Tag: Naseim Brantley

What did Greg Schiano say about Rutgers football’s transfer portal plans?

Greg Schiano hopes Rutgers football will be active in the transfer portal.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Following the conclusion of spring practice, Rutgers football head coach Greg Schiano spoke to the importance of adding to his team in the transfer portal.

A rain-soaked ‘Scarlet-White Game’ might not have been a great advertisement for the offense, given the windy and wet conditions. But it is clear that the offense needs some help, even with the promising performance from Reggie Sutton in his return to the offensive line.

Schiano didn’t single out any positions on Saturday following the final scrimmage of spring. But it wouldn’t be a surprise to see multiple additions to the roster along the offensive line but also at wide receiver.

“We’re going to do everything we can. But again, I’ll repeat that the way we use the portal and the way we approach the portal is they really have to be a cultural fit,” Schiano said.

“Otherwise, I don’t want to bring him here because they can be a great player, but if they’re not a cultural fit, they’re going to lead guys in the wrong direction. And if they’re that good, they’re going to make plays and I just, you know, it’s more about building the program than one guy coming in here and having personal success but bringing us down. It’s real important that yes, they’re talented; yes, the lifts lift the level of our team. But yes, they (also) fit our culture

“And I think we have a few of those, which is one of the reasons that they’re considering us. We just got to see how it ends.”

That Rutgers seems to have honed in on the transfer portal front for a few targets is certainly encouraging. Rutgers brought in several players in the transfer portal in January but only one of those additions was on offense (wide receiver Naseim Brantley).

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Last week while appearing on the Big Ten Network, Schiano said that wide receiver would be a point of emphasis in the transfer portal. One or two wide receivers could be on the way.

“Young but talented – got a bunch of young guys,” Schiano told the Big Ten Network.

“We might do a little bit in the portal – we have one already – may end up getting another one or two. But it’s just really till the young guys grow up. And I think they’re growing fast.”

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Rutgers football: Where does Naseim Brantley rank among the Big Ten’s wide receivers? (spoiler, he’s up pretty, pretty high)

Rutgers football wide receiver Naseim Brantley checks in with a strong ranking from USA TODAY Sports.

Naseim Brantley has not yet played a down of football in the Big Ten, and yet the Rutgers football playmaker is already being regarded as one of the top wide receivers in the conference.

In fact, a recent ranking by USA TODAY Sports Media Group has Brantley as the tenth-best wide receiver in the country. Brantley joined Rutgers this offseason via the transfer portal, filling a big need at wide receiver.

At Western Illinois, he was an FCS All-American who had 53 catches for 909 receiving yards with nine touchdowns in 2022. In coming up with the top wide receivers in the Big Ten, College Football News writer Cam Mellor had this to say about Brantley:

“Get to know the name Naseim Brantley, folks. The well-traveled big man enters the Rutgers lineup after dominating every year prior. Brantley has stops at Sacred Heart and Western Illinois in his bag, proving to be too much to handle at both levels.”

While he played at the FCS level, his ability against Power Five competition isn’t in question.

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In the second game of the 2022 season at Minnesota, Brantley had 50 receiving yards and a touchdown. Compare that to Rutgers loss at Minnesota in October where no Scarlet Knights player had more than 46 receiving yards.

In the second week of spring, wide receivers coach Dave Brock talked about the impact Brantley is projected to have on the offense.

“I think players are players. I think you know, when he gets rolling, I think, you know, the traits that he has, which certainly his size and really, really good hands, and he’s got good movement,” Brock two weeks ago.

“I think as he gets rolling, I think he’ll be a plug-and-play player, you know, we’ll be able to put them in and put them in one of the outside receiver positions, get them going and then again, like everybody else, kind of find out okay, where’s his strength? You know, what does he do best and then try to formulate a way to make sure that he’s doing those things more often than the things that maybe aren’t what he does at an elite level. But again, very excited about coaching him and working with him just like I am all these guys.”

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Rutgers football: For Dave Brock, Naseim Brantley has the potential to be a ‘plug-and-play player’

Naseim Brantley has the potential to be a big part of the Rutgers football offense.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Nasiem Brantley has the potential to be a big part of the Rutgers football offense this year, especially as the unit has to transition with so much production lost this offseason.

Having joined Rutgers this offseason via the transfer portal, Brantley is a huge possible fit in a Rutgers offense that lacks experience and depth at the wide receiver position. An FCS All-American at Western Illinois, he had 53 catches for 909 receiving yards with nine touchdowns last season.

In a loss at Minnesota in the second week of the 2022 season, Brantley had 50 yards and a touchdown. No Rutgers player had more than 46 receiving yards in the Scarlet Knights own loss at Minnesota last year.

For wide receivers coach Dave Brock, Brantley’s experience and skillset projects him to be an integral part of the offense this season.

“I think players are players. I think you know, when he gets rolling, I think, you know, the traits that he has, which certainly his size and really, really good hands, and he’s got good movement,” Brock said on Tuesday.

“I think as he gets rolling, I think he’ll be a plug-and-play player, you know, we’ll be able to put them in and put them in one of the outside receiver positions, get them going and then again, like everybody else, kind of find out okay, where’s his strength? You know, what does he do best and then try to formulate a way to make sure that he’s doing those things more often than the things that maybe aren’t what he does at an elite level. But again, very excited about coaching him and working with him just like I am all these guys.”

Rutgers lost Aron Cruickshank, Shameen Jones and Sean Ryan this season – all three players leaving due to graduation. Those were the three leading wide receivers from last year’s team.

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That is a lot of production for any team to lose and replace in one offseason. Considering that Rutgers is still rebuilding its talent and depth at wide receiver and it is clear that the Scarlet Knights will need to get some players to step up this spring if the offense is going to begin clicking.

“I look at it as an opportunity, a kind of a new beginning. I don’t really see it necessarily as a challenge – I wasn’t here,” Brock said.

“You know, we’re going to put ourselves in a position to develop the players that are here and get them in a position to play at a high level so we can win. That’s the challenge. That’s the goal. I think that ultimately will be the result. And that’s what we’re working towards. We don’t live in the past we don’t really look at it – again, those guys are good players and did a good job. But you know, we’re forward-thinking, forward-looking and that’s where my mind is.”

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Rutgers football: Film evaluation of transfer WR Naseim Brantley

This offseason, Rutgers landed transfer wide receiver Naseim Brantley from Western Illinois. How can he help Rutgers football?

In January, Rutgers football landed wide receiver Naseim Brantley from Western Illinois via the NCAA transfer portal. It is an addition that could have a big potential on the Scarlet Knights’ offense this season.

Brantley was the leading receiver for the Leathernecks, catching 53 passes along with 893 yards and nine touchdowns last season. In 2022, Western Illinois went winless on the season, but Brantley was still selected Second Team All-American by Phil Steele.

After high school, Brantley enrolled at Sacred Heart in July 2018, transferring to Western Illinois in January 2022. The 2018 graduate from Howel High School, N.J., won the Offensive Player of the Year Award for the Leathernecks, catching double the number of passes and triple the number of touchdowns than any other receiver last season. 

Brantley entered the NCAA transfer portal with one year of eligibility left. He was the fifth transfer commitment out of the transfer portal for head coach Greg Schiano this offseason.

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Film Evaluation

While in high school, the big-body wide receiver had solid speed, running the forty-yard dash in 4.58 seconds. He had a 36-inch vertical with a squat of 385 lbs and a bench press of 255 lbs.

When watching the film on Brantley, you can see his playmaking ability. Brantley, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound receiver, does not have lightning speed. He can out-leverage many defenders, causing concern in the secondary.

Brantley has strong hands that can hold onto difficult catches. Starting quarterback Gavin Wimsatt will appreciate Brantley, especially when he is making tough catches in traffic. Brantley can win the 50/50 balls, outmuscling defenders. Naseim is experienced in running all routes like screens, curls, slants, and flies, making him a diverse wide receiver. Brantley will need to adjust to Big Ten speed, but with his experience, he can adapt quickly.

Rutgers’ new offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca will have a field day calling plays for Brantley, especially down by the goal line. After losing wide receiver Aron Cruickshank and wide receiver Sean Ryan, Brantley could well make an immediate impact for the Scarlet Knights.

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