced in 2022. First year coaches include both cornerbacks coach Mark Orphey both defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak. Safeties coach Drew Lascari is in his fifth year with the program, but his first as the head of the safeties room. Orphey comes to Piscataway from Alabama, where he helped put together the gameplan for the SEC Champion Crimson Tide.

Catch up on Rutgers Wire’s preview series here:

Quarterbacks Running Backs Wide Receivers Offensive Line

Defensive Line Linebackers 

Secondary is an area of strength and one of the groups returning a good amount of experience. The Scarlet Knights are deep at cornerback with returning starters Kessawn Abraham and Max Melton. Plus they will be getting former Temple Owl transfer Christian Braswell after he missed all of last season with a torn ACL.

[lawrence-related id=18248]

Abraham had a great year in 2021, seeing 12 starts and time in all 13 games. The senior accumulated 44 tackles – three for loss – and tallied nine pass defenses. He was named to the Pro Football Focus First Team All-Big Ten last year and was named the Rutgers Defensive MVP in 2021. Melton looks every bit the NFL prospect his brother was and should have another strong season to boost his status on draft boards. He led the team last season with three interceptions, running one back for a pick six. Melton finished with 28 tackles – two for loss – along with nine passes defended and a fumble recovery. Braswell may not have played last season, but played strong across just six games in 2020. The senior finished with 21 tackles, an interception, two passes defended, and two forced fumbles. His experience is a welcome addition and if he can regain that same level of play, should start more games than not.

[lawrence-related id=18152]

The key players at safety also bring some experience in Scarlet and White. Avery Young moved to safety from corner last fall. Joining him at safety will be returning senior Christian Izien and sophomore Desmond Igbinosun who saw good playing time as a true freshman last season.

Young claimed a spot on the All-ECAC Defense last season. He finished second on the team with a whopping 81 tackles. The Coatesville, PA native recorded two of those tackles for a loss and added one interception, two pass defenses, and one forced fumble. Izien is coming off consecutive seasons where he was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big Ten. The senior was near the top on the team with 75 tackles, nine for a loss. He did have no picks and only four pass defenses after coming up big in both categories in 2020. Rutgers will need him to put up the results from two years ago if they want to improve on their low-rated defense. Igbinosun saw most of his time in the second half of the season. Across seven contests, the true freshman recorded 14 tackles (two for loss) and a strip sack that happened to come in the Gator Bowl. The former three-star recruit in a physical presence in the secondary, standing at 6-foot-3, 205-pounds.

[lawrence-related id=17709]

Overall, the secondary may have looked good but did not get enough takeaways. As a result, Rutgers was near or at the bottom of the Big Ten in almost all defensive categories. There was a need to overhaul the defensive approach and Schiano made sure to do that. Now, with a new staff in place and a few days before game time – it is time for the players to perform and apply the changes instilled in the defensive unit. Rutgers could see one of their better secondaries in recent memory.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fc3gzhz7qrm49z6q player_id=none image=https://rutgerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]