Tag: Tyreem Powell

What NFL teams had scouts at Rutgers football’s game against Michigan?

A dozen NFL teams had scouts or representatives for Saturday’s game between Rutgers and Michigan.

A dozen NFL teams were in the press box on Saturday afternoon for Rutgers football at Michigan. They saw Rutgers start strong and hang tough in a 31-7 loss.

The main draw for the NFL teams was obviously No. 2 Michigan, with a roster that features several players who are being projected as Day 1 or early Day 2 selections in the 2024 NFL draft. But Rutgers also has a few players that should draw some attention and be likely draft picks.

Defensive end [autotag]Aaron Lewis[/autotag], a transfer from Michigan, is one Rutgers player who is likely to get drafted. So are the likes of defensive back [autotag]Max Melton[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Deion Jennings[/autotag] and [autotag]Tyreem Powell[/autotag] as well as several players on offense.

Here are the 12 NFL teams that were in attendance on Saturday for Rutgers at Michigan:

  • Atlanta Falcons
  • Buffalo Bills
  • Cincinnati Bengals
  • Denver Broncos
  • Detroit Lions (Mike Martin, director of scouting advancement and John Dorsey, senior personnel executive)
  • Indianapolis Colts
  • Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Los Angeles Chargers (JoJo Wooden, director of player personnel)
  • New England Patriots
  • Philadelphia Eagles
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Tennessee Titans

 

What NFL teams are at the Rutgers football game against Norhwestern?

Four NFL teams are in attendance for Sunday’s Big Ten opener for Rutgers football and Norhwestern.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Rutgers football kicks off the 2023 season on Sunday at SHI Stadium when they host Northwestern. Four NFL teams have sent representation to be at the game.

Scouts from the Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Washington Commanders are all in attendance for what is the Big Ten opener for both teams.

Notably, Terry Bradway, the former New York Jets general manager who is now working for the Carolina Panthers, is present at the game.

Rutgers have several players with NFL draft potential. Defensive end [autotag]Aaron Lewis[/autotag], who made a splash at Big Ten Media Days, leads a group on defense that is athletic and talented. Lewis is looking to build on a strong 2022 season and cement himself as a top 100 selection in next spring’s draft.

Also very much in the mix on the defensive side of the ball to make the NFL are defensive back [autotag]Max Melton[/autotag] and linebackers [autotag]Tyreem Powell [/autotag]and [autotag]Mo Toure.[/autotag]

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On offense, left tackle [autotag]Hollin Pierce[/autotag] as well as wide receivers [autotag]Naseim Brantley [/autotag]as well as [autotag]JaQuae Jackson[/autotag] should all register strong NFL interest.

Despite national attention and NFL buzz, Rutgers football linebacker Tyreem Powell remains ‘all about the work’

Linebacker Tyreem Powell is expected to be a leader of this Rutgers football defense.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — This time last year, Tyreem Powell was a bit of a question mark on the Rutgers defense. Now, not only has Powell emerged as one of the leaders on this Rutgers team, he is now considered one of the best linebackers in all of college football.

Powell and Rutgers take on Northwestern on Sunday (12:00 PM ET, CBS) in a game that is the season opener for both Big Ten games.

The 2022 season saw Powell emerge from spring practice as a starter at the linebacker position. He responded to his new workload by putting together a season where he had 70 total tackles (34 solo) along with three sacks and four passes defended. He is expected to be one of the leaders of a Rutgers defense that has the potential to be top five in the Big Ten this season.

“There has been an improvement from each and every year that I started here. Each and every year I can get better,” Powell told Rutgers Wire following practice on Thursday.

“There’s always an improvement from details and doing better in the meeting rooms and the practice field. So for me, I’m always just looking for improvement and ways to make my game better. I’m all about the work.”

Powell is one of several defensive players for Rutgers who have legitimate NFL ceilings. He is beginning to get recognized as one of the top linebackers prospects in the Big Ten.

Three weeks ago, Powell was selected to the preseason watch list for the Butkus Award, given annually to the nation’s top linebacker. A Big Ten linebacker, Iowa’s Jack Campbell, won the award last year.

“Jordan Wolkstein (director of football communications and branding) actually had communicated to me about (the watchlist),” Powell said.

“It’s just a great award great nomination. I’ll just keep my head down, keep working. But it’s great to see my name on that. I’m just going to keep working hard.”

Powell is not the type to unnecessarily draw attention to himself. It isn’t that he is uncomfortable with the spotlight, it’s simply that Powell’s focus is on helping Rutgers return to the spotlight it enjoyed for much of head coach Greg Schiano’s first stint with the program.

Rutgers hasn’t had a winning season since 2014, its first season in the Big Ten. That also marked the last time Rutgers won a bowl game.

When asked about the significance of Sunday’s opener being against a Big Ten opponent, Powell didn’t see anything other than a chance for his team to come out and compete.

“We know this is another Big Ten opponent. We know how hard Big Ten games are in this league,” Powell said.

“We just got to keep our heads down, keep chopping until that game is finished.”

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Rutgers lost 21-7 at Northwestern in 2021 in the last meeting between these two Big Ten programs.

 

What does representing Rutgers football and New Jersey mean to Kyle Monangai and Tyreem Powell?

Two Rutgers football standouts talk about their emotion come Sunday.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — For two veteran players of this Rutgers football team, running out of the tunnel at SHI Stadium is going to be filled with emotion ahead of Sunday’s season opener against Northwestern.

Emotion, for running back [autotag]Kyle Momngai[/autotag] and linebacker [autotag]Tyreem Powell[/autotag], because both are from New Jersey.

Monangai, from Essex County in north Jersey, and Powell, from Vineland in the south, very much represent what head coach [autotag]Greg Schiano[/autotag] is trying to build at Rutgers. Both players came to Rutgers as part of the 2020 recruiting class following the hiring of Schiano. Powell, in fact, flipped from Virginia Tech just days after Schiano was announced as the head coach at Rutgers.

So representing Rutgers means a little something extra to both of these student-athletes.

Both Monangai and Powell bought into the vision laid out by Schiano as part of this rebuild. And both players proved last year to be major parts of the Scarlet Knights last season.

“100 percent – I’m excited. I can’t wait to get out there and see the atmosphere that’s gonna be there. You know, noon game on CBS,” Monangai said on Thursday following practice.

“Fans – I know. I’ve been waiting to come back and see us all play. We’re excited to show everybody what we’ve been working on all offseason. So it’s just a lot of emotion.”

Season openers have been kind to Monangai. Last year, he led all Rutgers rushers with 64 yards on 19 carries in a season-opening win at Boston College. He also had a rushing touchdown.

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For Powell, Sunday is something he has been waiting for since the end of the 2022 season. In fact, this offseason has seen his stock rise nationally, highlighted by his inclusion on the watchlist for the Butkus Award.

The former three-star recruit from Vineland South High School (Vineland, N.J.) says there is something special about representing his home state.

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“It’s gonna mean everything to me,” Powell told Rutgers Wire.

“Just me mentally, I’m gonna be ready to go play football. But just to have that support from the Jersey fans and Vineland, south Jersey – all that is gonna mean everything to me.”

 

Rutgers football: Tyreem Powell named to the Butkus Award watch list

Tyreem Powell made the Dick Butkus Award watch list.

Coming off what was a very strong season 2022 season, Rutgers football linebacker Tyreem Powell

Last season, his first as a starter at Rutgers, Powell had 70 total tackles (34 solo) along with three sacks and four passes defended. He is expected to be one of the leaders of a Rutgers defense that has the potential to be top five in the Big Ten this season.

The Butkus Award is given annually to the nation’s top linebacker. It was first awarded in 1985 to Brian Bosworth, who won the award the following year in 1986 as well.

Last season, Iowa’s Jack Campbell won the Butkus Award, ending a 15-year drought for the Big Ten with the award.

Adam Korsak, now in the CFL, won the Ray Guy Award last year as the nation’s top punter. He became the first Rutgers football player to ever win a national award for on-the-field contributions.

Olakunle Fatukasi, a former Rutgers alum now in the NFL with the New England Patriots, was a semifinalist for the Butkus Award in his final two seasons at Rutgers (2020, 2021).

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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.

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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.

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For Corey Hetherman, the spring showing from Tyreem Powell is seen in the speed of his play

Rutgers football linebackers coach Corey Hetherman praises the effort of Tyreem Poweel.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Last year saw, sophomore linebacker Tyreem Powell breakthrough with Rutgers football. It is an upward trend for the talented linebacker as he has continued that development this spring.

Last season, Powell took a massive step forward as a sophomore, registering 70 total tackles along with three sacks and four passes defended. He stepped forward into a big role last spring when starter Mohamed Toure went down with an injury, followed by four-star true freshman Moses Walker.

Now with last year’s experience, Powell factors into a two-deep at linebacker that is impressive. Linebackers coach Corey Hetherman, now in his second season with the program, believes that this spring has seen Powell take yet another step forward in his development.

“You know, I think our strength coaches have done a really good job in the weight room continuing to put more weight on him. Continue to get him a little bit bigger, get him bent a little bit better,” Hetherman said on Thursday.

“And then his confidence, you can see his confidence level, his leadership his communication. And then really being year two in coach Harasymiak’s defense (defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak)…you know, you can see that confidence and that trust have really taken the next step, and it’s elevated.

“And I think that’s been the number one thing with ‘Reem – he goes out, he takes the field – he’s more confident with his calls, his eyes are better, his pad levels are better. He’s playing a lot faster right now going into year two.”

Hetherman said that the experience picked up last year by Powell and fellow linebacker Deion Jennings (87 total tackles) is “huge” for his group as they look to build up in 2023.

“You go into a season where guys really weren’t playing a ton the year before. And now last year, they step up and they fill those roles. You know, early on in camp, there were a lot of situations they weren’t prepared for and they really didn’t handle very well and they started to learn and then build and they took those reps and they took it from the film room, they took it from the meeting room, and they put it in practice and as we went through the season, I thought those guys improved every single week,” Hetherman said.

“We took steps as we get to the games…those guys really ‘Chopped’ and really worked at it and I thought it showed on the field as they communicated much better. They put themselves in positions to really make those plays and help the defense.”

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Greg Schiano on the importance of spring football: ‘Every offseason is critical’

Greg Schiano believes his team will need to be a developmental program.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — If Rutgers football is going to compete in the Big Ten, then they will need to be the kind of program that finds and develops talent. For head coach Greg Schiano, this is a priority for his staff and makes the offseason of critical importance.

As Rutgers football hits the midway point of their spring schedule and with two weeks until the annual spring game, Schiano was able to reflect on the offseason so far. With Saturday representing the first scrimmage of the spring season, Schiano was able to show on the field just what he meant when he says that Rutgers will be a developmental program.

The idea is that Schiano will need to recruit players and coach them up if Rutgers is going to compete with the upper-echelon teams in the Big Ten.

“It means that a guy like Tyreem Powell who played the season in between 220 to 25 and now he’s practicing at 235. So that’s an extra 10 pounds…eight pounds of muscle that when he hits somebody, they feel it,” Schiano said on Saturday.

“A guy like Mayan Ahanotu, worked hard, got his body in great shape, and it’s a good 295 now so those are critical improvements. And when you get stronger, you put that weight on and your body fat stays the same or even goes down, that means you have more lean muscle mass that should help in the trenches. So all that stuff – that’s why as a developmental program, every offseason is critical. And when a guy misses an offseason due to injury or surgery, it really sets him behind.”

Powell has been talked about a couple of time by Schiano as the junior linebacker is looking to build on last season. In 2022, Powell was impressive with 70 total tackles, three sacks and four passes defended.

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Schiano also cited the example of Deion Jennings, who had a massive season last year for Rutgers and is looking to build on that this senior season.

It was a breakout 2022 for Jennings, who posted career-highs in tackles (91), tackles for loss (8.85) passes defended (6) and sacks (1). In his previous three seasons at Rutgers, Jennings totaled 65 tackles.

He was hurt in the 2020 season and Schiano said that it took till last year to see his linebacker begin to produce.

“You know that happened to Deion. If you think back, that shoulder surgery totally put him behind. It took a whole year before he was able to get those games,” Schiano said.

“And then you saw the season he had last year and he’s just now picked up, he’s moving forward from where he was. So for the developmental program, every offseason is critical. And that’s what we are, we are a developmental program.”

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Rutgers vs. Nebraska: Stream, injury report, broadcast info for Friday

Injury report, key players, and how to watch Rutgers vs. Nebraska on Friday night

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights play the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Friday night, and if you’re wondering how you can watch the action live, you’ve come to the right place.

A marquee matchup is not how I would describe this game, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t important stakes for both teams. At the start of the season, both programs likely circled this game as a must-win if they had any chance of making a bowl game. Rutgers sits at 3-2 with all of their wins coming from their non-conference schedule. Nebraska took care of business against Indiana last week to move them to 1-1 in conference and 2-3 overall. The Cornhuskers fired their coach before the end of September and even have an international loss on their record, but the offense showed some life last week, putting up 35 points. The Scarlet Knights have failed to score more than 22 points against a FBS school this season, but surprisingly scored first against Ohio State (before letting up 49 points) and picked off Heisman Trophy favorite, C.J. Stroud last week. Both teams need a victory to see their postseason hopes turn to more of a reality.

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Here’s when you should tune in to see the game:

  • Date: October 7, 2022
  • Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
  • TV Channel: Fox Sports 1 (FS1)
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch here)

Nebraska at Rutgers injury report:

Rutgers:

  • DL Mohamed Toure – Out for season (knee), LB Moses Walker – Out for season (knee), QB Gavin Wimsatt – Questionable (Undisclosed), RB Aaron Young – Out Indefinitely (Undisclosed)

Nebraska:

  • RB Ajay Allen – Out for season (Undisclosed), TE Thomas  Fidone II – Out Indefinitely (Knee), WR Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda – Questionable (Undisclosed), OL Nouredin Nouili – Out for season (Suspension)

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Players to watch:

Casey Thompson (Nebraska – QB): Thompson is an athlete, there’s no question. He showed some dual-threat ability last season at Texas, but his rushing numbers have not been strong this season as a result of being sacked 14 times through five games sacks through the first five games (sacked 16 times in 12 games last season). Against Indiana, Thompson threw for 270 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception while adding a score on the ground. Rutgers defense should provide more of a hinderance, but Thompson should still make a few explosive plays.

Tyreem Powell (Rutgers – LB): Powell will have the tough task of keeping Thompson in check Friday night. He currently leads Rutgers with three sacks on the season, and considering the lack of protection the Nebraska quarterback has received so far, he could add to that total against Nebraska. The entire defense may only have 9 total sacks, but they have come from all three levels. Even if the Huskers can somehow keep Powell in check, they will likely be facing pressure all evening.

Trey Palmer (Nebraska – WR): The LSU transfer is coming off a breakout performance against Indiana. Last weekend, Palmer hauled in eight catches for 157 yards and a touchdown after not logging over 100 yards in a game in his collegiate career prior. He leads his team in receptions with 36, receiving yards with 480 and receiving touchdowns with two. Palmer has provided a source of optimism for the Cornhusker offense, and Rutgers will have its hands full trying to contain him.

Samuel Brown (Rutgers – RB): The true freshman out of Philadelphia received some extra early season reps due to injuries in the backfield and took the reigns of the running back rotation. He is now the leader in the backfield with 210 total yards and is tied for the team lead with two rushing touchdowns. He is second on the team in carries, but only four off the leader and his 5.0 average yards per carry are stronger than the man ahead of him. No longer a change of pace back, Brown paces the backfield and is a problem for any opposing defense.

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Rutgers Football 2022 Preview: Linebackers

Rutgers Wire continues their 2022 Rutgers football season preview by taking a look at the linebackers.

With the regular season set to kick-off this coming weekend, it is time to get ready for the return of Rutgers football. The Scarlet Knights will be looking to improve over their 5-8 record in 2021. Despite finishing with less than 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 in the linebacker room 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 defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak and linebackers coach Corey Hetherman. Hetherman comes from newly promoted FBS school and former FCS powerhouse James Madison, where he was the defensive coordinator.

Catch up on Rutgers Wire’s preview series here:

Quarterbacks Running Backs Wide Receivers Offensive Line Defensive Line

Hetherman and Harasymiak have an uphill battle on their hands. This group saw a major impact after last season as they saw four players – Olakunle Fatukasi, Tyreek Maddox-Williams, Tyshon Fogg, and Drew Singleton – leave either for the NFL or due to graduation. Singleton has tried to get his eligibility reinstated after unusual circumstances around the draft and the team’s participation in the Gator Bowl disqualified him from his final year of eligibility, but the team’s waiver request and subsequent appeal have both been denied. Those four players combined for 228 tackles last season.

On top of the players leaving, their depth was cut during spring practice when true freshman Moses Walker and linebacker/defensive end Mohamed Toure both went down with major injuries that will see them miss significant time. Toure will be out of action for the entire season after undergoing surgery. Walker joined the program in the spring as the top-overall recruit in New York.

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After getting off to a hot start last season as one of the best teams in the nation in turnover ratio through the first four weeks of the season, Rutgers ended up ranking No. 11 in the Big Ten in both scoring and overall defense. They will need young players to step up in a big way and battle through the adversity they have already faced from those spring injuries if they want to climb the rankings.

The injuries and departures will be challenging to overcome, but they also open up huge opportunities for some of the young players to seize. Sophomore Tyreem Powell and senior Deion Jennings are actually two of the more seasoned members of the position group.

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Although Jennings has seen action in most games during his time with the Scarlet Knights, it has been limited. Last season, he saw time in all 13 contests but only recorded five tackles with one tackle for loss. In his first two seasons with Rutgers, however, he recorded 60 tackles while appearing in all 21 games. He has four starts in 34 career games. With increased opportunities, he could easily return to making a major impact for the team.

Powell had a strong impact last season, recording 20 total tackles, two pass deflections, an interception, and a fumble recovery. The Vineland, New Jersey native saw time in all 13 games and had three starts – including the Gator Bowl. He was named 2021 Academic All-Big Ten and received the 2021 Douglas A. Smith Award. Schiano has been encouraged by Powell’s development:

“I think Tyreem continues to get better every practice. He really works hard at it. He’s physically gifted and he really wants to be great. So that combination usually works, as long as you work hard and he’s doing that. Just a matter of time. He doesn’t have a ton of experience just like our whole linebacker crew, so that’ll be the key.”

There are a few other players who will see increased roles – including Khayri Banton, Austin Dean, and Anthony Johnson. Schiano said earlier this month that the team also Jamier Wright-Collins, a running back who totaled 57 yards in the Gator Bowl on offense, would move over to linebacker to bolster depth. His experience on special teams and knowing how running backs think and move should help his transition be smoother than expected.

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Johnson and Dean both played well in the spring game, but both are young, to say the least. Johnson was a four-star recruit out of Neumann-Goretti in Philadelphia. 247Sports had him ranked as the No. 8 overall recruit in Pennsylvania and the No. 23 linebacker in the class of 2022.

Schiano has repeatedly stated that he plans to play a lot of people and that experience doesn’t matter when it comes to playing time. Still, how much time these players actually end up seeing this season remains to be seen.

Overall, the culture on defense has changed but they are missing several key pieces from both last season and players they expected or hoped to have this season. The Big Ten is going to be trial by fire for this group, but they will have a few weeks of non-conference matchups to get their feet wet before the daunting conference schedule begins.

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