Tag: Vilay Nakkoun Jr.

Rutgers football: What are the noticeable position changes for the Scarlet Knights this spring?

Rutgers football has some significant position changes for spring practice.

There are a couple of significant moves for Rutgers football heading into spring, with several players making position switches.

The biggest position change for Rutgers football is that punter [autotag]Flynn Appleby[/autotag] is not returning the program. Last season, Appleby was very solid for Rutgers, averaging 39.6 yards per punt.

Jacob Allen, Jake Eldridge and Joe DeCroce all have medically retired.

Other prominent position changes:

  • [autotag]Vilay Nakkoun Jr.[/autotag] (moves from wide receiver to defensive back)
  • [autotag]Jesse Ofurie[/autotag] (moves from wide receiver to defensive back)

One interesting note from the roster concerns [autotag]Isaiah Crumpler[/autotag]. The true freshman, who is enrolled early, is listed as a defensive back. When he signed with the class of 2024, Crumpler was listed as a wide receiver by the program.

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[autotag]Al-Shadee Salaam[/autotag], who moved from running back to defensive back midway through last fall, remains in the secondary. And there is [autotag]Kenny Fletcher,[/autotag] who moved from defensive end to tight end during bowl practice.

Fletcher remains at tight end on the spring roster.

Quarterback to wide receiver, 2023 three-star prospect to impact Rutgers football

From high school quarterback to Big Ten wide receiver, can 2023 recruit Vilay Nakkoun Jr. be an impactful player for Rutgers football?

2023 recruit Vilay Nakkoun Jr. is transitioning from a high school quarterback into a Big Ten wide receiver for Rutgers football. How can the young prospect use his expertise to impact Rutgers football?

A standout at Orlando Christian (Orlando, FL), Nakkoun led the Warriors to an 11-2 record, throwing 1,305 yards with 20 touchdowns and four interceptions in 2021. The high school quarterback added 344 yards on the ground with six rushing touchdowns during his junior year. As a senior, Nakkoun got selected as captain for his leadership. He finished his senior year with 708 passing yards and six touchdowns.

Nakkoun averaged 12.2 yards per carry with 550 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. At 5-foot-11 180 pounds, Nakkoun was selected as FACA 1M District 11 all-district for his stellar performance.

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Recruited as a wide receiver,  Vilay’s athleticism and versatility alone will make him an impactful player for Rutgers offense. As the 2023 season approaches, it is still unclear how Nakkoun can get involved in Rutgers’ offense. Not being under center might be a change of pace for the former quarterback, but his athleticism and football IQ will let him thrive at any other skill position.

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His quickness and quarterback knowledge will allow him to shine in the slot position. Being under-sized for the X or Z outside spots, the slot is where Nakkoun can do his damage. Ability to read defensive coverages, this recruit can find the soft spots in the opposing defenses.

New Rutgers offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca could potentially design special packages and plays to utilize Nakkoun’s skill set. Rutgers is thin with proven talent at wide receiver, making Nakkoun’s abilities to climb the depth chart. Ciarrocca’s offense will be determined based on the personnel available, but with a player like Nakkoun, his offense can provide different wrinkles to get him the ball in space.