Tag: Rutgers Football

Veterans like Flip Dixon believe that the Rutgers football defense can be even better this year

The Rutgers football defense, good last year, can be even better.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — With most of their starters returning, the Rutgers football defense has the potential to take another step forward as a unit. One of those returning pieces is safety Flip Dixon, who had a strong first season with Rutgers in 2023.

An addition out of the transfer portal, Dixon had 76 total tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and five passes defended last year for Rutgers.

With a number of big pieces opting to return, the Rutgers defense is arguably the most experienced in the Big Ten. They were seventh in the Big Ten in scoring defense and sixth in yards allowed per game.

For Dixon, there is a belief that the unit can take a step forward in 2024 and be even better.

“I’m very excited. We got a lot of people coming back. Basically, the whole defense just about – so I’m very excited to see what we can do,” Dixon said on Thursday following practice.

“I know we will do better than last year, for sure.”

One of the pieces not returning for Rutgers is Max Melton.

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The defensive back, who had one year of eligibility remaining, opted to declare for the NFL draft. An All-Big Ten selection, Melton is appearing in mock drafts in the top half of the NFL draft and is popular as a second-round pick.

The loss of Melton will hurt the secondary, given that he was an elite cornerback in the Big Ten.

“I love Max. He’s a great player, phenomenal,” Dixon said.

“You know, he, he’d been here for well, he helped me get used to it here. And it was a great time with him.”

No group is more experienced than the safeties room, with Dixon and Des Igbinosun both returning as starters. For safeties coach Drew Lascari, this is quite the luxury to have.

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The safeties will be relied on this upcoming season for Rutgers as a foundational unit. With two players who are All-Big Ten caliber (Dixon was an All-Big Ten selection last season), this Rutgers defense has the potential to be a top-tier unit in the Big Ten.

“I think for us, the expectation of our room now is to take the next step and what is the next step?” Lascari said on Thursday.

“Well, that’s the next step with everything. Okay, we want to take the next step with our nutrition, with our rehab, with our recovery, with our sleep. And then on the field, our playbook.

“So, with two returning starters that we have a lot of faith in. We’re really excited about the next steps that we’re going to take as a group.”

Film Review: Can Antonio White add depth to Rutgers’ secondary?

Antonio White is a tremendous athlete with Big Ten starting potential.

Antonio White is part of Rutgers football’s 2024 recruiting class. He is an elite-level athlete and brings that to the Rutgers secondary.

The Snellville, Georgia native was a two-way starter, playing defensive back and wide receiver in high school.

The 2024 prospect helped the Parkview Panthers to seven wins and a GHSA Class 7A playoff appearance in 2023. He recorded 90 tackles, 24 tackles-for-loss, three sacks, and two pass breakups as a senior on defense. Also, he blocked two punts and returned one for a touchdown, while adding a kickoff return for a score on special teams. White received an all-region selection on defense for his stellar performance.

According to Rivals, White is the No. 61 ranked prospect in Georgia and is the No. 56 defensive back within his recruiting class.

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Film Review

The 6-foot-1, 168-pound defensive back has excellent play recognition, providing discipline in the defensive secondary. He offers toughness and physicality to Rutgers’ defense, two characteristics head coach Greg Schiano and the Scarlet Knights thrive on.

White can play in multiple defensive schemes, playing pass coverage in dime/nickel packages while being a run stuffer at the hybrid linebacker position in run defense.

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His long wingspan makes him difficult to stop on defense, shedding blocks from opposing linemen. With his diverse skill set, look for defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak to add him to multiple blitz packages and defensive schemes.

If White wants to contribute to Harasymiak’s defense, look for the 2024 prospect to add weight and strength to his resume as he develops into a Power Five player.

 

New talent in the Rutgers football secondary is exciting for coach Drew Lascari

Two freshmen safeties are intriguing additions for Rutgers football and position coach Drew Lascari.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — A pair of young athletes has Rutgers football safeties coach Drew Lascari excited about the future of the backend. Kaj Sanders and Antonio White, a pair of four-star talents, are a big part of the future of the Scarlet Knights’ defense.

And not just the future, but also the present for Rutgers. Deep and loaded with talent, it is easy to forget how young this group is for Lascari.

White, part of the 2024 class, missed time this week attending his senior prom. Extremely athletic and instinctively a ballhawk, he was a big get for Rutgers in the recruiting circuit. He was a four-star recruit out of Georgia.

Sanders, a four-star and one of the top players in New Jersey last year, is twitchy and athletic. He has tremendous speed and fluidity in his movement.

Both players come to the Scarlet Knights with the chance to make an early splash and crack the rotation for playing time.

“Both really, really talented, young players for us; we’re really, really excited about both of them,” Lascari said on Thursday.

“I think both of them can cover, both of them can run. Both of them are tough. There they will tackle for us. And we’re just really excited about both of them. I think that they, every single da, learn something new. If not one thing, five things right? And they’re going to continue to stack days.

“Continue to learn how we do things here and continue to blossom but we are really really excited about both those guys.”

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Lascari is in his third year as the safeties coach at Rutgers and seventh overall on the coaching staff.

From among two dozen offers, Jyon Simon breaks down his Rutgers football commitment

Rutgers football’s latest commit, Jyon Simon, discusses his decision to commit to the Scarlet Knights.

Jyon Simon committed to Rutgers football on Thursday, making it two big Florida commitments for the Scarlet Knights this week.

A three-star recruit, from Raines High School (Jacksonville, Florida), Simon gives Rutgers a true threat in the interior of the defensive line. He picked the Big Ten program over eight offers.

The other teams in the mix for Simon were Texas, Tennessee, USC (University of Southern California), Pittsburgh, Jacksonville State. NC State and Colorado.

Simon took an unofficial visit to Rutgers, which led to a phone call to head coach Greg Schiano after he left campus.

“So actually after I went on my visit with Rutgers, it was just ‘Man, I got to be there.’ I just felt at home,” Simon told Rutgers Wire.

“So I was like, ‘Why not shut it down?’ So I called coach Schiano and asked him if I could commit but still go on visits to other schools. He told me how he felt about it. So that was it – it was just a done deal after that.”

Simon is committed fully, telling Rutgers Wire “Yes, sir. 100 percent.”

“With all 10 of my toes, I’m standing on them. I really like what coach Schiano is building over there with the coaches that he’s brought in, with the players that he’s brought in and just his knowledge of the game,” Simon said.

“Just the atmosphere…it was a lot of things that pulled me towards this. So first and foremost, the academics. The academic program is amazing – not only in the northeast but in the nation. The player and coaches’ relationship – I love how the coaches interact with their players. They teach the game fundamentally. Their weight room program is amazing. Coach Schiano is different from the rest of the head coaches – his knowledge of the game is amazing and that’s somebody I can trust.”

The team culture is another thing that stuck out to Simon on the visit.

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Heading into his fifth season at Rutgers, Schiano has re-built Rutgers on and off the field. This includes bringing back the CHOP mantra as well as F.A.M.I.L.Y.

“And that motto: Forget About Me, I Love You – just because if everybody on the team does that and they stay locked in, well then we’re going places,” Simon said.

“So I just love that motto and what coach Schiano is brining to the program.”

Breaking! Rutgers football lands Florida defensive tackle Jyon Simon

Rutgers football lands a commitment from defensive lineman Jyon Simon.

Jyon Simon committed to Rutgers football on Thursday, marking consecutive days the Big Ten program has landed blue chip prospects from Florida.

Rutgers was the pick by Simon, a three-star recruit, from among eight finalists. He is a 6-foot-1, 260-pound defensive lineman from Raines High School (Jacksonville, Florida). Last season, he had 77 total tackles, 15 tackles for a loss and nine sacks.

On Wednesday, Rutgers received a commitment from Antwan Raymond, a four-star running back also from Florida. Raymond will enroll early at Rutgers and re-classifies to join the class of 2024.

He picked Rutgers from a final six that included Miami, Mississippi State, South Carolina, South Florida and West Virginia.

Also in the mix for Simon were Texas, Tennessee, USC (University of Southern California), Pittsburgh, Jacksonville State. NC State and Colorado.

Simon made the commitment to Rutgers on Instagram.

He is now the second recruit from Florida in the 2025 class for Rutgers, joining quarterback Sean Ashenfelder.

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Last fall, Ashenfelder committed to Rutgers, becoming the first commitment in the class.

Mail call! Isaiah Deloatch has the mailman busy with his Rutgers football interest

Rutgers football is making Isaiah Deloatch a clear priority.

Isaiah Deloatch is keeping the mailman busy. Fresh off a recent unofficial visit to Rutgers football, Deloatch is in constant contact with the Big Ten program.

Deloatch announced last week that he will be taking an official visit to Rutgers football in June. Deloatch is a 6-foot-1, 210-pound linebacker from Hillside (Durham, North Carolina).

In addition to Rutgers, he holds offers from Duke, Indiana and Syracuse among others.

On Monday, Rutgers sent Deloatch 35 handwritten letters with 15 personally addressed to him and the rest for his parents. Before his visit last week, Rutgers sent the family the same exact number of letters, telling him how excited they were to have him on an unofficial visit.

The letters keep flowing from Rutgers to Deloatch, and it is making an impression.

 

The mailman, said ” someone is really trying to get your attention” 😆

“It may be closer to 100 total throughout the process. When I say every staff member has sent a card…nutritionist, analysts, head coach, all position coaches,” Deloatch said.

“My mom keeps reminding me to go where I’m wanted. Rutgers is very clear that they’re interested.”

Deloatch is also a standout sprinter.

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As for his other official visits, Deloatch will first head out Indiana on the weekend of May 31 before taking his official visit to Rutgers for the weekend of June 7.  Duke and then South Florida on back-to-back weekends round out things for Deloatch.

Where are things with Rutgers football’s kicking competition this spring?

Jai Patel talks kickoff specialist competition.

One of the more intriguing competitions this spring for Rutgers football is the open kickoff specialist role.

Last year, Jude McAtamney handled the kickoff duties for Rutgers. Of 60 kick-off attempts, McAtemeny connected on 40 touchbacks.

Now with the Irish-born kicker having graduated, Rutgers will have a competition at kickoff, with starting field goal kicker Jai Patel involved.

Last season as a redshirt freshman, Jai Patel won the specialist role to handle field goals and point-after attempts. Now, he is looking to add kickoffs to his resume.

“We’re currently doing a little competition between the kickers we have right now – so we’re just going to see how that goes,” Patel said on Tuesday.

“We’re pushing each other really hard and we’re all doing a great job. So just keep fighting each day but we’re all doing a great job in the room and ytrying to get that job.”

Last year, Patel won the specialist job during preseason and went on to have a tremendous season.

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He made 83 percent of his field goal attempts and connected on 33-of-34 point after attempts. After a redshirt season spent getting stronger and working on his technique, Patel made a big step and is now locked in as the incumbent starter.

His field goal percentage was the highest in program history.

“Definitely a great honor to be able to set the record books but we kind of move on from that and just get ready for next season,” Patel said.

“Just build on that, get all the experience I had gained from last year and just be able to have a better season for the team and continue to produce.”

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.

Jyon Simon set to commit on Thursday, is Rutgers football in the mix?

Jyon Simon is set to announce his college football commitment.

Decision day is Thursday for Jyon Simon, a Florida defensive lineman who is being recruited by Rutgers football. His recruitment includes some of the biggest names in college football.

A 6-foot-1, 260-pound defensive lineman from Raines High School (Jacksonville, Florida), Simon had 77 total tackles, nine sacks and 15 tackles for a loss last year. Simon took a visit to Rutgers football this past weekend.

This spring, he has taken visits to Auburn, North Carolina State, East Carolina and Florida Atlantic. He has made two visits to North Carolina State this spring.

On Thursday, Simon’s commitment ceremony won’t be featuring hats, a common practice for announcement ceremonies. Instead, Simon will have cards on the table. And Simon said the following programs will all have cards on the table on Thursday evening:

The likes of Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Iowa State, Louisville and Maryland have all also offered Simon.

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Simon will be making his announcement from his high school at 6:30 p.m. ET.

According to 247Sports Composite, he is a three-star recruit and the No. 78 defensive lineman in the nation.

Four-star Antwan Raymond commits to Rutgers football and re-classifies to the class of 2024

Rutgers football lands a four-star running back in Antwan Raymond.

Antwan Raymond, a four-star running back from Florida, committed to the Scarlet Knights on Wednesday.

And, in a piece of significant news, Raymond has decided to re-classify into the class of 2024. Raymond picked Rutgers from a final six that included Miami, Mississippi State, South Carolina, South Florida and West Virginia.

He is a four-star recruit according to Rivals.

Last year in 10 games for Clearwater International Academy (Clearwater, Florida), Raymond had 1,884 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns. He averaged 8.1 yards per carry.

Listed at 5-foot-10 and 197 pounds, Raymond already boasts an impressive physical frame.

He is a strong, compact runner who is difficult to take down at the high school level. Raymond does a nice job of bouncing off contact and staying engaged.

He has good footwork which allows him to cut and change direction smoothly.

His announcement was made via the Rivals Instagram platform.

 

Nationally, he is ranked the No. 22 running back in the nation by Rivals.

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In addition to his final six, Raymond also had offers from Arizona, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina State Syracuse and Texas A&M.