Tag: Rutgers

Wisconsin true freshman cornerback continues strong start to 2024 season

Wisconsin true freshman cornerback continues strong start to 2024 season

Wisconsin true freshman cornerback Xavier Lucas was ProFootballFocus’ highest-graded true freshman cornerback from Week 6 in college football.

His strong afternoon in the Badgers’ 52-6 blowout win over Rutgers only continues what has been an impressive start to his college career.

Related: Wisconsin updated depth chart for Rutgers game sees true freshman running back enter two-deep

Lucas joined the Badgers this offseason as a four-star recruit in the class of 2024. He was ranked as only the No. 372 player in the class, No. 35 safety and No. 52 recruit from his home state of Florida.

It is safe to say he is already surpassing those rankings.

Lucas has played a significant role in a Wisconsin secondary that has been a strength of the team through five games. Individually, he has five tackles, a pass deflection and an interception in that time. His performance against Purdue included one tackle and that pass deflection.

https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1843405188369178689

Fewer statistics are often a good sign for a cornerback. That means the ball is thrown their way less frequently, which means the player is doing well in coverage. Wisconsin star cornerback Ricardo Hallman has only seven tackles and two pass deflections this season, for example. Those numbers are low because teams don’t throw him the football.

Lucas’ ascension to a primary role on the Badgers defense is overly impressive given his age and lack of experience. His strong play has backed up that significant role. His play should also only improve as he spends more time in Luke Fickell and Mike Tressel’s defensive system.

I’d bet it’s hard to find a true freshman cornerback who has been more impressive through the first five games of the young season.

Lucas and the Wisconsin secondary will continue to be tested coming up with games against top offenses including Penn State (No. 12 offense in ESPN SP+) and Oregon (No. 5).

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Wisconsin starting tackle PFF’s highest-graded Big Ten lineman from Week 6

Wisconsin starting tackle PFF’s highest-graded Big Ten lineman from Week 6

Wisconsin left tackle Jack Nelson was ProFootballFocus’ highest-graded Big Ten offensive lineman from Week 6.

He earned an overall grade of 90.1 in the Badgers’ big 52-6 win over the Purdue Boilermakers.

Related: Wisconsin updated depth chart for Rutgers game sees true freshman running back enter two-deep

Nelson is a significant part of an offensive line that has been arguably Wisconsin’s biggest strength through its first five games of the 2024 season. The unit was solid in tough losses to Alabama and USC, then had an all-around dominant showing against Purdue.

Last Saturday saw the line lead the Badgers offense to 589 total yards (361 passing, 228 rushing), 28 first downs and seven touchdowns, all without allowing a sack.

PFF’s grades only confirm Nelson’s strong play leading the group. The redshirt senior is one of several on the line who have improved their performance in the second year under coordinator Phil Longo.

Nelson’s current form is great news for his chances at being selected in the upcoming NFL draft. The four-year starter has had ups and downs — with the rest of the Wisconsin offensive line. His trajectory on the blindside of a line that appears to be improving by the week could see him rise to an early day two selection.

First, he’ll need to continue his strong performance against a challenging remaining schedule. The Badgers first face a good Rutgers defense in Week 7, then have remaining games against top teams including Penn State (No. 6 in ESPN SP+), Iowa (No. 29), Oregon (No. 7) and Nebraska (No. 26).

Key No. 1 to Wisconsin succeeding against that schedule and extending its record bowl streak is continued strong play from Nelson and the offensive line.

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Wisconsin HC Luke Fickell discusses Chez Mellusi’s departure from Badgers program

Wisconsin HC Luke Fickell discusses Chez Mellusi’s departure from Badgers program

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell discussed Chez Mellusi’s recent departure from the Badgers program during his media availability on Monday.

The news broke last Thursday that Mellusi was stepping away from the program, reportedly to ‘continue rehabbing injuries that prevented him from playing to his expectation.’

Related: Wisconsin updated depth chart for Rutgers game sees true freshman running back enter two-deep

Fickell was not asked about the timeline surrounding Mellusi’s departure after Wisconsin’s 52-6 win over Purdue on Saturday. The focus of his postgame press conference was the team’s strong performance — including the stellar play of the team’s running back room.

Now that the dust settled on the win, Fickell took time to expand on Mellusi’s departure. Here is the full question and answer sequence:

Q: ‘I know this is last week’s news, but Chez stepping away from the program. What kind of conversations, if at all, did you have with him and how did that all play out?

Fickell: “Look, it’s not my spot to sit up here and to speculate on all of the things that are going through him. But I probably had a good hour, two hours, of conversation with him. Spent a lot of time with him. It just is what it is.

For him to be able to get away and try to get healthy, to be honest with you. We all have this expectation, that played the game. Your mind and your body have this expectation of how you are going to play. When you can’t do that it makes it really difficult. Sometimes, that’s because you can’t do it because, you know, maybe the opportunities aren’t there. Then sometimes deep down inside, maybe the health and things aren’t there. Sometimes as we get older, I compared it a little bit, I don’t want to say me, but at some point in time I stopped wrestling because where my mind was and where I wanted to be, I probably wasn’t, in a short amount of time, where I was going to get to.

So it was a little bit. It was a tough thing. But it wasn’t like ‘I’m outta here’ or ‘get out of here.’ We spent a lot of time together. Had a lot of conversations. We’ll continue to communicate. Who knows what it will lead to. That’s just one of those situations that’s not the easiest thing in the world. He’s been through a lot, he’s done a lot. I think his body just, right now, isn’t where his mind is.”

Wisconsin rushed for 228 yards on 5.6 yards per carry on Saturday against Purdue. Tawee Walker led the way with 19 carries, 94 yards and three rushing touchdowns.

The Badgers now move forward with Walker, true freshman Darrion Dupree and Cade Yacamelli as the top three at the position. The trio will be relied upon heavily as tough matchups remain against Rutgers (No. 44 in SP+), Penn State (No. 6), Iowa (No. 29), Oregon (No. 7), Nebraska (No. 26) and Minnesota (No. 41).

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Wisconsin rises in ESPN FPI after big win over Purdue

Wisconsin rises in ESPN FPI after big win over Purdue

The Wisconsin Badgers are trending positively after their dominant 52-6 win over Purdue on Saturday.

The win snapped the team’s two-game losing streak, improved it to 3-2 on the season and 1-1 in Big Ten play and, importantly, gave a glimpse at its ceiling. Wisconsin had not put together a complete, four-quarter performance to date. The win over the Boilermakers did have minor moments of struggle, but it’s the closest the Badgers have come to a complete showing.

Related: ESPN FPI updates Wisconsin football win chances for remaining 2024 schedule after Week 6 win over Purdue

Dominant wins lead to ratings improvements. That is seen in ESPN FPI, which lifted the Badgers eight spots to No. 54 in the nation.

Big Ten teams ranked below the Badgers are now Purdue (No. 114), Northwestern (No. 87), UCLA (No. 74) and Michigan State (No. 66). The Badgers narrowly trail Minnesota (No. 51), Illinois (No. 47) and Rutgers (No. 44).

Wisconsin gets to test its progress next Saturday with a road trip to Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights are off a narrow 14-7 loss to Nebraska but still sit 4-1 on the season. A decisive victory could see Wisconsin begin to rise back to the mid-30s ranking it held to begin the season.

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Expert score prediction: Nebraska vs. Rutgers

What’s your prediction?

The Nebraska Cornhuskers return home following a 28-10 bounce-back win over the Purdue Boilermakers. However, the win wasn’t pretty. Penalties and missed field goals riddled the first half before the Huskers cleaned up in the second. Now, they’re facing a team that thrives on opponent’s mistakes.

Rutgers is 4-0 on the season, but several key moments in their last two wins went in their favor. In the Scarlet Knights’ win over Virginia Tech, the Hokies struggled in the first, which saw a punt return fumble that became a Rutgers touchdown.

Virginia Tech also failed a fourth-down conversion and coughed up a safety, giving Rutgers a 16-7 lead. The Scarlet Knights scored a touchdown out of halftime and almost did it again after the Hokies fumbled on the next drive. Rutgers failed on fourth and goal.

The Scarlet Knights managed to get a go-ahead field goal after Virginia Tech tied the game 23-23. But were it not for some of the Hokies’ mistakes, Rutgers would not have snatched the win.

The same occurred in last week’s bout against Washington. The Huskies only punted twice on their 11 drives but missed three field goals and failed two fourth-down conversions.

The play of the game, however, occurred when Washington allowed a blocked field goal to turn into a Rutgers touchdown due to a 12th player coming onto the field in celebration following the block. Washington also coughed up penalties that halted drives, resulting in points scored. 

These scenarios are too similar to Nebraska’s win over Purdue, which the Huskers cannot allow to happen again. Nebraska continues to control its own fate each game, and the same applies here.

The offense needs to be clean and stop letting penalties halt drives. The defense can’t let Rutgers’ Athan Kaliakmanis go off in his third game against the Huskers. The same can be said about Rutgers’ Kyle Monangai, who averages 6.1 rushing yards off 97 total carries. Finally, Nebraska needs to capitalize on field goal opportunities, not allowing any blocks or misses.

If the Huskers can carry their second-half play against Purdue into this game, they’ll be fine.

Score Prediction: Nebraska 24, Rutgers 14

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Wisconsin 2024 opponent loses starting linebacker to season-ending injury

Rutgers will be without one of its defensive leaders when the Wisconsin Badgers visit on Oct. 12.

Rutgers will be without one of its defensive leaders when the Wisconsin Badgers visit on Oct. 12.

That is star linebacker Mohamed Toure, who Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano said this week will miss the entire 2024 season with a torn ACL.

Related: Wisconsin football listed as underdog in seven games on 2024 schedule

The game at Rutgers is one of the critical games on the Badgers’ 2024 schedule. A Rutgers matchup usually means a look-ahead win for Wisconsin. The 2024 Scarlet Knights, however, project to be much better than the program’s normal form.

The Oct. 12 game in Piscataway, New Jersey is actually one of the seven games on Wisconsin’s schedule where ESPN FPI currently favors the opposing team. Right now, ESPN FPI gives Rutgers a 56% chance to win.

Toure’s injury is a major blow to Schiano’s veteran-heavy team, however. The star linebacker was second on the team in tackles (93), first in TFLs (9.5) and first in sacks (4.5) last season. Those marks helped the Scarlet Knights finish 2023 at No. 16 in the nation in total defense — that against a gauntlet schedule that included Wisconsin, Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State.

Rutgers’ 2024 slate is by far the easiest in the conference. It lines up for the team to make a push for College Football Playoff contention, if all goes right. The loss of Toure will definitely make that quest harder. It may even be a difference when the Badgers come to town.

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Kirk Herbstreit calls Wisconsin 2024 opponent a College Football Playoff dark horse

Kirk Herbstreit calls Wisconsin 2024 opponent College Football Playoff dark horse

ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit made headlines during his appearance on the Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday when he called the Rutgers Scarlet Knights a dark horse to make the 2024 College Football Playoff.

“Someone is going to come out of that conference that you really didn’t expect,” Herbstreit said. “Whether that’s an Iowa, who knows if [Dylan] Raiola and Nebraska…Whoever has the most manageable schedule. Rutgers has a schedule that by Big Ten standards and this new Big Ten world that we’re in, they can make a little bit of a run.”

Related: Position battles to follow as Wisconsin Badgers begin 2024 fall training camp

Herbstreit is certainly onto something. Rutgers has the easiest strength of schedule in the Big Ten this season, that while returning most of its production from a strong 7-6 2023 team and adding a potential upgrade at quarterback in Minnesota transfer Athan Kaliakmanis.

For Herbstreit’s forecast to come true, however, that would likely mean Rutgers finding wins against some of the stronger programs on its schedule — including Wisconsin.

The tougher games on Rutgers’ 2024 schedule are against Washington, Nebraska, Wisconsin and USC. The Scarlet Knights should be prohibitive underdogs in each of them, barring unforeseen injury or an early-season collapse.

A 10-2 mark with wins against two of those four teams would certainly enter the Scarlet Knights into the playoff discussion. Somehow winning three of those four could make the team a near-lock.

But most roads that include Rutgers as a playoff dark horse include it defeating Wisconsin on Oct. 12 — something the program has never done.

Rutgers on paper could look like a potential contender. This has happened in the past — a lower level program in the conference having a perfect storm of a veteran team and an easy schedule. Most of the time, the mid-level program ends up falling short against the top teams it plays.

The good news for Rutgers: those top teams are no longer named Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan. The bad news: it’s hard to see 2024 becoming the first time the Scarlet Knights ever defeat the Badgers.

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Preseason Previews

Big Ten Team Previews: Indiana Hoosiers — Purdue Boilermakers — Illinois Fighting Illini — Northwestern Wildcats — Minnesota Golden Gophers — Nebraska Cornhuskers — Iowa Hawkeyes — Rutgers Scarlet Knights — Maryland Terrapins — Michigan State Spartans — USC Trojans — UCLA Bruins — Washington Huskies — Michigan Wolverines — Penn State Nittany Lions — Ohio State Buckeyes — Oregon Ducks — Wisconsin Badgers

Big Ten Position Previews: Quarterbacks — Running Backs — Wide Receivers — Offensive Lines — Tight Ends — Defensive Line — Linebackers — Cornerbacks — Safeties

Wisconsin Position Previews: Quarterback — Running Back — Wide Receiver

Rutgers coach Greg Schiano discusses USC football game at Big Ten media days

Greg Schiano knows Rutgers has to be physical to beat USC.

The USC Trojans host the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in a Big Ten football game later this season. Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano was asked about the USC game at Big Ten media days on Tuesday in Indianapolis.

Schiano said the Rutgers football program has “specialists” to “help with the plan” for dealing with long-distance travel for a short week of preparation leading into a Friday game. However, he quickly added that regardless of travel and body-clock issues, what matters most is blocking and tackling. Rutgers and Schiano make no secret of their desire to play physical, hard-nosed football and win at the line of scrimmage. USC has to be physical enough to handle Rutgers. If the Trojans are able to meet the physical challenge, they have an obvious advantage in speed on the perimeter.

USC hosts Rutgers on Friday, Oct. 25 at 8 p.m. local (Pacific) time in Los Angeles on Fox Sports, right after Game 1 of the 2024 World Series. If the World Series game runs long, one should expect the start of USC-RU to be moved to Fox Sports 1.

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Big Ten primer — Rutgers’ greatest football moment

Rutgers won the first college football game. That’s quite a moment.

USC is joining the Big Ten and helping to create an 18-school superconference with the other West Coast schools leaving the Pac-12. The Trojans will participate in Big Ten media days next week in Indianapolis. The newness of their surroundings and the freshness of their situation will become apparent when they join a media extravaganza with Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, and other schools from the Midwest. As we get to know USC’s new Big Ten neighbors, let’s consider the greatest football moment in the history of Rutgers University.

It’s an old memory, literally the oldest college football memory we have.

College football began more than 150 years ago. The first recorded game was on Nov. 6, 1869. Rutgers won.

Via Rutgers Athletics:

Events leading up to the game were described by John W. Herbert, Rutgers ’72, who was one of the players: “To appreciate this game to the full you must know something of its background,” Herbert wrote in 1933. “The two colleges were, and still are, of course, about 20 miles apart. The rivalry between them was intense. For years each had striven for possession of an old Revolutionary cannon, making night forays and lugging it back and forth time and again. Not long before the first football game, the canny Princetonians had settled this competition in their own favor by ignominiously sinking the gun in several feet of concrete. In addition to this, I regret to report, Princeton had beaten Rutgers in baseball by the harrowing score of 40-2. Rutgers longed for a chance to square things.”

A challenge for the game was issued by Rutgers. Three games were to be played that year. The first played at New Brunswick and won by Rutgers. Princeton won the second game, but cries of “over-emphasis” prevented the third game in football’s first year when faculties of both institutions protested on the grounds that the games were interfering with student studies.

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Wisconsin no longer in contention for a popular class of 2025 running back

Wisconsin no longer in contention for a popular class of 2025 running back

Wisconsin football is no longer in contention for class of 2025 running back John Forster, according to a report from 247Sports’ Brian Dohn.

The Badgers had previously made his final five schools along with Illinois, West Virginia, Rutgers and Virginia Tech. That list has reportedly been trimmed to only Illinois and Rutgers.

Related: Wisconsin updated class of 2025 commitments after flipping DT Torin Pettaway

Wisconsin had an official visit scheduled with the three-star running back for the weekend of June 14. That visit is reportedly canceled, along with Forster’s planned trip to West Virginia. He had previously visited Illinois and Rutgers respectively over the last two weekends.

Forster is 247Sports’ No. 422 player in the class of 2025, No. 32 running back and No. 13 recruit from his home state of New Jersey.

He was one of Wisconsin’s top remaining running back targets in the class. The Badgers are yet to land a player at the position in the cycle. They now seem to be all-in on four-star Byron Louis, who was on campus for an official visit last weekend and is still yet to announce his commitment.

Wisconsin’s class of 2025 currently ranks No. 13 in the nation with 17 players committed. All eyes are on the impending announcements by four-star LB Mason Posa and four-star WR Eugene Hilton Jr. The Badgers are considered the favorite in each race, and could soon have a top-10 class if they land both players.

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